Chris Zimmerman in Plough:
Penned in August 1925, Eberhard Arnold’s “First Law of Sannerz” is the oldest written rule of the community now known as the Bruderhof, and members have been attempting to practice it ever since. It is no exaggeration to say that without it, the community probably would have succumbed by now to one of the many crises it has weathered over the last one hundred years. Here it is:
There is no law but that of love. Love is joy in others. What, then, is anger at them? If we have joy in the presence of others, we will convey it with words of love. It follows that words of irritation or annoyance about members of the community are unacceptable. This is why we can never allow talk against brothers or sisters or their character traits, whether openly or by insinuation – under no circumstances behind their backs. Gossiping within one’s own family is no exception.
Without the commandment of silence, there is no loyalty and therefore no community. The only possibility, when someone’s weakness has caused something in us to rise up against them, is to speak to them directly, in the sense of performing a service of love.
An open word, directly addressed, deepens friendship and will not be taken amiss. Only when two people cannot find one another in this manner will it be necessary to draw in a third person whom both parties trust; and this will lead to a mutual understanding at the highest and deepest levels.
Members of our household should hang this admonition at their places of work, where they always have it before their eyes.
In writing the “First Law,” Arnold, a founder of the Bruderhof, drew inspiration from a passage in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus advises his followers to solve quarrels “just between the two of you” (Matt. 18:15) and to forgive someone who angers you not just once, nor even seven times, but “seventy times seven” (Matt. 18:21).
More here.
Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.