Calvin Synod Herald, 2006 (107. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2006-09-01 / 9-10. szám
CALV IN SYNOD HERALD 3 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: As I write these words, many of our congregations are preparing forthe celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Throughout the United States, and the world, plans are being made for the commemoration. Reformed, Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Baptist and other denominations are working together to properly commemorate this watershed event in Hungarian and world history. This is truly something to celebrate. Today we are privileged to have in our congregations and communities many who are “veterans” of this revolution, who 50 years ago put their lives on the line in the cause of both political and religious freedom. We need to honor them. But at the same time, we need to honor the causes for which they were willing to risk their lives, and why they were willing to risk their lives. How important was that Revolution? Much more important than anyone could ever imagine. Even though it did not win immediate freedom for Hungary in 1956, and even though it brought terrible repression for almost a decade afterward, the true effect of that October became evident in the following decades. Three New Books by Dr. Chuck Baynard Full Bible Publications announces the release of three new books by Dr. Chuck Baynard of Clover, South Carolina. “The ABCs of Reformed Theology” is a commentary on the 2nd Helvetic Confession with 40 lesson plans for use in small group studies. “When the Mountain Thundered” is a commentary on the Westminster Larger Catechism concerning the application of the Ten Commandments for today. The third volume is a groundbreaking commentary on the Belgic Confession. These books are available for purchase over the Internet at LuLu.com/observer. Dr. Baynard, a long time resident of Clover, South Carolina, is married to Mollie Adams Baynard. They have one daughter, Beth, who teaches at Clover High School. Dr. Baynard is pastor of Clover Evangelical Presbyterian Church and a theological consultant to Calvin Synod of the Hungarian Reformed Church. Dr. Edwin Elliott Full Bible Publications 9400 Fairview Ave Manassas, VA 20110 (703) 335-2844 The ABC’s of Reformed Theology When the Mountain Thundered Commentary on the Belgic Confession Hungary became the country in the Soviet Empire that all the other captive nations came to envy for the freedoms they won by that one event where tens of thousands of young Hungarians stood up for freedom. Hungary was the country which became the freest of the Eastern Block. Citizens of East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Romania went to Hungary to taste freedom. Eventually, Soviet soldiers and the Soviet flag were not to be seen in Hungary, while in the neighboring countries they dominated the landscape. And it was Hungary, not Germany, that destroyed the “Iron Curtain.” East Germans, who would have been killed by East German border guards if they tried to cross to West Germany, discovered that this was not the case in Hungary. And they began to stream across the Hungarian frontier to Austria without being shot. Once the “Iron Curtain” was not enforced by the Hungarians, it evaporated in the rest of the captive countries. This is the gift given us by those revolutionaries of 1956 - the eventual freedom not only of Hungary, but of all those peoples taken captive following World War II. How to properly celebrate this great event? Surely, we will have wonderful gatherings, dinners and speeches. But we need to be careful that we not let the ideals of those courageous men and women be forgotten. There is a story about a flock of ducks that lived in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains, with a wonderful lake as their home. Unfortunately, their ducklings were in danger from numerous predators, and they realized they would have to leave their beautiful valley if their young were to have a future. So one day the whole flock decided to fly out of the valley and find a new home. They began the arduous journey of crossing the high mountains, and discovered they were much higher than they had anticipated. Flying higher and higher into the thinning air, flying higher than any had ever been before, they succeeded in crossing the mountain and came to the next valley, where they found an even more beautiful lake, without predators that would endanger their young. They settled down, raised their families, and lived a wonderful, peaceful life. And once a year they all gathered at one end of the lake and one of the elder ducks stood up on a stump and told of the gallant, heroic flight of their ancestors. But they had gotten so comfortable in their new home they had all forgotten how to fly. Today we must not forget how to fly, how our heroes scaled the mountains they faced. Our commemoration of 1956 must be reflected in the continuation of the ideals embodied by those who were willing to risk their personal comfort for a cause that was of even greater importance. We must recognize that even today political oppression is the norm in many places in this world, and we must speak out and encourage our government leaders to do what they can to curtail human rights abuses, whether at home or abroad. And as Christians in a free land, we have the opportunity and obligation to stand strong for Christ’s ideal of brotherhood for all peoples throughout the world. By holding these two ideals of the 1956 Revolution heroes, we properly honor their legacy. Rt. Rev. Koloman Karl Ludwig, Bishop □□□
