Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)

1968-06-01 / 2. szám

HOP Yol XX Special Number

1968 No 2- 71 -(07775)

negative criticism and unilateral condemnation of the new developments would have further identified them with those theological and social ethical views of a stationary character which, because of its former alliance with the feu— dal and bourgeois system and ideology, had in fact led Hungarian Protestantism into a cul—de-sacc

f) Prophetic Ministry or Political Action?

Many people, both at home and abroad, had expected of our churches that they condemn and criticize the new society tiros claiming to exercise the functions of prophetic service0 They have maintained that the Church is justified to assess the movements of society according to the eternal moral norms entrusted to her and so warn the state about the mistakes it makes;. This opinion is beset by two serious errors« First, it is a mistake to take ex>clusively the example of the Old Testament prophets, these stern critics of the kings of Israel* We have already noted above that Old Testament prephecy must not be interpreted in itself but always in its relation to its fulfillment in Jesus Christe Secondly, this view overlooks th,e fact that the Old Testament prophets addressed their message to the theocratic rule of the Covenant people, making their appeal to the Law which was recognized by the king himself« In our situation, however, we do not deal with a theocratic state but with a secular state which, though under the universal, laws of humaneness, is not directly bound by the moral norms proclaimed by Old Testament prophecy.

In the final analysis this critical objection is wrong for its acceptance would have led to the Church's repudiation of her responsibility for the new society and thereby, in fact,to her denial of her prophetic mission, All in all, the essence of the prophetic ministry is nor: in a posture of negative criticism,neither in a wholesale endorsement cf the actions of the new society,but in the preper exercise of our responsibility for communal life, under the norm cf Christ's love0

Those with sensitive ears and docile hearts far God•'s timely message began to proclaim, already amidst the cataclysmic events of 7/orld War II, that the Church, too, had been judged by God and that the old order of things had ended for the Church alsoc They proclaimed with prophetic boldness and assurance that ‘•bf "ay of the Church forward in a new period of history could orúy lead, through repentance and renewal«, This repentance and renewal, however, were to be more than indi"''b1'0 penitence and regenerations the Church was to repent collect»vely and make amends for the social sins and omissions alsoc

The participation of the masses of believers in the building up cf a mare humane order of society and their responsible cooperation in public life has been seriously hindered by the fact that the new social order de—