Magyar Egyház, 1970 (49. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1970-01-01 / 1. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 13 THE SECOND HELVETIC CONFESSION Section XXIV The holidays, fastings and choosing of foods 1. Why is it necessary to have holidays in the church? Because public prayers, the preaching of the gospel and the administration of the sacraments cannot be maintained regularly without having a set time for them in the church. 2. What was the practice in the ancient church? In the ancient church from the time of the apostles they observed the Lord's Day for public worship and rest. 3. Why do we not accept the necessity of observing the Jewish Saturday-Sabbath, with total idleness? Because we do not believe that one day is more sacred than another and that total idleness itself would be pleasing to God. We observe the Lord’s Day as by our free choice. 4. What other holdays are proper in the church, beside the Lord’s Day? It is proper to have holidays to remember the birth of our Lord, his circumcision, his passions, his resurrection and his ascension. Also, we should remember the coining of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of the Lord. 5. Why do we not have holidays in honor of the saints or any man? Because holidays are days of worship which cannot he dedicated but to God. However, it is proper to remember the saints occasionally in sermons and to recommend their good examples to the congregation. 6. What is the purpose of fasting according to the Word of God? The purpose of fasting is to discipline our flesh and its desires in order that it may obey our soul more willingly. 7. What kind of fasting is useless? That kind of fasting is useless when people, not considering the real purpose of fasting, abstain from certain foods at certain times, thinking that thereby they do something good and pleasing to God. 8. What is a public fasting? In ancient times the congregations had public fastings when great afflictions came upon the church. They abstained from all kinds of food for a while and spent the time in fervent prayers and penitance. These kinds of fastings should be held even today if the sorrowful condition of the church requires it. 9. What kind of attitude is required of us when we are fasting either publicly or privately? All fastings should be done voluntarily, willingly and humbly, not expecting favor from men or hoping to merit our justification from God, because of our fastings. 10. What should we know about the 40 day Lent? The 40 day Lent is a custom not originated from the apostles. The apostles wanted each believer to decide for himself to fast, not from fear or compulsion, to discipline his flesh according to his own personal conditions. 11. W/hat is our opinion concerning choosing of foods? Not a certain kind of food but that kind of food should be denied to ourselves in true fasting, which makes it difficult for our soul to rule over our bodies. Otherwise, we believe that “everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (I. Timothy 4:4). 12. Whose attitudes do we censure? We censure the attitudes of those who try to prove their holiness by extreme self-denial. Stephen Kovács NOW IS THE TIME! Now that 1970 has arrived, many of us have made the traditional list of New Year’s resolutions. With the start of a New Year and a new decade, the challenges facing the world are many. Everyone will try to strive for PEACE, BROTHERHOOD, and LOVE, but how many are willing to solve these problems by making only one resolution, to be a GOOD CHRISTIAN? If every member of our youth fellowships would do his share by being a good Christian, part of the problems of today would be solved. Attendance at local meetings would increase because a Christian enjoys fellowship. There would be no bpredom, because a Christian is always willing to help his fellow man. I am sure many Sunday schools would appreciate some help from our youth, either by assisting the teachers or interesting others to attend Sunday School or church. How many church activities are held in which our younger generation could make themselves useful? Many of our younger generation are too young to take on the responsibility of being a good Christian without the aid of others. In this way, I am hoping our ministers and congregation members will strive to do their Christian duty by bringing them closer to God through their knowledge, love and understanding. The excuse most often heard is “I don’t have time.” No time for Christ? No time for your fellow man? No time for love? How sad it would be to think that God would look down upon us and say “I have no time for them.” Take time now. Now is the time to change your ways. Take the time n o w to pray. Take time now to read your Bible. Take the time now to be a Christian. Yes, the time now is 1970 and maybe this is the year for the change in the world in which Peace, Brotherhood, and Love will prevail. Let us take the time now to do our part toward this goal by resolving not only to ourselves and our fellow man, but to God to be a good Christian today and always. Mary Farkas, President Bethlen Youth Federation Hosea 10:12 For it is time to seek the Lord.
