Magyar Egyház, 1959 (38. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1959-08-01 / 8-9. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 11 gations would cooperate in this project because they realize the ecumenical importance of such a union of people of the same faith and tradi­tions. A HUNGARIAN REFORMED CONVENTION To discuss matters pertaining to our unity a Convention of the people of all our Churches should be called together by the Elders’ Asso­ciation. We should finally ask what our people wish. If we have faith and are obedient to our calling, we will not hesitate to act by uniting as One Hungarian Reformed Church in this country. THE BLESSED PROSPECTIVES OF SUCH A UNITY This church body would comprise more than a hundred self-supporting congregations. We could have two Synods, a General Assembly and our traditional General Conventus. A Hungarian Reformed College could easily be supported by such a large church body. The education of our ministers should be in accord­ance with our faith and heritage. Using the money our congregations contrib­ute to different church magazines, we could have one Hungarian church paper in both lan­guages spreading the powerful faith of our fa­thers. The contributions for Mission work by our different groups would go into a united mis­sion fund which would enable us to solve the great problems of our special work: the evan­gelization of those Hungarians in this country without any religious affiliation; the support of our small congregations and the organization of united Hungarian Reformed Churches in cities and in towns where two or more exist that are not of the same denomination at the present. The Hungarian Reformed Church in Amer­ica is already represented in the National Coun­cil of Churches, in the Presbyterian World Alliance and the World Council of Churches, but we feel our Ecumenical contribution would be greatly enriched if we could act as a united body. WE HAVE FUTURE A Hungarian Reformed Convention should meet, if possible, in Cleveland to discuss this important matter of unity. The Hungarian Reformed Church in Amer­ica is willing to make the most far-reaching sacrifices for this unity of all American Hun­garian Reformed Christians. THE CHRISTIAN MUST PRAY INSTRUCTION Prayer is your foremost duty, fellow Christian, for without it you cannot carry on your duty in a proper manner. Hence, there is no Christian duty for which you are so warned, so obligated and so bound like that of prayer. 1. The distinct commands and warnings of God spur us on to: “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay the vows unto the most High; and call upon me in the days of trouble; I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me.” CPS. 50:14-15) “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into tempta­tion.” (MAT. 26:41) “Be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” (ROM. 12:11) “Pray without ceasing ... etc.” (1 THESS. 5:17) 2. Prayer is exemplified in the lives of God’s chosen saints. David’s greatest delight, ultimate hope and comfort in tribulation was prayer, as it is so splendidly revealed in his Psalms. Daniel considered prayer so important that he was willing to be thrown into the lions’ den than to be without it even for a few days. How faithful and diligent were in prayer Jeremiah and the other prophets! Regarding the Apostles and the early Christtians. St. Luke proves that “they were steadfast in prayer, praising the Lord.” (ACTS 2:42,47) Even the Lord Jesus pursued this divine duty (MK. 6:46, LK. 22:45) 3. Your absolute dependence on God compels you to pray. He is your Creator, and you are His creature. He is your eternal Lord, and you are His servant. He is you Benefactor, and you are the recipient of His gifts. You cannot live without Him, nor can you ac­complish any good. Isn’t it, therefore, proper and necessary for you to glorify and exalt Him with thanks­giving and call upon Him constantly in your need? 4. Your manifold needs and weaknesses, also, compel you to pray. You are surrounded by evils, ex­posed to a thousand different kinds of vicissitudes and dangers; body and blood conspire against you; you are struggling with destitution and adversity. Against theses you cannot find refuge and help only with God. Oh! how important it is, therefore, to petition Him constantly in prayer. 5. Prayer is a stimulus because of its beauty and goodness. Because it is an approach to God, it is a conversation and association with Him. If it is con­sidered a unique opportunity to get near to an earthly king and have an audience with him, — and if anyone has had such an opportunity, how they rejoice and boast about it, — but how much greater pleasure and what a wonderful good fortune it is when the misera­ble and sinful man meets with the Heavenly King, has conversation with the majestic and glorious God, and is able to present all his needs with a hope of acceptance. 6. Man’s incentive to pray is the realization that the joy and diligence in prayer is a positive sign and the fruit of regeneration and the abidance of the Holy Spirit in the human heart. On the other hand, when one’s prayer becomes boring and depressing or is al­together neglected or if it is very seldom and indo­lently practiced, it is a very evil sign and regeneration is doubtful. 7. Man’s incentive to pray is the realization of the wonderful advantage and effective power of prayer. Prayer may reconcile God and calm His anger, like of Moses. (EX. 32:10,14) Prayer may hold God and not let him turn away until He blesses, like of Jacob. (GEN. 32:26) Prayer may turn away evil and smite our enemies, like of Jehoshaphat. (II Cr. 20:32) Prayer may heal the sick and deliver from death, like of Hezekiah. (ISA. 38:3,5) Prayer may earn salvation and admittance to the kingdom of heaven, like of the thief on the cross. (Lk 23:42,43) Prayer may open the doors of the storehouse of God and thence may descend upon us every necessary

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