Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)
1968-06-01 / 2. szám
HOP Vol XX Special Number 1968 No 2- 139 -(07920) Having a realistic view cf the situation, we, of course, have to reckon with the fact that the settlement of the Israe li~Ar ab dispute is not a simple proposition and that it cannot he accomplished overnight, It is, therefore, an urgent task that the ecumenical community of the churches and also the individual member churches pay due attention to the problem cf Israel in their theological work and thinking and make their contributions, also by uncovering and demenstrat n;$ the Biblical ground of their responsibility for Israel, towards an equitable settlement that would serve the interests of all the nations of the world© Without trying to give here a detailed treatment to the theological aspect of the problem, we should like to enumerate a number of questions which call for the joint action of the churches in a true ecumenical spirit so that they may find the right answer and take the right ecumenical attitude to this problem, 'The very fact cf the existence of the modern state of Israel is a serious challenge to Christian theology0 Yet there are further questions which call for very serious Biblical study - questions which our churches, already in the course of working on the study material of the Evanston Assembly, posed, to themselves and recommended for study to ihe ecumenical community cf the churches-. We mention here the most important questions of this kind.; 1) What is the present validity of the promises given to Israel in the Old Testament times and how are these promises to be interpreted? Is there a Biblical foundation for the statement that, in the existence of the new state Israel, God's an yet unfulfilled premises given in the Old Testament times ore now fulfilled? 2) How are these promises given in the Old Testament and. upheld in the New related to that Kingdom cf God which God brings not only for Israel but for el 1 peoples of the world and in which justice and peace will dwell? There mijnjrt be some people who disapprove the way in which these quasi ions are formulát ed or have :n"y a smile for them© We p however, are cf the opinion that the pre sent confusion Of theology .and conduct in relation to the events of the Middle East crisis makes it necessary that these questions be again raised and commended far study to the ecumenical community of the churche s, l) Fron Coexistence Toward Pro-existonce One cf tin decisive pre-corditions of the realization cf peaceful coexistence is the victory of the world-wide struggle that is going on for a j'ust social orders We cannot speak of a human, genuine and thus "safe" coexistence based on mutual love and j'ust icc as long as the atrocious conditions of social antagonism continue to exist, as long^he lines of division arid conflict persist between the rich and the poor, those in the undeserved state of ignorance and others on the high level of cultural accomplisnmients, It is a
