Calvin Synod Herald, 1993 (93. évfolyam, 2-6. szám)

1993-05-01 / 3. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- 7

From Our Watchtower on West

garian, continental and American background which gave godly courage to our pioneer fathers at Plymouth Rock..to the Pilgrims, to the German immigrants in Pennsylvania and to the Hungarian pioneers in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, .nay even in California..

Scientists often talk about the need for basic research (and what Hungarian and Hungarian Jewish scientists did for science in America!! Neumann, Szilard, Wignert, Teller, von Karman). We need basic knowledge, ground rules in science., and we need the same in religion. Without these we easily get lost, .and now actually millions get lost in the spiritual no man's land in Protestant and Roman Catholic America.. We Americans are anxious, high-strung people. We live in moving, uprooted communities. Young and old we need orientation in this chaotic world of change and drift.

We are a member congregation of the United Church of Christ..We ourselves try to be bridge builders to prepare a path for fűmre generations. The lastrear-guard of the Hungarian immigrant stock is still with us. And still a strong, though aging guard of old country educated preachers with American graduate studies at the best Universities and Seminaries, are working as pastors in our congregations. It is time to take account of and if possible hand over the time honored, and time tested "treasures" of our Reformation Faith. The task is not an easy one because even the Reformation, Reformed Evangelical Faith was carried in "earthen vessels", represented sometimes with so crude and primitive congregational life (witch-hunting Pilgrims, pastor baiting German and Hungarian churches) that often our own young people went their own way, but very often from bad to worse..What about the noble spiritual heritage of the Reformed Church in Hungary which kept that Church without any spiritual break for over 400 years? What about the resilient tough Calvinist Faith of the Pilgrims who came to establish a colony for the glory of God? Can

"Cursed be the man who does not heed the words of this covenant.Hear the words of this covenant and do them.. "Jer.ll:3,6

"But you are a chosen race, royal priesthood..God's own people." 1 Peter 2:9

Since God so willed from the beginning of time that man should be saved that man may strive to know the truth, there was, there is and there shall always be THE CHURCH. And this Church of God is the called and assembled congregation of believers, the community of all saints, who do learn to know God by Word and by the Holy Spirit, remembering Jesus the Christ. .Church people worship God in spirit and in truth..and by faith receive the benefits earned for them by Jesus the Christ himself. (Second Helvetic Confession ch. 17,1) And this August, wise mature confession was accepted by our forefathers in Debrecen, Hungary in 1567..and even for us it is good indeed to repeat, nay even memorize these words.

It is good to know that our fathers and mothers believed in a Great God, the God of judgement and mercy who willed and still wills the salvation of men, all men.. Can we have a better faith as we enter with our astronauts and space stations the greater expanding universe, the CHURCH MUST NOT RETREAT.. It is always thoughtful and wise to know where you stand, where you come from what are your roots. Can we afford to squander the spiritual heritage tested by the fire of the centuries?! Of course I am talking about the Reformation faith, built on the whole Bible with special Hunwe afford to by-pass this heritage?

Could you believe me personally, if I bear testimony, personal testimony: This old fashioned Reformed Faith was good enough for my fathers and mothers, it is good enough for me.

THIS REFORMED FAITH with Hungarian, American Hungarian and New England background is a God-centered faith. We believe in a Great Sovereign Lord-God (Úristen), the God of Creation and of Providence, the Lord of History. We believe that the Church is an instrument of God's grace, the Church of the Word of God. And this Word of God, contained in the Bible is preached to you by pastors, minister, preachers (I like that word) This word (you better read the Bible yourself also) becomes personal message to you through the inner testimony of the Holy Spirit..Yes the Bible, Hymns, Psalms and prayers, the fellowship of the brethren, Jesus the Christ, grace, efficient grace, forgiving grace, the perseverance of the Christian man, the testimony of the Holy Spirit, the glory of God, to serve God, worship him and learn to love Him through Jesus the Christ because your heart is thankful and courageously joyful for your salvation, liberation, new life. These may sound strange, harsh angular, old fashioned, square and antiquated for a novelty loving young generation. You may even use the communication gap and say I do not understand, but you do..take time out.. WE NEED STURDY ADULT FAITH FOR THE SPACE AGE. And let me remind you that this was the faith of the Calvinist fathers in Germany, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, England and Scotland, Hungary and this was the faith of the Pilgrims. They came to establish a colony for the glory of God.

We still claim this Reformed Faith for the First Hungarian Evangelical and Reformed Church in Los Angles. We are member church of the Southern California Conference of the United Church of Christ and we claim spiritual membership in Calvin Synod..Are we worthy of this faith. .No, not really not entirely..but we do strive and we offer our burning hearts. We love this faith of our fathers and mothers and ancestors and for the glory of God we aim to keep the doors open for faithful loyal people and for souls seeking spiritual haven.

Column by Rev. Julius Pool (California)

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