Calvin Synod Herald, 1986 (86. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1986-06-01 / 3. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 8 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA Limping Along_____________ -------------------------------- Review of Dr. Bela Vassady’s newest book The author asked me to write a review of his newest book to the readers of the Calvin Synod Herald — Reformátusok Lapja. This fact determines the scope and nature of this writing: I shall list some reasons which make the reading of this book important for our American—Hungarian Reformed people. Let us see four of them! The first one is that this book gives us an insight into the life of a professor who taught many of our pastors in various seminaries. E.g. he was my professor both in Debrecen and in Princeton; in Debrecen I could even be his seminarian, that is a privileged person to enter freely the library of the systematic theology, and thus I could watch closely the ambitious professor in 1939—43 as he was teaching, writing, debating, traveling, organizing, running. This book unveils the confessed motivations and shaping sources of this feverish life. It is deeply moving e.g. to read how the mixed marriage of his parents made him an ecumenical pioneer; how the bilingual atmosphere of the parental home helped the theological student of two continents to become an essay-winning theological professor without ever pastoring a congregation; with the openness of humor and gratitude he writes about the details of how he found his “predestined wife” who became “indispensable both in theology and in life” for him... Then this book is also important, because it is the recollection of a church leader about events which embrace one of the most critical periods of the Hungarian nation and of the Reformed Church in Hungary. Dr. Vassady became “the theologian in action” and an “almost bishop of the T ranstibiscian Synod of the Reformed Church in Hungary” when the nation and the church were existentially threatened by forces inside and outside (1935—1946). Although the author writes more about the personal and family struggle for survival than about the life and death struggle of the nation and of the church, nevertheless his recollections are invaluable source materials particularly from the view point of how an ecumenical church leader saw and survived this tragic period of the national disaster... The book is brought even closer to us by the fact that in it Dr. Vassady honestly unveils the physical-spiritual pains of an emigrant as well. Not everyone left Hungary when the Russians replaced the Germans there. The Vassadys were among those who left, although not with the thought of settling in America. How could it happen then that the one who encouraged his colleagues in the ministry to stay in Hungary with their people for Christ’s sake (p. 73), finally settled in America: Dr. Vassady painfully struggles with this question, and anyone who is spiritually sensitive, may keep track of this psychological-spiritual process with great interest and empathy. For the readers of the Reformátusok Lapja another question might be just as intriguing: how could it happen that Dr. Vassady and his wife rendered their ecumenical ministry mostly outside of the organized form of the American Hungarian Reformed Life. Although the book does not deal with this question expressively, but implicitly raises the grave questions: in what way does the Hungarian Reformed style of piety differ from American fundamentalism or cheap liberalism; by what colors can we enrich the rainbow of American Protestantism; what are the obligations and dangers of a bridgebuilding ministry here and in the old country; what are the new tasks of the ecumenical work in our present world? etc. But perhaps the Christian confessions of the authors make this book most interesting and valuable. Compared with Augustine’s “Confessions”, the “Confessions of a Pilgrim Theologian”are not written in prayer form, but the author is fully aware of the fact that the word “confession” has a twofold meaning: confessing sin and confessing faith. He commences and concludes his work with this concept. The title of the book already demonstrates this vision as he uses for it Calvin’s words: “It is better to limp along the path of God’s Word than to dash with all speed outside it.” But the author practices this repentant faith most authentically in the last chapter where he confesses his godly griefs under the following headings: “That Domineering It,” “Two Selves in Me,” “The Pitfalls of Egocentricism,” “Wavering in Family Devotions,” “ M isguided Prayers,” “ M ishandling Time,” “Stored-up Theology.” This is where the authors come the closest to us. Because when the Vassadys bear convincing testimony to the Hungarian Reformed spiritual awakening, our hearts rejoice with them; but when they dare to practice the power of the Spirit in a Reformedstyled repentance, who would not feel that a brother in Christ speaks here to us, not just a professor or a church leader or a fellow emigrant. (This is why it would have been more proper to write the subtitle in plural: “Confessions of Pilgrim Theologians”; the author himself writes, in the dedication, of his wife: “This is our book, not only mine.”) Flawless English, poetic touch, witty captions and clear printing make this book an enjoyable reading, too. It is highly recommended to purchase it from: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 255 Jefferson A ve., S W„ Grand Rapids, MI 49503 ($13.95). Dr. John Butosi Something--------------------------to think about 7o: Jesus, Son of Joseph. Woodcrafter’s Carpenter Shop, Nazareth 25922 From: Jordan Management Consultants, Jerusalem 25644 Dear Sir: Thank you for submitting the resumes of the 12 men you have picked for managerial positions in our new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests... and we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each one of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant. It is the staffs opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capacity. Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of anger. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been black-listed by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale. One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend Judus Iscariot as your controller and righthand man. All of the other profiles are selfexplanatory. We wish you every success in your new venture. Sincerely yours, James, son of John
