Hungarian Church Press, 1950 (2. évfolyam, 4-13. szám)

1950-04-01 / 6. szám

-7-when I say that the- «ffeot«. or? ^hisr transition, both horlzto»^ tally and vertically, are without analogy in human history.

The minds of hundreds of millions, around the whole wide globe, were never so enthralled by one great- system of thought as they are to-day. Our Ohureh, by the judgment and grace of God, lives on that spot of the earth, where, among two struggling giants, there is not the slightest doubt as to which is the sphere of power in which we live. We belong to the Hungarian Reformed Church which, in her earthly life and service,, shares the destiny of the Hungarian people. Our task is to be Christ's church in this párt of the world; to stand here in that tension of'prophetic service. No selfish longing for deliverance may justify our esoaping from here to a Hod Whom • we would try to expropriate for our use, or our escape to a disobedient people which scorns God's just and gracious judgment. We must stay on the critical spot where the church of the apostles and prophets discharges her double task: that is, to proclaim God's Gospel and law and to intercede, in repentance, in the sight of our forgiving and gracious God, for our people. Our church would c.ease to be a church, should she flee from this point of tension. She must recognize and accept her situation here and now, in order to be able to discharge her Go driven functions. Our church is not between East and West; our church is in the East, She must serve here, and she must accept from God's gracious hand all struggles, travails and positive achievements of the great transition, in which we live, as opportunities to serve".

I have accepted these; I have accepted this grace to live and serve, and this is my continuous liberation.

Hungarian Church Press

THE PASSING AND THE RISING GENERATION - A Sermon preached by Bishop John Péter to the Secondary School students of Debrecen College a

"And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha. Ask what I shall do for thee.

And Elisha said, I pray .thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon ?ie". /H.King 2:9/

With this farewell of Elijah a passing generation meets the rising one. Elijah, the trasty warrior of great battles, after having finished his life work, is about to be taken away from this life. He is about to pass away, with his age, but before leaving, he takes time to have a v/ord with his disciple and successor, Elisha, with this young man who will enter a new age, with new circumstances and new and unknown tasks, let us listen to this dialogue between one who is to leave history and another who is to enter history, in order to see clearly the task which is to be done by our passing generation, as well as the to.sk which is to be performed by your rising generation.