Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)
1968-06-01 / 2. szám
(07907) HÖP Vol XX Special Number 1968 No 2 matter denoted by the -Word coexistence can be found in both Testaments and could be expressed by Biblical terms, the Christian churche.s - in this pluralistic world community of ours — have to reckon with the secular character and contents of this conception when they are about to offer their contribution, in the manner which behoves the church, to the cause denoted by the word coexistence» The temptation to "spiritualize" the conception might lead to the attempt, on the part of the churches, to monopolize the conception and, as the next step, to assume the role .and make the claim that- they alone possess the means which are needed to solve the problem indicated by the term0 Thin would be precisely .the opposite of the extreme position and theological stance taken formerly by the great majority of the churches which maintained that the cause of earthly peace was none cf their concern# However, from the theolcgical point of view, this stance wad not worse than'the attenpt to monopolize the conception and task of coexistence., We believe that it is the "cor>tinuity" of the Church cf Christ living in the "discontinuity of the times" that assigns and assures to the Christian his place, task, role and duties in the world-wide revolutionary process of our time ani establishes his solidarity with the world that lives in thei process of such a transformations We, however, would be rather cautious in using ,with reference to such participation and solidarity of Christians,the expressions "pramachoi", "front linefighters", "vfinguard", even if one desists, in this case, "from arrogating positions for Christianity or from trying to Christianize the revolution"„^>6) Our reluctance to use these words in the said sense is not only motivated by the consideration that the Christian churches, in view cf their past record, would hardly have the necessary credibility to assume the role thus claimed and would only betray their lack of humility, but also would again entail the temptation to transform what the churches ewe as their contribution "out of faith and in faith" (we mean the Biblical sense of faith! ) to the revolutionary struggles of today* s Immunity into a "Christian ideology" or at least into a new-type paternalism vis-a-vis the world» This holds true also cf the efforts which aim at the realization of peaceful coexistences All this boils down to what we have to take seriously and commend to others, the most the church can do, also in relation to the efforts to realize the peaceful coexistence of the peoples, can orűy be her unselfish, humble assistance without any ulterior motives a As happy as we are to see that at last it has dawned on the community of the churches that the church, this fellowship of those who have won their spiritual peace by the redeeming werk of Christ have also their responsibility for the earthly peaoe cf mankind, we must throw out an equally serious warning to one another: do not yield to the temptation of clerical triumphalism and exercise your responsibility according to the rules we received from our Lepd, within our specified limits, that is, in a manner that becomes the churchl
