Calvin Synod Herald, 1980 (80. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1980-01-01 / 1-2. szám

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

3

PROSPECTS FOR THE NEW DECADE

According to a major international survey, conducted at the end of 1979, the mood of major industrialized countries of the West is somber if not pessimistic as the new decade begins, while the expectation among the less developed nations is more hopeful if not optimistic. In the United States 562 predict that the 80s will be worse than the 70’s, 312 say better, and 132 see no difference. The survey does not deal with ethnic groups, but my suspicion is that the gloomy outlook would be shared by the great majority of Amercain-Hungarians, chanting the old hymn with a death wish: “Abide with me, fast falls the eventide, the darkness deepens ...”

What should we say to this pessimistic-optimistic constellation? As those who just recently sang, “Glory to the new-bom King,” we suggest to transcend it with authentic Christian faith.

Humanly speaking, we have every reason to be pessimistic: our country is loosing friends in the world; a profit-above-all type of technology has ravaged omen vironment and lowered the quality of our lives, consumerism is enhancing drug culture, alcoholism and shattering loneliness; despite our affluence we have no security on the streets or in the dollars; divorce and suicide rates are increasing as we learn to “throw away” children, parents, old folks, religion and life itself; our churches are also loosing not only members, but vision, vigor and vitality as well; and our American-Hungarian community is plagued with personal and ideological warfare under the disguise of patriotism and religion... Yes, we have every reason to be pessimistic, because we cannot even blame others for all this: we ourselves have brought this evil upon ourselves (Isaiah 3:9).

THIS IS THE DAY

This is the day of great rejoicing,

This is the day of grief and sorrow;

This is the day of true happiness,

This is the day, and not tomorrow.

This is the day to do great deeds.

This is the day to win and succeed;

This is the day to do whats undone,

For, tomorrow, there may not be one.

This is the day to be kind and glad,

This is the day for cheering the sad;

This is the day to banish sorrow,

This is the day, and not tomorrow.

Margaret Fekete Csóványos

But if we are truly dissatisfied with life as it is and are convinced that it is in our interest to change, then we may hear the Good News: “The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot master it” (John 1:5). Then, by faith, we may experience that the night is also a time of the unexpected Wedding (Matthew 25:1-10). Then, even if we have no right to anticipate a bright future, we may recapture — by the work of the Word and the Spirit — the insight of our faithful forefathers that history is the field of God’s working (1. Cor. 15:25-28).

Theologically speaking, the opposite to pessimism is not optimism, but FAITH. As Reinhold Niebuhr used to say: “Faith is always imperiled on the one side by despair, and on the other side by optimism. Of these two enemies of faith, optimism is the more dangerous.” Woe to us, if we still boast of chariots and horses, whether atom-driven or not (Psalm 20:8, 33:17). Cursed are we if we trust in man, regardless who that is, and our hearts turn away from the Lord (Jer. 17:5). For thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, and let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the man glory in his riches, but let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices kindness, justice and righteousness in the earth.” (Jer. 9:23-24, 1. Cor. 1:31, 2. Cor. 10:17).

Less optimism, but deeper hope is needed. Hope which knows that history is not a process of evolution, but a series of crises, since the very presence of God’s Kingdom also arouses the anti-forces just as the birth of Christ mobilized evil king Herod and blind Jerusalem (Mt. 2:3). Therefore we should never be distressed by the strange mixture of wheat and tares growing together in the field of God’s world (Mt.