Magyar Egyház, 1967 (46. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1967-02-01 / 2. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 9 J Criticizing the “very dangerous situations” caused by the Big Powers in dividing some countries into two parts, the Archbishop said that these powers are still showing “a terrible lack of compassion for the unfortunate Vietnamese. In my opinion,” he continued, “the United States is the only major power which still upholds and believes in the moral obligations which emanated from the 1954 Geneva agreements.” Declaring that “our intervention in Vietnam has strong moral justification,” Archbishop lakovos said: “The forces of trickery and oppression must be overcome if we want peace to prevail eventually in our world.” MARXIST SAYS CHURCH GROWTH PROBABLE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA (Driebergen, The Netherlands) A Czech Communist party official has predicted that there will probably be more Christians in Czechoslovakia a century from now than there are today. This prediction was published in an official government organ, Osvetov Praco. A Dutch translation has been reprinted by the Kerk en Wereld Institute here. The writer of the article observes that many people have remained unimpressed by the atheism officially propagated by the Communist government, and especially that few young people show any real interest in it. Many who have felt themselves under pressure to give up belief in God have reacted in the opposite direction. In spite of the fact that it has been robbed of all possibilities for use of the mass media in the last twenty years, the Church in Czechoslovakia has launched a significant counter-offensive, declares the article. The Marxist writer says that many people simply must have a religion to live, even though from a materialistic view-point this necessity must be judged irrational. (R.P.P.S.) THE SECOND HELVETIC CONFESSION RENDERED IN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SECTION XVI Faith, good works and their rewards; and the merit of man. 1. What is Christian faith? Christian faith is the firmest confidence in God and the most sincere acceptance of all his truths revealed to us in the Scripture and the Apostles’ Creed. Consequently, faith possesses God and Christ in whom all God’s promises are fulfilled. 2. Who has this true Christian faith? Only the elect of God to whom He gave this faith from His grace, freely and in measure. 3. How does God make his elected ones true believers? The Holy Spirit stirs up faith in the elect through preaching and prayer. 4. Why does apostle Paul call faith “working through love”? Because, a) through faith we can go to God with confidence and obtain from Him all the necessary and useful things; b) our faith urges us to fulfill all our duties toward God and our fellowmen; c) our faith gives us patience and strength to endure all trials; d) our faith helps us to create sound doctrines; e) our faith produces abundance of good works. 5. What do we call good works? Only those deeds do we call good works which are done by the believers according to the laws and requirements of the Word of God. 6. Why do we have to accomplish good works? Not that for them we may obtain our eternal salvation in heaven, but for these reasons: a) to glorify God by them; b) to prove our Christian life; c) to help our fellowmen through them. 7. Is God pleased with true believers who do good works according to His will? Yes, therefore says the Scripture: “In every nation anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to Him.” (Acts 10:35). 8. Whom do we condemn? Those who are idle and with mouth they praise and profess the gospel but defile it with their immoral conducts. 9. Does God reward those who do good works? Yes, according to Jesus, who said: “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” (Matt. 5:12.) 10. What should we see in the reward of our good works? We should see in it the grace of God, because without the help of God we would not be able to accomplish true good works. 11. With whom do we disagree? We disagree with those who so emphasize the merit of man that they minimize the grace of God. 12. How does the apostle Paul warn us against this false attitude? With these words: “What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?” (I. Cor. 4:7.) Stephen Kovács NEWS FROM THE CONGREGATIONS CARTERET From among the three ecumenical services held during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity the one conducted in our church drew the largest attendance, about 450 people. Many expressed their desire to have these services continued and not to wait until next year. Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving Day would lend appropriate opportunities. Following the service a reception was held in the Manse in honor of the visiting clergymen. Bishop Dr. Tibor Bartha, president of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in Hungary preached at both services on January 29. The Lorantfy Society prepared a dinner for the entire Hungarian delegation attended also by several ministers from neighboring churches and many members of the congregation. At the dinner the guests spoke about the 400th anniversary celebration to be held in Debrecen next May. Chief elder Louis J. Szabó, treasurer Andrew Pross and secretary Julius Reisz were re-elected by the annual congregational meeting; Leonard Sehdelsky became the new vice chief elder succeeding the late William Lazar who had suddenly died last Fall. Stephen Kovács is the new alternate elder.
