Calvin Synod Herald, 1984 (84. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1984-06-01 / 3. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Brief meditation Scripture reading: Genesis 3:1—13. Text: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. So then it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. ..." (Romans 7:15—20.) Introduction: The overwhelming majority of the people will agree on the main issues and general goals we are striving for; freedom, peace, prosperity, happiness, and good will. The real problem is not the final goals but how to achieve them? If we wish to spell out in one sentence the different opinions of the world and the Bible this is what we can say; the world complains that not enough has been given and the Bible says that things got out of control. Or, the scientists recommend; improve your system and thinking, but the word of God reveals; take your sins very seriously. The origin of sin or the source of trouble — Our scripture reading presents the story of Adam and Eve how they disobeyed God by taking an apple from the forbidden tree and eating it. But they did not do it on their own, there was an instigator, a troublemaker, a liar, the personification of evil; the serpent. The serpent deliberately misled Eve, and wilfully created disharmony between God and men. The consequences were serious and far-reaching; Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden of Eden and their offsprings were born in sin. When Churches Mind the Children An astonishing number of local churches house day-care centers, according to a new book, When Churches Mind the Children: A Study of Day Care in Local Parishes. Eileen W. Lindner, a Presbyterian minister and co-author of the book, says that “thousands of local parishes have sensed the deep and widespread need among families for (day care) and have been very responsive.” She estimates that churches provide from forty to seventy percent of all child care in the United States, aside from that provided in private homes. “Most congregations do a remarkable job” with their child-care centers, according to the book. “Judged by such commonly used yardsticks of program quality as staff training, staff-child ratio, and group size, church-housed programs appear to measure up rather well — as well and in some ways better than center-based day care at large,” the book says. Still, says Lindner, “we found a fair number of churches that were relatively indifferent to the child care taking place in their buildings . . . Churches must treat day care not as a Monday through Friday sideline,” she says, “but as an integral part of the congregation’s work and mission ... child care must be an urgent pastoral and prophetic concern for the church.”-8 — — The fundamentalists are taking this story literally, that is everything happened exactly as it is discribed in the Bible word by word; the serpent talked and doublecrossed Eve, Eve believed the devil rather than God so she took a fruit of that desirable tree, and Adam also ate from that banned fruit offered by his wife. The message remains the same if we interpret the disobedience of Adam and Eve figuratively; the relationship between God and men was broken by the rebellious action of our first parents and their rebellion affects even our lives: "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5) — A professor of theology told me; it is sin to want to know more about the origin of sin than presented to us through Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God. Do you take the rebellion of Adam and Eve literally or figuratively it will not change the issue: the harmonious relationship between God and men became interrupted due to human arrogance and its consequences will always be felt. To restore this broken relationship God sent His Son who “reconnected" this severed spiritual connection. (See 1 Peter 2:24, 2 John 2:2 and 4:10.) And how do disagreement, friction, hatred, tragedy start among us? — Sin by premeditated action. The most heinous and wicked crimes are pre-planned. Cain definitely planned to kill his brother Abel and David set up an evil trap to have Uriah killed so his wife Bathsheba will be available for him. Or read the gruesome scheme of Jezebel, 1 Kings 21:1—16. — Sin by sudden shock or surprise. How many times are we sorry for those hasty actions which were precipitated by an unexpected and unpleasant surprise? No one can say that apostle Peter was blood-thirsty or belligerent yet when the Lord was captured in the garden of Gethsemane on the spur of the moment he cut off the right ear of the slave of the high priest, see John 18:10. How many heated discussions resulted in an irrevocable tragedy. — Sin by slowly developed circumstances. You can unnoticeably drift into an unfortunate situation or just become the innocent victim of a harmful predicament you never started. This can happen to an individual, a family or to a whole nation. Revolution starts when people cannot bear the pressure any longer, resentment leads to brutal force and life becomes cheap. Professionals know that unhappy broken families are hotbed for criminals. — Sin by weakness. Why did Jesus Christ include this petition into the prayer He taught us: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”? (Matthew 6:13) Or why did God give this commandment to the Israelites? “You shall not covet . . . anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:17) Christ’s warning is still valid: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) Weakness shall not be mistaken for kindness and understanding, neither permissiveness for good intentions. Conclusion: You may say that the origin of sin is just an ancient story, however, the consequence of it is fatal and extensive. If you take your faith seriously then you know that sin shall not only be repented, confessed and forgiven but also prevented, resisted, and overcome. Please read; Romans 12:18 and 1 Thessalonians 5:15. Rev. Alexander Jalso REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA FOURTH OF JULY On July 4th, on Independence Sunday, we also remember the brilliant generation of patriots, Washington, Jefferson, Hancock, Franklin and their generation, who dared to dream, when necessary pray and fast, of and for freedom. It was cozy and safe to live as a member colony of the British Empire, it was daring, almost a folly to dream and rise up for freedom. But they held certain truths self-evident. Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness was for them a way of life. They had a vision, they studied, read, thought hard and fought well. For long years we lived on the benefits of their duty and sacred honor. We enjoyed the privileges of American citizenship, but now we must accept our responsibilities. We are the richest and strongest nation in the world. But in our perilous life, our cult of soft living, and loose morals, and lifeless religion will imperil the very foundations of the republic. Extend civil responsible rights to all our citizens, anti-poverty legislation, intensive education and responsible, but helpful leadership in the world, are our responsibility. Rev. Julius Paal Once Upon a Time “Once Upon a Time: the Stories We Share” is the name of a newsletter for directors of UCC-related preschool programs. Published twice yearly by the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries, the newsletter contains articles by directors of pre-school programs, books and other resources for parents and teachers, and ideas for children’s activities. In addition, conferences and symposia on issues of interest to pre-school program directors are announced in the newsletter. The January 1984 issue of “Once Upon a Time” includes the article, “A Young Child’s Readiness for Theology,” by the Reverend T. William Taylor. The article gives insight into how children can be helped to “develop a religious system of Christlike values.” “Once Upon a Time” is a free newsletter, and the next issue will be available mid-summer, 1984. If you are a director of a UCC-related preschool program and would like to be on the mailing list of “Once Upon a Time,” write to: Ms. Louis Peeler Secretary for Early Childhood Education, United Church Board for Homeland Ministries 132 W. 31st Street, New York, NY 10001
