Calvin Synod Herald, 1996 (96. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1996-03-01 / 2. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD____________________- 6 -What is Truth? by Rev. Alexander Jalsó “Pilate said to Him (Jesus): 'What is truth?' Atter he had said this, he went out to the Jews again, and told them, I find no crime in Him (Jesus)." John 18:38 According to our denominational calendar, the second Sunday in February was set aside for "The Church and Criminal Justice System Sunday". This topic should be popular because everybody likes truth, law and order, justice served, that is; the wrongdoer be found guilty, and the innocent exonerated. If we set up the basic triangle -TRUTH - COURT - VERDICT - we will find that this triangle is lopsided because in certain cases, truth and verdict are quite far from each other. Our Lord did not answer Pontius Pilate's question “WHAT IS TRUTH?" We can conclude from our Lord's attitude that even today there are many unanswerable questions concerning truth and justice. A. Does the society create criminals through unemployment, discrimination, prejudice, greed and unfair distribution of wealth? Unless you belong to a minority, you do not really know what discrimination is. Unless you lost your job and hospitalization with it, you have not experienced yet the humiliation in the case of emergency. Unless you were forced to refuse your child's small request for candy or a toy (when the neighbor's children have almost everything) you have not felt shame yet. Can poverty, being laid off, frustration drive people into criminal activities? B. What is your preference, and which one is more important if you have to pick between these two? Should a criminal go free and remain unpunished, or should an innocent be found guilty and convicted? If there is a place where we face our imperfections and the successful manipulation of unscrupulous people then it is our legal system!- If we let the murderer, thief, molester go free, who is protecting the public? Should not the dangerous wrongdoers be kept behind bars?- If, unfortunately, innocent people are locked up, and they spend many years in jail, and finally the truth comes out, how do we compensate them? In the case of capital punishment, there is no way to set things straight. C. Perfect crime and the right of the victim. A shrewd, slick, careful criminal can kill as many people as he wants, rob as many banks as he wants, molest as many ladies as he wants, steal as many cars as he wants, if there is no WITNESS, EVIDENCE or PROOF that he has committed any of these crimes, he cannot be sentenced. It is his constitutional right to get a FAIR TRIAL. But, on the other hand, whoever lost his/her property, dignity, integrity or even life, where were his/her rights to defend himself/herself? What should be the ultimate purpose of the defense lawyers; to see that justice is served or "get the client off the hook"? D. HOW CAN WE MAKE THESE THREE COINCIDE? Do the word of God, (thou shall not...), the moral standards of the society (it was not really nice), and the prohibition of the law coincide? What is the direction of the influence in our country? Do religious beliefs and teachings affect justice or the liberal interpretation of the law dull our conscience? E. Would you rather PUNISH (deter) or EDUCATE (prevent)? If you would say, yes, education is better than punishment (it costs as much to keep a criminal in jail as a student in the college), where would you start the eduAMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA cation? Kindergarten, elementary-junior/senior high school, college? When we wish to have a balanced budget who can tell what do crime, cheating, embezzlement, sponging on the government cost? Do we have any idea how many millions would be saved if honesty, decency, integrity would be upheld? Does God's word offer something positive in this respect? Our Lord had known well what truth is! "I am praying for them...Sanctify them in truth; Thy word is truth." Also: "Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you continued in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'" John 17:/9a & 32; 8:31-32. □CM To be perfectly just is an attribute of the divine nature; to be so to the utmost of our abilities is the glory of man. Joseph Addison. Justice is truth in action. Victor Hugo. Truth is justice's hand-maid, freedom is its child, peace is its companion, safety walks in its steps, victory follows its train; it is the brightest emanation from the gospel; it is the attribute of God. Sydney Smith, in Lady Holland's Memoir. To all our good friends to whom it may concern... Grateful thanks to those who took time to communicate satisfaction; especially to the ones who sent checks for new or renewed subscriptions to our Paper. Our special thanks to those who provide for the artistic touch to our Paper (not in budget!). Our very special thanks for the additional color touch to make the issues printed in a more pleasing touch goes, again and repeatedly, to Lenke Volosin. Very special thanks from our publication to Rose Balog, Ida Kelemen, William Köteles, Steve & Dorothy Fromhercz, Rev. Dr. István Zolcsik (Brazil), whose exemplary donations added years to the life of our Synod HeraldIAmerikai Magyar Reformátusok Lapja. They are our life subscribers. Multos annos!
