We live in poverty and without personal possessions; we do this for love of Christ and for the sake of those who are poorer than we, the very poorest.…Yet this love for the poor cannot be the final thing. It must be surpassed by love to God. Christ says, “You will not always have me with you.” (Matt. 26:11) On the other hand, we must not let our love for God cause us to neglect love to the poor. Out of love to God we should love our neighbor. If you see your brother or sister in need and say, “God will help you,” and give nothing, where is your love to God? (James 2:15–16)
- Eberhard Arnold, September 1934
- Eberhard Arnold, November 1918 From an EssayWhen poets describe their experience of the powers that move in their inmost hearts, then they speak about longing. If we allow only a few rays of hope from the poets to work upon us, we will be deeply moved by the indissoluble connection between mankind and longing. Even the smallest selection of the poetic outpouring of human longing will confront us with their deepest content: the longing for God and for unity with God. At the deepest level, they have recognized that the essence of all longing is the cry of the soul to God.
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The will which lives in the light repels the attacks of the darkness.
- Eberhard Arnold
Christ the coming Lord of the eternal world of light, reveals himself in His wonderful light as the Spirit of His Church.
In Jesus, God’s image appeared with utmost clarity and finality. Henceforth it is from Jesus that man’s calling comes into our hearts. The image of God which He brings us is love.
- Eberhard Arnold