Magyar Egyház, 1980 (59. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)

1980-09-01 / 9. szám

MAGYAR EG/llAZ

To maintain the idea that worship is all that matters is heretical, to' say that our witness in the world is all that matters is heretical. Worship and witness, or service in the world, are inseparable. The church is the body of Christ and it renews its life at the Source of life, God. Listen to this description of what goes on here and in churches of every order and name throughout the earth:

“In the hour of worship the drama of salvation is reenacted, the Event of God-in-Christ is focused on the screen of contemporary life, the holy God confronts man in his sin, and, baring a Father’s heart, bids him come home. Christ himself comes to worshiping man in the Word through the human acticities of preaching and teaching and in the earthly materials of the sacraments. Some worshipers are indifferent. Others are moved to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Those who acknowledge their need and accept God’s redemptive act respond with confession, hymns of praise, and the giving of themselves to Christ. They go out to sin again and know it. But they also go out to witness — one to face a beguiling temptation with new insight; another to stand alone in some significant controversy because his conscience is captive to the Word; and still another to cope heroically with the newfound knowledge of a killing disease. The ‘new community’ is at work in the world. Those who worship, witness.”

So we go to church and are serious about it (not always solemn) because Jesus found it necessary and desirable; because the church is not just another human society. It is God’s idea and work. The church is the people of the new covenant and as such is no accidental element in the Christian faith. The church is a basic part of the divine purpose, willed by God. It was brought to do God’s work in the world. Human beings will worship something or someone: corporation, political leader, machines, money, power, science, or status. This is our human nature. Until man worships the true God, he will engage in all sorts of monkey business, skullduggery and downright demonic acts. Moreover, until he finds himself and learns who he is, he is lost.

This is why we say, Going to church? Yes. And we are serious about it. We cannot but be serious, because in worship of God, and in witness to Christ’s way, truth, and life where we live, love, work, play, and vote, we lead an examined life.

In worship — in quiet meditation and corporate prayer, in listening to God’s word coming through the words read in Scripture lessons and in the words preached, in the hymns, in the sacraments of the presence and love of God, in the anthems and organ music offered as gifts of love to the Lover of beauty, truth, goodness, righteousness, and wholeness — we are found, and we find ourselves and are healed of our brokenness.

“Going to church! You can’t be serious!” And we say, without being on the defensive “Oh, yes, we are, and we are serious about what is done there and what we may do there in our response to what God gives and asks. We are going to church because we need to live our lives in the companionship of the best community there is. We should know that even when we are happy with our homes, our work, and our friends, we need a wider com-9. oldal

munity with whom we can unashamedly care about the things we want to care about. In such a companionship, in such a community we can be open and easy, rather than solemnly rigid. Do we have such companionship in our churches? We are learning that every word we speak and every dollar we give to the church’s total ministry can signal that we care.

God speaks to man in worship. Man speaks to God. Through the dialogue between God and man we learn both the demands and the promise of the living God. We then go out in mission. Thank God, the people of God get into every corner of the world. Often we falter, often we draw back, but then we come to worship God again, and keep our appointment with Christ. The remnant — the living church — becomes a mighty army with banners flying when it remembers that we are equally a worshiping and a witnessing community. Jesus “went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. ” Can a disciple be greater than his Master and Lord?

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We recommend Rev. L. Hunyady’s books: the Faith and Teaching of Jesus and Keresztyén Vallástan to the members and especially to the presbiters and youth. These books are concise treaties on our Hungarian Reformed religion and ethics.

Order from Ret;. L. Hunyady, 50 Washington Ave., Colonia, N.J. 07067. $2.50 each. **********************************************

PRESIDENTIAL LETTER ON HUNGARIAN-A MERIC A NS

Hungary is a nation with a rich cultural heritage, a strong national identity, and an embattled history. Throughout the centuries, Hungarians have struggled to preserve their independence and their cherished ideals.

America’s strength has constantly been renewed by the people of all nations who have come seeking freedom and opportunity and brought with them new energy to add to the complex mosaic of our pluralistic society. Hungarian-Americans have made invaluable contributions to this mosaic. Antal Dorati, Eugene Ormandy, George Solti, and George Szell have enriched our music, and scientists and doctors, such as Albert Szent-György, Edward Teller and Eugene Wigner, have helped push forward man’s knowledge.

As President of the United States of America, I share with Hungarian-Americans the ideal of freedom and the dedication to fundamental human rights for all people. We must continue to throw the searchlight of the world’s conscience on tryant, oppression and human suffering until all people of the earth can at last enjoy fundamental human rights. Archibald Macleish once said: “There are those who will say that the liberation of humanity, freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a dream. They are right. It is. It is the American dream. ” As long as I am president I will strive to make it not just a dream but a reality.

Stephen R. Aiello, Special Assistant to the President for Ethnic Affairs