Fraternity-Testvériség, 1978 (56. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1978-01-01 / 1. szám
1 DESMOND D. PARRAGH: (Deputy Bishop of Calvin Synod) €aáter Easter is a paradox! It deals with contradictory elements. It is concerned with life and death. If we take Easter seriously, we must come to grips with certain basic facts of human existence. Death is one fact we cannot deny. If we say it does not exist, within five minutes a passing funeral procession may proclaim our folly. Only a fool will treat death lightly. This is the enemy with which Jesus Christ came to grips. All the evil forces of the world had assembled themselves for one vast assault on the soul of Jesus and it seemed that their victory was complete and overwhelming. He was dead! Against this forbidding background gloomily lepicted in the New Testament, Easter dawned with radiant splendor. Out of the shadows and darkness of the tomb stepped forth a Conqueror. The disciples became convinced that he had defeated death. Eleven men were lifted from the depths of despair to heights of joy. Cowards were changed into heroes. Confused and bewildered men suddenly glimpsed the divine purpose in life, death and resurrection of their Master. History reveals no transformation more startling than the changed lives of these disciples. It was the resurrection of Christ that made Christianity a world-wide faith. It became the cornerstone of the Christian Church. Lacking it, there would have been no Church, no New Testament, no Gospel. FRATERNITY Official Organ of The Hungarian Reformed Fed. of America Edited by Officers of the Federation Published quarterly — four times a year. Subscription for non-members in U.S.A. and Canada $2, elsewhere $3 a year. Office of Publication: Bethlen Press, Inc., Ligonier, Pa. 15658 POSTMASTER—Send Form 3579 to Editorial Office: 3216 New Mexico Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016. Telephone: (202) 244-7555. Editorial Committee: Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor— Rt. Rev. Arpad George, President Associate Editors— László L. Eszenyi, Executive Vice-President, Elmer E. Vargo, Secretary, Joseph S. Molnár, Treasurer. Second Class Postage Paid at the Post Office in Ligonier, Pa. 15658. At this Easter season, we find ourselves once again in a chaotic world. It is a world torn and tortured by tensions, suspicions, ill will, fear, hate, flaming nationalism, and bitter racial strife. Understandably, many are so discouraged that they are surrendering to a benumbing fatalism or an overpowering despair. With all honesty we must admit that we find the Resurrection difficult to hold. Perhaps then we may take some comfort in discovering that the disciples likewise found the story hard to believe. We find in the gospel of Luke (Luke 24:11) ... but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” Just as blunt as that! “Idle tale” was translated by Moffatt as “nonsense.” No beating around the bush with them, no fancy rationalization; the Resurrection — nonsense! The Resurrection story has been made up in order for the book to come out more pleasantly; a chapter tacked on at the end to alter classic tragedy and to cover up the grim truth of God’s abdication on Calvary. So we have emphasized the teachings of Jesus, held him up as moral example and prized the Bible as literature, but have said of the Resurrection: it is an idle tale, nonsense. But wait a moment. If it be nonsense, then we must in all honesty try to make sense out of facts like these: the church, for example, or Paul, or the New Testament itself, for they do not explain the Resurrection, the Resurrection rather is the only explanation of them. So it is with all that has followed in their wake: The Divine Comedy, and Pilgrim’s Progress, Augustine, a Bach chorale, St. Francis . . . and your grandfather in church before you . . . None of them explaining the Resurrection but all making sense only in the light of its truth. W e may find the Resurrection incredible but no thoughtful man can dismiss it as an idle tale — nonsense. We also find in Luke (Luke 24:37): “But they were startled and frightened.” Does that not strike closer home? If the Resurrection is true, then life does make sense and we are relieved for a moment... but, then, afraid. For if it is true, life does make sense but only on God’s terms — not on ours! The Resurrection means, that God is intent on the fulfillment of his purposes, that he is in dead earnest about the establishment of his Kingdom, and that what we are set on is sure to fall in rubbish at our feet and at his, if it is not also what lie is set on. No wonder history is forever being rewritten in blood and anguish, for we try to write it without counting on his determination and then have to back up again and 2
