loving community spirit in teaching the Cause
Editorial introduction
Love is the most persuasive teacher a community has. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá begins in a very human place: friends who feel neglected by someone newly busy, and His counsel to meet their coolness with more kindness than before. From there His vision widens, to heartfelt warmth rather than mere civility, to the stranger seen as kin, to affection for people of every faith, and to a love of humanity that stays a glittering generality until it becomes social service and sacrifice. Letters written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi see the same truth from another side: the world wants love and action more than preaching and rules, and believers who know themselves one spiritual family create a warmth that draws frozen hearts. The early Christians in Acts prayed, broke bread and shared what they had [1]. Such a spirit flows naturally into devotional gatherings and the Feast, and it is among the deepest spiritual prerequisites for sharing the Faith with others.
Regarding the lack of kindness from the friends - they think that since you have become occupied, you no longer pay much attention to them. Therefore you must, contrary to their unkindness, show the utmost kindness - more than before - until they observe that this appointment has caused no change whatsoever in your manners and character.
O you who are firm in the Covenant! Be loving to all peoples with heart and soul, and show true and heartfelt kindness to all parties with perfect sincerity - not mere civility. Become intimate with stranger and friend alike, and the confidant of every destitute and wandering soul.
O spiritual daughter! Your letter was received. You had written about the unity, fellowship and love among the friends. This news brought joy. In the world of existence, the greatest of all affairs is fellowship and love between hearts, especially among the loved ones of God. Strive as much as you can that day by day fellowship and love may increase, and when perfect fellowship is achieved among the friends in New York, the Cause of God will become more influential day by day, the light of guidance will shine more brightly, and the darkness of vain imaginings will be completely dispelled. That city will become a paradise of Abha and cause the awakening and mindfulness of the people.
Engage in service to mankind and be motivated by love for the human world. See the stranger as kin and consider others as friends.
I supplicate God to enable thee to become a Baha'i by deed and serve of the world of
humanity, providing affection towards all the denominations of the world, considering
all as thine own kin and growing to be a blessing of the All-Nourisher.
"The importance is the unity of the friends. That is very important. Unity must be made very firm. Whoever has love for Baha'u'llah must give his life for the friends. Love for the friends is love for Baha'u'llah In this Cause there is no danger save the disharmony among the friends.
However, the work is difficult because the Divine Tablets are not yet sufficiently translated into the German language. How good it is that souls from different religions gather in one Assembly, being engaged in perusing the Words of God, spreading the Heavenly Teachings and living in accord with the teachings and exhortations of the Supreme Lord. Thou didst explain very appropriately that the Assembly is like unto a household, and that infinite union, friendship, brotherhood and nobleness is visible in it. Truly I say every Assembly must be like this. Until union and harmony are established, the Divine Teachings will not bring forth any results because the greatest of all the teachings of God is union and harmony.
Perfection is impossible without humility;
Humility unattainable without the love of God;
The love of man is essential to the love of God;
The love of God is inaccessible without the love of humanity;
The love of humanity is a glittering generality without social service;
Social service is a mere catch-word without sacrifice and severance.
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
Unless and until the believers really come to realize they are one spiritual family, knit together by a bond more lasting than mere physical ties can ever be, they will not be able to create that warm community atmosphere which alone can attract the hearts of humanity, frozen for lack of real love and feeling.
Without the spirit of real love for Baha'u'llah, for His Faith and its Institutions, and the believers for each other, the Cause can never really bring in large numbers of people. For it is not preaching and rules the world wants, but love and action.
A spirit of prejudice-free, loving comradeship with others is what will open the eyes of people more than any amount of words. Combined with such deeds you can teach the Faith easily.
All the Baha'is, new and old alike, should devote themselves as much as possible to teaching the Faith; they should also realize that the atmosphere of true love and unity which they manifest within the Baha'i Community will directly affect the public, and be the greatest magnet for attracting people to the Faith and confirming them.
For thought and discussion