BahÃĄâ•Žuâ•ŽllÃĄh and the New Era - Knowledge Rush

250 Baháâuâlláh and the New Eratheir applications to the most varied problems of modern life.Differences of opinion which have arisen among believers havebeen referred to Him and authoritatively settled, and thus therisks of future misunderstandings have been further reduced.Bahá’u’lláh further arranged that an International House ofJustice, representative of all Bahá’ís throughout the world, shouldbe elected to take charge of the affairs of the Cause, control andcoordinate all its activities, prevent divisions and schisms, elucidateobscure matters, and preserve the teachings from corruptionand misrepresentation. The fact that this supreme administrativebody can not only initiate legislation on all matters not definedin the Teachings, but also annul its own enactments when newconditions require different measures, enables the Faith to expandand adapt itself, like a living organism, to the needs andrequirements of a changing society.Moreover, Bahá’u’lláh expressly forbade interpretation of theteachings by anyone but the authorized interpreter. In His Willand Testament ‘Abdu’l-Bahá appointed Shoghi Effendi to be theGuardian of the Faith after Him and to be empowered to interpretthe Writings.In a thousand or more years another Manifestation will appear,under the shadow of Bahá’u’lláh, with clear proofs of Hismission, but until then the words of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Baháand the Guardian and the decisions of the International House ofJustice constitute the authorities to which all believers must turnfor guidance. No Bahá’í may found a school or sect based on anyparticular interpretation of the teachings or any supposed divinerevelation. Anyone contravening these injunctions is considereda “Covenant-breaker.” 25‘Abdu’l-Bahá says:—One of the enemies of the Cause is he who endeavors25 See pp. 261–263 and 272–273 for further elucidations of the Guardianshipand the Universal House of Justice.