Magyar Egyház, 1971 (50. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1971-02-01 / 2. szám
10 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ MAGYAR CHURCH HE MUST INCREASE! John 3:30 John the Baptist was already a successful evangelist, preaching and teaching along the river Jordan, when Jesus Christ came and was baptized by him. Yes, his success did not blind him, for he knew who he was and who Christ the Son of God was; and, he made this statement about our Lord: “He must increase, and I must decrease!” Indeed, John the Baptist came to prepare the way before the Lord, and his voice sounded bravely into the ears of every one: “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!” All those people who went out of the city into the wilderness were eager to hear him and ready to accept his teachings. Yet, when the discussion arose between the followers of John and the people, who asked questions about who he was and who the Lord Jesus Christ was, he pointed out: “I am not the Christ!” No—he came to proclaim that Christ Jesus must increase and he must decrease. How wonderfully this can be the program for any individual Christian in this coming year! Can anyone find a better motto for a congrc -ation, than to increase the word and power and glory of Jesus Christ and decrease their own selfishness, greed, jealousy and other follies? I. Examine briefly the history of the world since the birth of our Savior, and observe how wonderfully this was accomplished against the Pharisees, and Sadducees, against Pontius Pilate and Herod, Kings and Caesars and potentates of many countries on every continent. Where are the enemies of God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ? Where are the once powerful dictators, generals or rulers? All the enemies of Christ were destroyed—dust returned to dust—generations came and went but the name of Jesus Christ ever remained shining before millions all around the globe. Just ask the children today, what they know about the dreaded dictators of by-gone days, like Mussolini, Stalin, Hitler or others? How little people will remember them 100 years from now! No matter, what the godless people try to do, the word of God will be true: Jesus Christ will increase and we must decrease! II. If you look around in this sinful world, you will notice the increase of godlessness, the rampant disregard of the Law of God and crime everywhere— Men and women curse and ridicule the Christian way of life, parents neglect their duties toward their children, and do not bring them up in the nurture and admonition of our Lord. If you are a disciple of Christ, what shall you do? How can you help to increase the kingdom of Christ in our world? First of all, you must keep this resolution always before your eyes: “He must increase and I must decrease”. You must take your “church attendance” more seriously! This is the least that a good Christian should do. Let no snow, rain, heat wave or other inclement weather deter you from attending church. Wherever two or three are gathered together in Jesus’s name, he is there. So, he is in his temples. He is amid the worshippers. Make sure, that you will he in your church without fail. Only sickness is a good reason for not attending church. In our churches, we need people like John the Baptist, who clearly say about our Lord: “He must increase, and we must decrease”. If you consider the family circle and individual lives, where else can this biblical expression find a better place for practice? I can hardly imagine, that there is a family, who confesses our faith and treasures the traditions of our forefathers, where there would be no Bible in the home. But, if there is, this year should be the time to obtain the Holy Scripture and use it regularly. Have “family devotions”—let the children learn to live with the word of God day by day. Let hymns, praises, and sincere prayers ascend before our Maker from every home. Then He will increase and we shall decrease. If there ever was a need for someone to come and clean the hearts, the homes and churches from all these and other ills, it is now. May He be all in all in our lives, homes and churches, our nation and in this world. Dezső Abraham, Bishop
