Barbara and George Remain True To The Community.
Though banished, Barbara and George held fast to the beliefs of the Inspirationists. Barbara tells Scheuner that she and George went to Strasbourg to appear before a court that was hearing a complaint against the Bischweiler congregation. Witnesses were asked to swear that they would tell the truth. Barbara and George refused, holding to the Inspirationists' prohibition against oath-taking. When challenged, Heinemann cited the teachings of Jesus.
- Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. (Matthew, 5:33-37).
Strasbourg had a statute saying that anyone who refused to take the oath would be fined heavily and imprisoned for three months. After Barbara cited Scripture, the judges retired. When they returned, they read from a paper on which they had written that the punishment would not apply to those witnesses who refused to swear an oath because of the teachings of Jesus. Rather, their affirmative word would be accepted in place of an oath.
Barbara rejoiced in this victory. She told Scheuner that the Lord struck down a Community member who had urged her to take the oath.
- He was no longer well when he left the courtroom, and was not even able to return to his home and family, rather, like a madman, came to a miserable end there in Strasbourg. (Scheuner, 1873)
Following such demonstrations of faith, Barbara and George were re-admitted to the Community of True Inspiration.
Here ends the Short Narration, the story that Barbara told Scheuner about her early years.
Read more about this topic: Barbara Heinemann Landmann
Famous quotes containing the words remain, true and/or community:
“If a man needs an elaborate tombstone in order to remain in the memory of his country, it is clear that his living at all was an act of absolute superfluity.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
“Give me my scallop-shell of quiet,
My staff of faith to walk upon,
My scrip of joy, immortal diet,
My bottle of salvation,
My gown of glory, hope’s true gage,
And thus I’ll take my pilgrimage.”
—Sir Walter Raleigh (1552–1618)
“As in political revolutions, so in paradigm choice—there is no standard higher than the assent of the relevant community. To discover how scientific revolutions are effected, we shall therefore have to examine not only the impact of nature and of logic, but also the techniques of persuasive argumentation effective within the quite special groups that constitute the community of scientists.”
—Thomas S. Kuhn (b. 1922)