Diakonia - Evangélikus Szemle, 1986
1986 / 1. szám - Summary, Aus dem Inhalt
Diakonia Lutheran Review Summary We are continuing the Tillich meditations. His sermon on Revelation 21:6 entitled ‘The Eternal Now’ is the first article in this issue. (The Eternal Now. London 1963.) The General Secretary of Lutheran World Federation Gunnar St&lsett acquaints us with the directions set down in the Eexecutive Committee’s statement “'The Lutheran World Federation’s Work after the 7th General Assembly”. Approaching the General Assembly in 1990 the programme concentrates on five emphases: Common Responsibilities for the Witness to the Gospel; Ecumenical Responsibility of Lutheran Churches; Development Unity and Strengthening of Community among Lutheran Churches; Response to Human Need iand the Quest for Justice and Peace; Participation of the Whole People of God in the Life of the Church and Society. It would make our understanding of the Lutheran World Federation as a communion more relevant if the programme of the LWF were seen as a joint programme of all member churches. An exhibition in the organisation of the Lutheran National Museum commemorates Peter Bornemisza the great Hungarian reformer of the second part of the 16th century who also made an outstanding name in literary history. The journal carries the address held at the opening of the exhibition with great insight by Professor István Nemeskiirty, an eminent expert of the era. Some of the exhibited documents are shown in the photographs. Under the title „The Wheel of Church History cannot be reversed either” editor Imre Veöreös addresses the anxieties voiced in many quarters prior to the bishops” synod in Rome by those who feared for the achievements of Vatican Council II. In this connection he responds to a relevant article penned by a prelate and published in the local Catholic press and notes with satisfaction that the synod Publication of the Lutheran Church in Hungary Responsible editor: Dr. Zoltán Káldy Editor: Imre Veöreös Editorial and Publishing Office: H—1088 Budapest, Puskin u. 12. Subscriptions to above address. Published every six months. Annual subscription: 130,— Forints. has confirmed Rome’s ecumenical commitment. Professor H. H. Schmid of Zurich discusses the fundamental issues of life and death from the viewpoint of the Bible. In the light of parallels from the history of religion the arguments presented will lead many to amazing, significant perceptions. Rather than being “next world centred” Christianity is a “this world centred” religion. In contrast to other religions and! the Jewish apocalyptic biblical faith is centred on life and on this world instead of on death and the world beyond. God came into the world through Jesus Christ. With this he gives us hope concerning eternity and at the same time a mission also to provide unselfish, humane service to our neighbours. God has already taken care of our eternal future. Christian charity is not motivated by fear of the last judgment, but by Jesus’ liberating work; “I am the resurrection and the life”. The poetry of Daniel Berzsenyi, one of the greatest Hungarian poets at the beginning of the 19th century, written in the classicist style after the antique model reflects the harmony of the personality with the universe. However, this harmony was shattered by the poet’s modern experience of life. He tried to resolve this metaphysical disillusion in various lyrical attitudes: resignation, heroism, serene self-denial, and by trusting his personal God. The answer to faith is formulated in “Prayer”, one of his greatest poems in Which the tragedy of his romantic experience of existence is expressed in a manner that nevertheless enables him to take a confident view of existence by seeing personality and cosmos integrated in God’s creation. It is now 150 years that the Lutheran educated Berzsenyi died. Besides the papers reviewed above also a Table of Contents may be found in English and German.
