Magyar Egyház, 1976 (55. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1976-10-01 / 10-11. szám
8 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ Issues may change, and circumstances may bring new demands upon Christians but we must always remember that the purpose of the church is the “preaching and teaching of the word of our God.” Our churches will be strong only if we keep this commandments of God and continue to tell the people the marvelous works of our Savior. One of the most important aspects of the Great Reformation Movement was that it restored the preaching and teaching of God’s word to its proper place. When the church started to decline, it was because the people forgot this command given by God: Go and tell the people the good news... We may have wonderful organizations in our churches, many activities in our congregations which include a variety of programs but if this prophetic voice of our Heavenly Father will be silenced and disobeyed, difficulty and decline will soon set it. As we dedicate this memorial plaque to honor the galley slaves, who were freed 300 years ago, let us obey the same Almighty God, the same Lord Jesus Christ, who was Lord of life to them, and who is still our God today. And as we see this visible memento, so should we go and preach God’s holy word, let His message be the most important Guide in our churches, in our homes, and in our nation and even in our lives. II. The Hungarian Reformed Presbyters Association in America met the challenge and ordered the artist to design a bronze plaque which will be placed here for future generations as an everlasting memento! The leaders and members of the Presbyters Association deserve our acknowledgement and praise, that among the other memorials throughout the world, we shall have this one on Mt. Moriah, here in Ligonier, Pa. From time to time, Hungarian Reformed Christians can make pilgrimages here from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, from every state or city of our great country, and find inspiration meditating before this memorial. Never be ashamed of the heroic faith of your ancestors, be proud that through precious sacrifices God brought forth our church across the ocean into this new world, that we may have the same strong faith as the galley slaves and our forefathers had in our Savior Jesus Christ. Down with modern paganism, speak out against the measures of our modern day tyrants who would like to demote the BIBLE and ban the reading of the Holy Writ: away with the secular spirit of our modern times. Oh, how many in our age despise God’s holy commandments and neglect his holy word. Dear Elders, leaders and members of our churches, MEET the challenge today, as you hear the word of God: go and tell the people the wonders God has wrought. It is your duty and obligation to reach those who have not heard God’s message. What would happen, if all Christians would take this command seriously and would stand up and go out and teach the others? Think upon the first disciples, who were fishermen, tax collectors and others, yet they obeyed the voice of our Heavenly Father as they went out into all the world known at that time. The time may not be too far off, when there will not be sufficient pastors and it shall he up to you elders and dedicated Christians to carry out this command of our Lord Jesus. Those galley slaves proved their faith by enduring much suffering, humiliation and inhuman treatment, yet, God aided them and after they were free, their voices filled the churches in Europe. Christian hearts and minds were moved in Switzerland, Holland, and in Hungary, the land of your forefathers, as well as elsewhere. Then hear the urgency of this Command: go NOW!! These disciples, who came out of prison had to go and preach immediately. They did not need special reminders, for they were ready to go and tell everyone, what happened, it is recorded, that they were obedient to the divine commandment and they went immediately. We definitely need this reminder of urgency: go NOW, for in our modern time we often fall into the easy chairs and tend to relax after one or two achievements. When the building program is completed or the projects in a given church are achieved, Oh, how good it is to sit down and rest. Some say: ‘Jet the others do the work now”. But the urgent message of the Lord God Almighty is: “Go and tell the wondrous work of our Heavenly Father: NOW!!!! Talk to someone in your family, or your friends, or in your neighborhood. There are many who wait for your words and would be happy to hear about Jesus Christ. Christianity is a journey from the cradle to the grave. From the beginning of our earthly pilgrimage till we arrive safely home to be with our Heavenly Father. We are marching like the galley slaves, from the transient to the eternal, from this temporal world to the next.
