Calvin Synod Herald, 1984 (84. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1984-08-01 / 4. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

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REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1—13. Text: “For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.” (1 Corinthians 13:9—10)

Introduction: It is so wonderful to see the sanctuary full of worshippers at Christmas and Easter, however, after the joyous holidays when the faithfuls filled up the pews usually comes the “regular service” with the “normal attendance”. Why do not the Christmas spirit and the Easter joy last longer in our hearts?

Christ turns me on but the Church turns me off

Let it be immaterial at the present time if this statement true, honest, and valid or just one of the many phony excuses. No doubt in a few cases good reasons may justify such an expression. Before we would go any further let us see how do similar statements sound even if you can substantiate them;

— Children turn me on but marriage

Brief meditation

turns me off — is not marriage the right relationship to have children?

— Diploma turns me on but college turns me off — would you hire anyone who bought his or her diploma?

— Pay check turns me on but hard work turns me off — can you find a more honorable way to earn your pay check than hard work?

Is there anything noble and desirable in life that is granted easily without any sweat and sacrifice?

What will turn people on?

Comfort. Almost everyone has experienced serious losses either in the form of the death of loved ones or suffering from a disaster which resulted in a serious financial setback. Often behind a smiling face a bleeding heart is hiding. Whose heart is affectionate and sensitive is in need of comfort and the Bible is the comforting words of God;

Dating the Crucifixion

For centuries scholars have tried to date the crucifixion of Jesus. Now two scientists at Oxford have reexamined the astronomical data of Jesus's time and reported their findings in the British journal Nature. Their date: Friday, April 3, A.D. 33.

Colin Humphreys, a materials scientist, and Graeme Waddington, an astrophysicist, based their investigations, as others have, on the clues on the four gospels: that the

NESTLE BOYCOTT ENDS

WASHINGTON, D.C. After seven years of sometimes acrimoniuous debate, the International Nestle Boycott Committee and the giant Nestle Corporation have come to an agreement on guidelines for the company’s marketing of baby formula in developing countries.

The Swiss-based food processor announced here its agreement to endorse and implement the International Infant Formula Code of the World Health Organization. The International Nestle Boycott Committee (INBC), representing 87 religious, labor, women’s, health and other endorsing organizations, agreed to recommend suspension of the boycott of Nestle products.

The Boycott Committee recommended suspension of the boycott at the International Baby Milk Conference in Mexico City, February 2—5. That conference consists of health care professionals, consumer activists, church leaders and other endorsing organizations worldwide of the boycott.

crucifxion took place when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judaea (A.D. 26 to A.D. 36), on a Friday, and on the first day of Passover (Matthew, Mark, Luke) or the day before (John). By the Jewish calendar, that would place it on the fourteenth or fifteenth day of Nisan, a lunar month falling in March and April. The researchers recalculated the dates for 14 and 15 Nisan for the years from A.D. 26 to 36. Only four Fridays emerge. They discard one in A.D. 27 as too early (before Jesus began his public ministry) and one in A.D. 34 as too late (conflicting with the probable date of Paul’s conversion). Between the remaining two, April 7, A.D. 30 and April 3, A.D. 33, they part company with most modern scholars and choose the later date.

They base that choice on a link between a lunar eclipse and the crucifixion. The evidence is admittedly thin: in Acts 19, the apostle Peter invokes an old prophecy that “the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood. ” They also cite a fragment of apocrypha that says “the moon appeared like blood” on the day of the crucifixion. Humphreys and Waddington find that the final stages of a 60 per cent eclipse of the moon on April 3, A.D. S3, would have been visible in Jerusalem — giving the effect of a blood-red moon. Discover!March 1984

— “As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; . . .” Isaiah 66:13.

— “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3—4.

Encouragement. You may say; I need nothing everything is going well! But who knows the future? Who can tell what will be the situation a year from today? Even if we wül enjoy peace and prosperity some people will have to cope with family and health problems. The Bible is also the book of encouragement:

— “Be strong and of good courage, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed; for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail or forsake you, ...” 1 Chronicles 28:20.

— “Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7. Also Philipp 4:6.

Promise. Who will turn down a wonderful offer or a marvelous promise? Is not it considered normal to get ahead in life and increase our possessions? Will it make you happy to hear that you will have less trouble and more success? The precious promises of the Bible make the Holy Scriptures so dear to us:

— “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19.

— “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7. Also Matthew 21:22.

Are you really turned off or you are the one who turns away?

—Why do you need comfort? Because

you were treated unfairly (who is so lucky that he or she has never been mistreated?) or because your conscience bothers you? Are you sad because you could not make a good deal or because you passed up the chance to praise the Lord and help others?

—Why do you need encouragement? Because you wish to achieve, possess and be more or because you know that God sees everything and He is just? It is different to dare a person to show off or stand behind him/her to resist temptation.

— Why kind of promise do you welcome? God will love you more than others, He will protect you, vindicate your cause, and punish our enemies? Or; your sins are forgiven through repentance and Christ’s atonement? The divine promises do not make our lives easy and fun-loaded but rather challenging, pure, and fruitful.

Conclusion: The difference between “perfect” and “imperfect” will make the distinction between the true and false comfort, encouragement, and promise.

Rev. Alexander Jalso