Magyar Egyház, 1973 (52. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1973-01-01 / 1. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ thereby causing him to change his ways and thus allow him once again to gain eternal life. The second purpose was to cite an example for the rest of the congregation (I Timothy 5:20 “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”) Punishment at all time had to fit the sin committed. Public scandal always called for public punishment. The proper utilization of church discipline, always exercised with love and the desire to save the sinner, miraculously generally strengthened the Christian Church. THE CHURCH OF T1IE REFORMATION About the time of the reformation liberality laxity, rejection of church discipline became commonplace. The reformers had to fight a dual battle, that of saving as well as creating of the new church. The instructions of John Calvin clearly state his scriptural commitment to church discipline. He recognized that no human society nor even families can survive without discipline and order; that church conditions must at all times he the most exemplary! He, too, recognized private warning as the first step in the exercise of church discipline and felt that its application was necessary whenever someone failed to perform his duties, misbehaved, did not lead an honorable life or committed an act which would adversely affect and thus bring shame upon the church of the Lord, Jesus Christ. According to Calvin, presbyters were indispensable helpers of the minister in the performance of such disciplinary duties. Calvin faithfully follows the scriptures in his graduated application of church discipline, i.e. warning by the church leadership is followed by rebuke in the presence of the entire congregation, then denial of the sacraments and ultimately excommunication. Calvin is most emphatic in asserting, that the use of church discipline derives not from the exercise of human jurisdiction but rather is founded on divinely ordained power to judge the ultimate aim of which is and always must be the return of the sinner to God. He opposed all who thought, that the new church, the church of the reformation, should be without church discipline, and I quote: “He who imagines, that the church can survive without church discipline has committed a fatal error.” Calvin also emphatically warned the ministers about the importance of the denial of participation in the Lord's supper, saying: “Those, who willingly and knowingly allow someone to participate in the sacrament of the Lord’s 6upper, who should have been rightfully denied, commit a sin of such gravity as to lie guilty of having given the Lord’s body to the dogs for food.” He also 8_______________________________________________ admonished those ministers who were fearful of human repercussions: “If you are afraid of men, God will shame you, but if you fear the Lord then even men will respect you.” Elsewhere he wrote: “Do not fear worldly power and might, for your power is greater than theirs.” The minister, by laying his hands on the head of the repentent sinner publicly returns him to the congregation and reaccepts him into the church. THE CHURCH OF TODAY Liberality is overabundant among the people in our day. Human accomplishments becloud the glory of God. Men, these days, are convinced, that they can stand alone and survive even without God. This process of man putting himself at a further remove from God causes him to loosen bis ties with the church or in fact break all church relations. Strong moves are a foot to reduce and limit the power and respect of church along with that of her ministers. These moves are partly directed by forces outside the church, but at times originate from within the church and are aimed at discrediting both the minister and bis church. There are ministers, who all too readily make concessions to the world or to members of their congregations in the vain hope that thus they might guarantee their own future or the continued existence of their congregations. There are ministers who voluntarily give up their rights and duties, who do not practice church discipline hoping thereby to increase their popularity and the membership roster of their church. They abdicate their rights, given by God through Jesus Christ, in order to please people. This, of course, is not the proper solution. For us there is but one road, the same road travelled by the first Christian churches and the church of the reformation. Our duty is not to consolidate and strengthen the power of the church but rather to acquaint the people with God’s will. God s will, on the other hand, then, now and for evermore is the same: Create order out of worldly chaos, give meaning to life and to demand obedience from man. The exercise of church discipline is entirely meaningless if it is employed only to force people hack into the church or into subservience to the minister. Church discipline is justified only if by its exercise we can return people to God or keep them by His side. Church discipline can never be a human weapon, which we use or do not use, which we employ against some and don’t even dare to mention to others. Church discipline is tHe miraculous weapon of God, which we are not onlv justified, but duty bound as well, to employ in the sense of intentions of Christ and the reformers. With
