Eberhard Arnold

Cast Off and Raised to Noble Rank

[Arnold, Eberhard and Emmy papers – A.D.]

[Draft Translation by Bruderhof Historical Archive]

EA 12/8

Cast Off and Raised to Noble Rank

Lecture on May 19, 1912

A warm invitation to the Christian Lectures in Doelau

In the large room of the "Doelauer Heide" Inn

Speaker: Dr. Eberhard Arnold

Monday, May 13 Sunk

Wednesday, May 15 Saved From the Floods of Death

Friday, May 17 The Kidnapped Child

Sunday, May 19 Cast Off and Raised to Noble Rank

Various songs will be presented

Entrance free! Begins at 8:15 p.m. Entrance free!

Cast Off And Raised To Noble Rank

May 19, 1912

A. We recognized that we have been robbed! Kidnapped! The apple of lust has been offered to us; the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, the pride of life! The enemy of God has kidnapped us from our home. We have been stolen out of the house of our God; under the Devil's lash, in the fetters of sin; dragged here and there and thrown about, without freedom, powerless.

B. I. But we have not only been robbed, not only kidnapped. We have also been cast off. Cast off through our own fault. Have you heard the story of the Crown Princess of Saxony? Luise, Princess of Toscana, married Prince Friedrich August of Saxony in November 21, 1887. After King Albert's death on June 20, 1902 she was the Crown Princess of Saxony. In her autobiography she speaks of her husband, the present king of Saxony [1912] as a man who was always good and loving to her. He was only too noble-minded to see through the wickedness of men.

In November 1902 the Crown Princess was accused by her Head Housekeeper, Frau von Fritisch, of having a more than friendly interest in Herr Giron, the tutor of the royal children. On December 10, 1902 she had left Dresden for her hometown, Salzburg, where she confided in her brother Leopold, Grand Duke of Austria. As he had himself a love affair with a commoner, he soon followed her to Switzerland. In Zurich the Crown Princess met Herr Giron. They went to Geneva together. The Crown Princess committed adultery. She ceased being Crown Princess. Pursued, seduced, dishonored, cast off!!!

She was rejected by the royal family of Saxony–cast out from the privileges of the Austrian Empire. She is Frau Tosetti.

Dear friends, we human beings have all been pursued, seduced, dishonored and cast off!

We were living in community with God, the King of all kings. But we have despised His love and His glory. We have committed the crime of rebelling against Him. He has driven us out, cast us out of His community.

But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruits and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they ware naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.... therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life (Gen. 3:4-7,23,24).*

Perhaps you will say, "Yes, that is how it was then. But how is it today?" Are we not rebels against God? Have we not risen up against Him? Have we not shown ourselves to be his enemies?

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God (Rom.8:7). The lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life!

Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:4).

For if every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation (Heb.2:2b,3)?

(*All Bible quotes are taken from the Revised Standard Version except where noted otherwise.)

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. But with an overflowing flood he will make a full end of his adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness (Nah.1:7.8).

I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.... take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice* roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream (Amos 5:21,23,24).*E.A. had "purity". 3

We are cast off – separated from God! Far from Him! Without God in the world! Cast off as God's enemies! Cast off because of the lust of the flesh, because of friendship with the world, because of disobedience, cast off because of sin!

B. II. But God seeks those who have been cast off. God placed the mighty cherubim in front of the garden. But God gave the promise: I will put enmity between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bite his heel (Gen.3:15).God sets out to win back the lost, the fallen, and those who were cast off. He wants to reconcile us, who were His enemies, with Himself. He sent His Son for this service of reconciliation.

So we are ambassadors for Christ. We beseech you as if God exhorted you through us: be reconciled to God.

Cast Off and Raised to Noble Rank!

You know the story of Joseph. He was rejected and thrown into prison. When Pharaoh told Joseph his dream – which was to save him – Joseph had the answer that broke the tension. Pharaoh said, "You need only to hear a dream to interpret it." Joseph answered, "Oh no, not I, but God will reveal something to Pharaoh that will be of benefit." And he interpreted the dream. That is the way of salvation out of all rejection. Not I, but God!! He reveals salvation.

What happened to Joseph, the Joseph who had been cast out? He was saved. Still more, he was raised to high rank, to being a minister of the royal house. "You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command."

But we have a still higher example.

Rejected and raised to noble rank:

The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.(Mark 12:10).For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls (1 Pet.2:21-25).

Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil.2:5-11).

He sent His Son for the service of reconciliation. Let yourselves be reconciled with God. Cast off and raised to noble rank! As disciples of Christ!

Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great (Matt.5:11-12).

"You will be hated by all for my name's sake" (Matt.10:22a).

All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim.3:12).But rejected and raised to noble rank.

For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Cor.4:17).

But rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you (1 Pet.4:13-14).

That is the Spirit of sonship, who testifies to our spirit that we are God's children. If we are children, we are also heirs. If we share in the suffering of Christ, we share also in His glory.

The mystery: Christ in you! The hope of glory! You are the royal priesthood!

Do not be mismated with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness (2 Cor. 6:14)?