The important thing is not saying “Lord, Lord,” but the inward truthfulness in which we do God’s will. In fact we rejoice about all those who are open to this freedom and this will to love, even if they are not yet able to confess to Christ at all. A free movement, a movement of the spirit, an early Christian movement, an academic and modern movement needs the free working of all those who are called, and free personal responsibility.
- Eberhard Arnold
May 09,2026
- Eberhard Arnold Meeting transcript, October 1934Jesus experienced the utmost humiliation, which led Him very much lower than He had been at His birth in the feed-trough, in the manger. When Jesus was hung on the cross and crucified, the high official, that proud representative of the whole Roman Empire, said, shortly before this overpowering humiliation, “Behold, a man!” Behold the man! Jesus, the man! He who reveals God as a man, this is the one whom we seek. He who reveals God as love, this is the human being with whom we want to have communion.
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How much of the old nature must still be put aside before Christ is all in all! Renewal does not imply completion; rebirth is only the beginning of purification. It is normal to recognize more and more what is bad in us. So put it aside through Christ and keep moving forward.
- Eberhard Arnold
Millions are oppressed, languishing, barely alive. True identification with them can come only the hard way of personally sharing their need. We must expose ourselves to the all-too-real horrors of their daily life, together with those who are physically enervated, spiritually ruined, and emotionally diseased. We can comprehend the measureless suffering of the world and the unsolved need of man only when we ourselves actually suffer poverty, shame, and want. We can speak about them only when our words come from the very depth of our hearts.
- Eberhard Arnold