God is life. He is so abounding in life that His nature is love. The life of God is the will for unity and community. The heart of His righteousness is the gathering love which draws together and unites, and makes everything communal which belongs to life. Where life is stronger than death, it is revealed as love.
- Eberhard Arnold
- Eberhard Arnold, January 1920 From an EssayJustice and love demand that everyone take part in simple practical work with a spade, hatchet, or rake. Everyone should be ready to devote a few hours every day to this practical work; those who have done purely mental work till now will feel its humanizing effect especially. In this way it will be possible for each person’s unique gifts to be kindled. The light that flickers within each heart will then exhibit its once-hidden glow in scholarly research or in music, in expressive words, or in the craftsman’s art in wood, stone, or paint…such work will reveal the joy in life that is in each person. Only death knows idleness and tedium. Where there is life, the mind’s creative will remains alert and comes to expression in the service of the whole.
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The fullness of God cannot endure any private life of self, however pious. He who toils to keep himself and his salvation and inner life afloat is still occupied with himself and has no strength for loving. But he who has been saved from the death-bringing, isolated life of self takes part in the all-embracing life power of God’s unity, and will give this power to his deliverer as love which goes out to all. In this unity, then, all who will accept the Word in Jesus will be set free.
- Eberhard Arnold
Keep your courage and hold fast to the holy expectation! The faith and the love of Jesus Christ will give you the great thoughts which are worthy of this hour. The more evil the hour, the greater it becomes for the Gospel and for the task of the Church. Do not be alarmed! God is greater than our hearts. The believing heart can embrace greater things than the whole world can imagine. Surrender every single thing into the whole! Let the great things rule over all small things!
- Eberhard Arnold