Magyar Egyház, 1968 (47. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1968-06-01 / 6-7. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 17 LEST THE SHADOW TERNS INTO DARKNESS . . . We tvere witnesses to two political assassinations in America within the short period of two months: Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were killed by assassins’ bullets. Our present history is written with the blood aiui smoke of the war in Viet Nam and of the riots and arsons in American cities. There have always been wars and individual political assassinations. There teas the war in Korea and two World Wars; and there was Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley, and there ivas also crown-prince Francis Ferdiand and Queen Elizabeth. Yet we cannot dismiss these and other acts of violence as natural parts of human history. For every age and society must assure peace and public safety. The method may be terror, dictatorship, and global ivar. Or, the method can be through social justice, by safeguarding the free expression of individual views, and by working with ceaseless efforts toward the reconciliation of peoples and nations. IVe have a thousand proofs that the former methods don’t ivork, the latter—we must admit with shame—have not even been probed as yet so we only believe that they work. Politicians repeatedly say today that our society is not sick. We beg to differ. If one part of the body is sick the whole person is sick and if that one sick organ is not healed the whole person may perish. President Johnson said in one of his nationwide broadcasts that not 200,000 Americans fell Robert Kennedy. Again, ive beg to differ. The principles of democracy postulate the responsibility of society as a whole. A sound democracy—worthy of its name— must produce leaders who, in turn, lead the entire society to responsible humanity. Christians and Christian Churches must be the catalysts of this process. An indifferent society is not fit to survive. This is more than a mere statement of opinion, it is a prophetic judgement: an indifferent society will necessarily collapse and will have to yield to terror and dictatorship. The shadow is over and upon us. As Christians we must raise a loud prophetic voice lest the shadow turns into darkness. Andrew Harsanyi The Poor and the Church We often hear people say that our land is the land of plenty and prosperity. This statement is true. Yet in this land of plenty and abundance, there are many poor people who live in hunger, despised and forgotten by all, even by the Church and the Christians. The Church of today must open her eyes and get involved not only in building expensive churches and luxurious church centers, hut help and care for the less fortunate children of God. The Bible teaches that we are to help the poor. The Apostle Paul tells us: “Let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Gal. 6:10). Speaking of faith and good deeds, James claims that faith without deeds is dead (James 2). Above all, the words of Jesus command us: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mat. 22:39). The early Church was deeply interested in helping the poor. In the Book of Acts, we read that the early Christians had all things in common and their property and possessions were shared with all (Acts 2:44, 45). These early Christians had a deep feeling of responsibility for each other, especially for those who were in need of help. We are also urged by our confession, The Second Helvetic Confession, to help the poor. It says “that collections may be made for the poor.” When our confession discusses the possessions of the Church and their proper use, it claims that the wealth of the Church is to he used . . . “especially for the succor and the relief of the poor.” Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Church and the Christians to help the poor. Christians should he interested in the problems and suffering of the poor people and ease them. They should care for them. They should offer Christ to them and through Christ their love of understanding, the love which is able to share in their needs. For if the Church and the believers do not care for the poor, who will? Barnabas Roczey Hungarian Court of Appeal Reviewed the Balint Kovacs-Case Since last Fall Magyar Egyház repeatedly reported on the arrest of the Rev. Bálint Kovács, Reformed pastor in Budapest, and of other church leaders as well as on the stand taken by the American Hungarian Ministers’ Association in this case. According to the latest information a Hungarian Court of Appeal reviewed their case. The sentence of Dénes Batiz was reduced to six months’ imprisonment and the sentence as well as the sentence of the Rev. Bálint Kovács was suspended for three years; three of the five defendents were acquitted. This case, which so adversely has affected the church dialogue between East and West for the past several months, can now be considered as closed. As to the future of the dialogue it can be expected that the recent changes in the relationship between church and state in Czechoslovakia will affect church-state relationships in other socialist countries including Hungary. A.H.
