Against the Wind: Eberhard Arnold and the Bruderhof - Plough

Against the Wind
and the old associates of the SCM did not fail to sense the charged atmosphere.
“Were there not deep divisions that must lead to a split in the SCM?” was the
question raised in a report by one conference member. “Were not two of our
leaders, Pastor Humburg and Dr. Arnold, so completely at odds that any further
partnership in their work could not last for long?”
Eberhard’s second lecture, titled “The Search for God by Young People Today,”
was the cue that prompted a student’s question to the SCM leadership in the
discussion that followed the lecture: how far were they ready to go, and how
much energy would they expend, in getting to know and cooperating with other
religious movements among young people? This was to be the decisive question of
the day for the SCM.
Paul Humburg, General Secretary since April, felt forced to give an answer. “On
the one hand Dr. Arnold is being portrayed as the only religious leader of the
SCM; on the other hand, probably the majority of voices strongly demand that
the movement not deviate to the slightest degree from its old aims and purposes.”
However necessary big-heartedness might be, the SCM must maintain its old basis
in questions of faith – in his capacity as General Secretary, Paul Humburg clung
loyally to this view. 32 Finally, the suspicion was voiced that Eberhard had somehow
shifted away from the heart of the gosel – the cross and resurrection – and had
fallen into ideas of self-redemption. The censure could not have been further from
the truth. On November 19 Eberhard wrote to Otto Herpel, “My certainty of the
pacifist and socialist ethic of Jesus means a more profound witness to the crucified
and risen one, to the gosel of sin and grace.” Consequently he could look Paul
Humburg in the eyes and assure him, “We will remain on the old basis.”
What else could Eberhard say? In 1907 he, together with von Gerdtell and others,
had fought staunchly for “the old basis”at a time when scriptural authenticity was at
stake. Then, it had been Paul Humburg who was not decisive enough for Eberhard.
The principles Eberhard had affirmed in 1907 remained wholly unchanged: to
hold unconditionally to the words of Scripture, to put oneself unconditionally in
the hands of Jesus, to obey unconditionally what he commands as far as one has
recognized this. In the twelve intervening years, however, Eberhard had acquired
a broader horizon – a much broader horizon.
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