Magyar Egyház, 1963 (42. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1963-12-01 / 11-12. szám
16 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ THE GREAT SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY Christians around the world — Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox — will pray together during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18-25, 1964. Leaflets distributed for the annual observance last year topped the two million mark. The Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches sponsors the international observance. The Association Unité Chrétienne in Lyon, France, promotes the observance among Roman Catholics.The same prayers, meditations, and intercessions are used by the two groups. In the United States the leaflets are available from the New York Office of the World Council of Churches, 475 Riverside Drive, New York 27, N. Y. at $2 per hundred. The leaflet has as its theme for 1964 “The great shepherd of the sheep” (Heb. 13:20). The introduction to the leaflet points out “we do not live together as his one flock.” “We all invoke the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are his people, a single people, and yet still unable to glorify him and praise him in unity. We are called to share one hope, and we often talk about it, but we are unable to live together in it,” the Week of Prayer material says. “Surely this contradiction must weigh upon us. Does it not lead us all to seek again communion with God? Many differences separate us but the suffering which this state of affairs makes us feel is recognized by all with one accord.” The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is observed in many different ways in different parts of the world. It has become the occasion for new ecumenical endeavors such as interconfessional prayer vigils, Bible study, retreats, and conferences aimed at better understanding. One feature in recent years has been the taking of collection on behalf of the needy of another confession. ORIGINS Observance of the week was started in 1908 by two Anglican priests, one of whom later became a convert to Roman Catholicism. One year later the observance was officially approved by Pope Pius X. This observance, which prayed for the return of all non-Catholics to Rome was later modified by the late Abbé Paul Couturier, a Roman Catholic priest known as the “apostle of unity” who called for intercession for unity “according to Christ’s will, in His way, in His time.” This work statred by Abbé Couturier is now being continued by Father Pierre Michalon, a Sulpician priest, through the Association Unité Chrétienne. In 1920 the Faith and Order movement, an antecedent of the World Council of Churches, first called for a week of prayer for unity during Pentecost. In 1940 it commended the January observance to coincide with the Roman Catholic time of prayer. Since the formation of the World Council in 1948 the week has been sponsored by its Faith and Order commission. THE SECOND HELVETIC CONFESSION The Hungarian Reformed Church in America accepts heside the Bible the Apostles’ Creed, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Second Helvetic Confession as her doctrinal standards. The Second Helvetic Confession was written by Henrik Buliinger, pastor of the church in Zürich, Switzerland, in 1566. The Second Helvetic Confession is a classical summary of the doctrines of the Reformed Christian religion. In Hungary this confession was officially accepted by the Reformed Church in 1567. In this and in subsequent articles we shall summarize the contents of the Second Helvetic Confession in questions and answers. SECTION I. The Holy Scripture, the true, very own Word of God. 1. IF hat do we believe and profess oj the Holy Scripture? We believe and profess that the Holy Scripture, both the Old Testament and the New Testament, are the true, very own Word of God. 2. How did the Holy Scripture come into being? God had spoken to the ancient fathers of mankind, to the prophets and the apostles and moved them to write down His message. Through their writings He is still speaking to us. 3. What proves that the Holy Scripture is the Word of God? The Holy Scripture itself proves that it is the Word of God. It does not need any human approval. 4. What can we learn from the Holy Scripture? a. All that we should believe in order to obtain our salvation, and the way of a true, God-pleasing human life. b. All the truths the Church should teach and the right government of the Church. 5. What do we regard the preaching of the Word of God by truly ordained ministers? We regard their preaching to be the Word of God. which remains true and good, even if the minister would be a wicked and sinful person. 6. Could God speak to a human heart even without the Holy Scripture and its preaching? Yes, He has power to do so but, according to His wisdom, He wants to speak to a human heart through the Holy Scripture and its preaching. 7. What do we need to be able to accept the Holy Scripture and its preaching as the true, very own Word of God? We need the faith-creating and enlightening work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. 8. With whom do we disagree concerning the Holy Scripture? We disagree with those who deny the divine origin of the Holy Scripture and corrupt its contents in any way. Stephen Kovács (To be continued)
