What does Jesus tell us? Show your love to those who represent the government. You are not to take revenge but to meet the authorities with love. Then too, pray for the government. (1 Tim. 2:1–2) It is utterly different from the Body of Christ, but it too serves God, though in a completely different sphere. The authorities are necessary; crime could not be kept under any kind of control without them. So you should recognize government authority but not become part of it. You are members of Christ, and Christ specifically rejected becoming a ruler. When they wanted to make Him a king, He escaped. (John 6:15) And when the Tempter came to Him and said, “Here, I will give you all the kingdoms of the world,” He refused. (Matt. 4:8–10) But He treated the authorities with respect.
- Eberhard Arnold, January 1935
February 01,2026
- Eberhard Arnold From a letter, July 1934Not our inadequacy, but God’s perfect will is now the substance of our life and thinking. Therefore, from now on our entire interest goes away from ourselves, toward all people of the earth and of all worlds of God, toward near and far creatures of God; toward those who have died and those unborn. The interest of God’s kingdom embraces the times and spaces of all worlds of God, of the earth as well as of all other worlds with all their spiritual princes and creatures of light. That God’s kingdom may become reality on earth as it is real in heaven—that is what we have to live for. Certainly, for this a turning is necessary.
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The springtime of the climbing sun alone could bring over the earth and all its inhabitants the sunny time, the longed-for, expected time, which alone can awaken life, strong, prolific and abiding life. At the end of the days, light was to triumph over darkness. The final springtime of all worlds and of all ages was one day to melt away the whole present age which is the cold, dead and dark wintertime, the deadening ice age of the present world, and do away with it for all time.
- Eberhard Arnold
That which holds back the awakening life of spring is the deadness of winter. That which is against warmth is deadening coldness. That which is against uniting love brings about disintegrating death. Death threatens life. Between light and darkness there is enmity and war to the last.
- Eberhard Arnold
