Calvin Synod Herald, 2012 (113. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2012-01-01 / 1-2. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 9 in conscience he refused to join the regiment. “Your principles will be just fine,” said the Czar, “when the Kingdom of God comes.” “For me,” replied the peasant, “the reign of God is already here.” Are we standing on our heads in this world? Are we a beatitude people? If so, then from Jesus, “Congratulations!” How fortunate are you who see this vision, who believe in it, and who are midwives at its birth. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, world to its end. Amen. David B. Bowman, Ph.D Saratoga, CA CHANGE OF ADDRESS FORM Name....................................................................... Subscription No...................................................... Old Address:........................................................... New Address:......................................................... Passaic, NJ The 115 years old church and the 50 years old Calvin Hall What happened to Epiphany? On January 6th, was the 12th Day of Christmas. Perhaps many of our Churches did not have a time to commemorate this day, but I understand that in Churches, where there is a worship service is no longer a well attended either.... because most people believe that Christmas is over on the 26th of December when they shop the after Christmas sales. Christmas is past. It’s ancient history. Santa and his sleigh are in safe seclusion. Christmas carols have been shelved till November 2012. New Year’s Day has come and gone. Only one college football game remains. It’s a shame that Epiphany has been relegated to the back burners of religious holidays because we need the angel’s message of “good news of great joy for all people.” The movie “The Nativity” was a great movie but they got it all wrong. Yes, the Magi were astrologers from the east. Yes, they did travel to Jerusalem. They showed up at the Palace and politely asked: “Excuse us, where is He who has been bom King of the Jews?” It was hardly a complex question. Someone could have pointed down the hall way. What did happen is King Herod called an emergency cabinet meeting composed of his closest advisers, and the highest religious authorities. After consultation, the king quoted a cryptic bit of scripture and the wise men were sent on their way to Bethlehem. The star led them and came to rest over “the place where the child was. When they saw the star they were oveijoyed.” But the baby was no longer in a manger. Mary and Joseph and the baby had moved into a house. The movie provided a great, enduring visual. It looked like the Christmas card. The cave, the shepherds, the baby in a manger and the wise men with their camels. Not so. Matthew writes: “On coming to the house they saw the child.. .and they worshiped him.” January 6th celebrates the visit of the Magi and the revelation of God to mankind in human form in the person of Jesus. Herod was not happy. All Jerusalem was disturbed. And rightly so. Herod was jealous, merciless, suspicious and ruthless. He made sure no one challenged his kingship. Over the years he managed to drown his wife’s brother, the high priest; he killed his favorite wife, her mother and three of his own sons. When Herod got disturbed, everybody got disturbed. When this baby was bom in Bethlehem, King Herod was threatened. The religious rulers, who knew the prophecies, did their best to ignore him. Today modem religions have taken the indifference of the ancient priests and transformed it into the hatred of Herod. Modem religions and nations are afraid of the baby. Islamic Saudi Arabia forbids followers of the baby from bringing their bibles into the country. Islamic Iran arrests and holds without trial, whose who would follow the baby. In some Buddhist nations the education and economic rights of the baby’s followers are denied these government services. What can be so frightening about a baby that would make world religions and rulers tremble? The Bethlehem Baby didn’t Continued on page 10
