Magyar Egyház, 1975 (54. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1975-06-01 / 6-7. szám
6 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ MAGYAR CHURCH EXCERPTS FROM THE BISHOPS REPORT AT THE GENERAL SYNOD MEETING ON JUNE 2, 1975 — LIGONIER, PA. Fathers and Brethren: The events of the world are changing all around us in such rapid succession that hardly anyone is able to keep pace with them. It was exactly one year ago that the General Synod meeting was held in New York City — and how many changes took place since then: Mr. Gerald R. Ford, the new president of the U.S.A. assumed his office when the moral fibre of our country, the general confidence of the people in their elected leaders seemed to be the lowest. The economic situation deteriorated so much that the fear in the heart of the people is real that we are facing not only a “recession” but we are approaching the worst “depression” our nation has ever seen. The clear vision of the leaders of our nation seem to be dimmed, when you hear plans of integrating our public schools and transporting children from one end of a city to the other, just to achieve racial balance; when taxes are reaching an all time high, and the cost of such foolish and unwise ventures make the schemes prohibitive and ridiculous. Looking at the international scene we face a “post-Vietnam war” situation, when most Americans are still unable to comprehend the fatal consequences of our lost war in Indo-China — and admit the great advances of international atheism and godlessness in Asia. If we picture our small denomination in a “world wide prospective”, we must give thanks to Almighty God, that He saw fit to preserve us and not only sustained our humble churches, but to a certain degree He has granted us increase, good hope for the future and firm trust that He shall be our God forever. In a very difficult era and among unspeakably dangerous modem times, we must realize that the church has to fulfill a special mission in the world today. If we, church leaders and members will keep the commandments of our Heavenly Father, and try to follow in the footprints of our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, then we shall go on — from victory to victory. But if we fail and turn aside from our gracious God and His Commandments and try to follow pagan images and false deities soon our congregations will slide downhill and Christianity shall disappear. I cannot emphasize strongly enough that the main strength of our Calvinistic Reformation throughout the centuries has always been and still is the unadulterated — fervent preaching of the Word of God, and proclaiming the Gospel of our Savior to everyone. Let the ministers be filled with the zeal of the Holy Spirit and preach in the name of the King of Kings, let missionaries around the globe labor in that fervent determination, that whatever we do, we must do it to the “Glory of God”, then Christianity will survive the evil days. Let the members of our churches build their lives on the foundation stone, who is the Lord Jesus Christ, that no storms of life and no changing views or political systems can move them; so that faithful pastors and obedient leaders and members can build the kingdom of God here on earth! Let the parents instill the love of the Word of God into their children, let grandparents teach the succeeding generations to sing the ancient psalms and hymns, with such magnificent force, that will move all hearts and souls regardless whether the singing is in English or Hungarian! This word of God, the New Testament has been translated into the modern Hungarian language by Dr. L. Ravasz, so that more men and women may read it and find the fountain of eternal life in it. There are serious dangers here in America and elsewhere: some people select certain nice verses from the Bible and regard them specially, while they neglect others, which may not be compatible to their philosophy, thus they publish their own “private” little Bibles, others put human stories above the Word of God, and promulgate their fantasies as “holy writ.” Let us remember, that God’s word as it was revealed to us and interpreted in our historic confessions does not permit any “additions” or
