Against the Wind: Eberhard Arnold and the Bruderhof - Plough

Against the WindThis authority and its burden came without medals or ribbons. Eberhard woreno cassock, no clergyman’s collar – no sign of any kind to distinguish him from theother Bruderhof men. Emmy stood out just as little from the other women of thecommunity. The Eng-lish Quaker John Hoyland, who later translated Eberhard’sintroductory survey to The Early Christians, wrote after only one visit to the RhönBruderhof: “These two leaders are simply ordinary individuals among all the restand have no outward authority. Yet they have the gift to understand, put intowords, and accomplish the things to which the Spirit of God is leading the wholecommunity.” Hoyland went on to describe the “humility of true parental love”that he had observed in the Arnolds. “Their leadership shows itself in kindness,not in giving orders.” 17In all this Eberhard always explicitly stated that spiritual authority and theaptitude for spiritual tasks can never be attained by human efforts. It can literallyonly be granted. He chose his fiftieth birthday as an opportunity to make astatement to the gathered brotherhood:172On this day I have been especially conscious of my lack of ability and how unsuited my own nature is to the work I have been given. I remember how God called me when I was only sixteen years old and how I have stood in his way, with the result that much of what God must have wanted to do through his instruments has not been possible…Another thing concerns me very much: the powerlessness of men, even of the man who has been entrusted with some task. Only God is mighty; we are actually powerless. Even for the work that has been given us, we are entirely lacking in power. But I believe that just this is the only and deepest reason why God has called us to this service: we know we are powerless… 18This is the attitude in which Eberhard Arnold led the Bruderhof. Longtime friendsand fellow workers watched from near and far as he matured into a bishop-likefigure. He frowned on admiration of every type. “Away with all honoring of men!”was one of his most notable pronouncements. 19innEr land, rEviSitEdIt is not known exactly when Eberhard began a complete revision of Inner Land.Perhaps he was considering a new version even before his journey to America. Butit was not until 1931 that the revisions took book form. At first glance not muchis left of the 1918 edition – only the book’s skeleton, the general outline, and a fewparticularly striking pictures. Even though this new rendition of Inner Land is still