Magyar Egyház, 1982 (61. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1982-05-01 / 5-6. szám
MBGyfiK ecyftnz 12. oldal before the congregation, their willingness to become members of our church and pledge themselves to be faithful members of our church. For unity, congregations form a Classis administered by an elected Dean. The Classes form a Synod administered by an elected Bishop. All elected administerial officers are only ‘primus inter pares’, first among their equal peers. Our church upholds the commandment: Go and make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). *** In the book “Faith and Teachings of Jesus, ” our simple faith and the ethics of our Magyar Reformed Church are presented as taken from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and as our forefathers lived it for more than four centuries with perseverance and steadfastness through the greatest persecutions. This faith produced martyrs, galley slaves; created national heroes, statesmen, prominent writers, and scientists who served not only their own people but all of mankind. The members and ministers of our churches organized The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America on July 5, 1896. This is a Fraternal Life Insurance and Sick Benefit Society incorporated by an Act of the Congress of the United States in the District of Columbia on March 2, 1907. Its purpose is: to furnish its members with life, accident, and health insurance; to care for the children of its deceased members; to care for destitute and aged members, within the limits of its By-Laws, at the Bethlen Home in Ligonier, Pennsylvania; and to promote social, fraternal, and cultural activities relating to our Hungarian Reformed heritage among its members, among Americans of Hungarian descent, and among all others who are willing to conform with the fraternal objectives of the Federation. The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America is the largest Hungarian organization outside of Hungary. It is the connecting link between the Hungarian Reformed Churches in the United States and Canada, with branches in the local congregations. It is impossible to give a full account of the benefits that this organization has rendered to our churches and its members in the past. We can promote and preserve our cultural heritage by joining the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America. We take care of the sick and aged members of our Church in: The Bethlen Home, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, and in Lorántffy Otthon, Akron, Ohio, which is the property of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Akron, Ohio. SUMMARY OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH The Bible has two main parts: the Old and the New Testaments. Our Christian religion relies on the whole Bible, and regards the Old Testament as the Source and the New Testament as the Fountain of Faith. The Christian religion is based upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is a revelation of God as a loving Father and of God’s purpose: the establishment of the Kingdom of God with the filial obligation of all people to seek and enter this Kingdom and live as children of God in universal brotherhood. The Christian Faith is based upon essential truths that are to be accepted and believed as Jesus taught them. They are as follows: I. There is an eternal holy and righteous God, who created, sustains, and rules the world and provides for it. II. God created, sustains, and rules the world and provides for it with the purpose of establishing His Kingdom. III. God created our first parents Adam and Eve sinless and innocent; but they, having willfully disobeyed God’s command, became sinners and from them their descendants inherited a frail and fallible nature. IV. God is holy and righteous', therefore, disobedience to His laws or commandments results is not only sin but also dire consequences. V. God is righteous, but He is also a merciful Father, who has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but desires that the wicked turn from their evil ways and live. VI. The promised Deliverer is Jesus of Nazareth, whom we call our Savior. VII. Jesus revealed to us that although we are born with a propensity to disobey God, we may, by true repentance and faith in God, enter into the Kingdom, which is defined as salvation of the soul. VIII. The purpose of our life is to know God, to develop our personality of intelligence, kindness, and responsibility to live in God’s Kingdom as children of God. IX. We are trusted and responsible children of God and as each one of us values, helps, and forgives the other, so does God value, help, and forgive each one of us. X. At the end of our earthly life our bodies return to dust, but our souls return to God. Our faith is expressed in our worship service without ceremonies. We go to church to praise our heavenly Father as Jesus taught us, to confess our frailty and fallibilities, and to hear the Gospel which declares that God is a loving Father who is always ready and willing to help us if we are willing to live as our Savior taught us. We are thankful that Jesus instituted the sacrament of Baptism through which we join our church. We humbly partake in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, which reminds us of the faith and teachings of Jesus; — that he died for these on the cross that we may live. These are our most precious Christian heritages. They encourage us to be faithful and loyal members of our church. We steadfastly propagate our faith and the universal brotherhood of mankind. Our Magyar Reformed Church is the only denomination that upholds this simplicity of the Christian Faith. We should be faithful to this precious heritage for as long as we live!
