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a member of The Universal House of Justice

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:11 pm
by onepence
Dear Friends,

This thought, this question, has been a reoccuring thought/question for quite some time ... and so I thought I would consult with y'all about the question I have ...

Am I a member of The Universal House of Justice ?

Do you consider yourself a member of The Universal House of Justice ?

If I answer yes is it bad etiquite ... bad taste ... to sign my documents
" a member of The Universal House of Justice"

Now don't get me wrong ... I am not going insane ... I clearly make a distintction between an elected represenative of The Universal House of Justice and the category of thought of being a member of The Universal House of Justice ...

I guess I am leaning towards that while true all members of the Baha'i Faith in good standing are members of The Universal House of Justice, it has been customary not to sign any documents in such a manner out of respect for the elected representatives, however, it is noteworthy that traditions are often born out of necessity to signfy a reality separating the believers from the non-believers.

"Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be."

Image

Any thoughts?

Any ideas?

Any comments?

a person of oneness,
Dean Hedges

Abdu'l-Baha on the dangers of leadership

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:01 pm
by Sean H.
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"No obstacle should be placed before any soul which might prevent it from
finding the truth. Baha'u'llah revealed his directions, teachings and laws so that souls might know God, and not that any utterance might become an obstacle in their way.

Holding to the letter of the law is many times an indication of a desire
for leadership. One who assumes to be the enforcer of the law shows an
intellectual understanding of the Cause, but that spiritual guidance in them is not yet established.

The alphabet of things is for children, that they may in time use their
reasoning powers. "Following the spirit" is a guidance by and through the heart, the prompter of the spirit. The Pharisees were extremely orthodox, holding strictly to the law. They were the cause of the condemnation and ultimate crucifixion of Jesus. . . .

The ones in real authority are known by their humility and self-sacrifice
and show no attitude of superiority over the friends.

Some time ago a tablet was written stating that none are appointed to any
authority to do anything but to serve the Cause as true servants of the
friends-and for this no tablet is necessary; such service when true and
unselfish requires no announcement, no following, nor written document.

Let the servant be known by his deeds, by his life!

To be approved by God alone should be one's aim.

When God calls a soul to a high station, it is because that soul has supplicated to be taken into His service. No envies, jealousies, calumnies,
slanders, plots, nor schemes, will ever move God to remove a soul from its intended place, for by the grace of God, such actions on the part of the people are the test of the servant, testing his strength, forbearance, endurance, and sincerity under adversity. At the same time those who show forth envies, jealousies, etc. toward a servant, are depriving themselves of their own stations, and not another of his, for they prove by their own acts that they are not only unworthy of being called to any station awaiting them, but also prove they cannot withstand the very first test-that of rejoicing over the success of their neighbor, at which God rejoices. Only by such a sincere joy can the gift of God descend unto a pure heart.

Envy closes the door of Bounty, and jealousy prevents one from ever
attaining to the Kingdom of Abha.

No! Before God! No one can deprive another of his rightful station, that
can only be lost by one's unwillingness or failure to do the will of God, or by seeking to use the Cause of God for one's own gratification or ambition.

No one save a severed soul or a sincere heart finds response from God.

By assisting in the success of another servant in the Cause does one in reality lay the foundation for one's own success and aspirations.
Ambitions are an abomination before the Lord!

How regrettable! Some even use the affairs of the Cause and its
activities as a means of revenge on account of some personal spite, or fancied injury, interfering with the work of another, or seeking its failure. Such only destroy their own success, did they know the truth.
Star of the West, vol. 6, no. 6 (June 24, 1915)
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:54 pm
by childintime
This thread so far reminds me of two ships, going nowhere in particular, passing each other at great distance in a dense fog.

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:58 am
by Dorumerosaer
It seems to me that if a person has become a Baha'i, and has turned to the House of Justice, that a person is a member of the body of the Cause of God, is related to the Universal House of Justice, and is under its protection. Perhaps that is what you mean by being a "member" of the Universal House of Justice.

However, using the word "member" in this sense, confuses the issue with being an elected member of that institution, so I might suggest you might want to find another way of saying what you mean, to avoid people misunderstanding your intentions.

I don't know what terminology you would use. I just think of myself as a member of the body of the Cause of God, and that I am related to the Universal House of Justice, and under its guidance and protection.

Brent

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:32 am
by onepence
Brent,

I have read your posts and am very pleased that you have joined this lttle forum, for your writings/style are a comfort/solace to this poor mans' blind eyes.

The question/s I have brought up in this thread are unique and important to me ... they strech forth and yearn for "identity" ... a way to define oneself ... in this regard Abdu'l Baha' himself made countless statements about his identity, thus seeking and publicly stating ones own identity/affliation is nothing new in our Cause.

I do understand the point{s} that you have made, especially in seeking terminology that does not confuse an issue ...

???
???
???

It is like part of my core identity wants to adequately express a{my} realtionship with The Universal House of Justice

!!!!

perhaps

a servant to the members of The Universal House of Justice

Image

oneness
the apostle dean

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:46 am
by Dorumerosaer
Hi Dean, maybe this is what you mean. It is why the Manifestation is referred to as the "Word" and the followers as "Letters," such as the "Letters of the Living".

"It is evident that the Letter is a member of the Word, and this membership in the Word signifieth that the Letter is dependent for its value on the Word, that is, it deriveth its grace from the Word; it has a spiritual kinship with the Word, and is accounted an integral part of the Word. The Apostles were even as Letters, and Christ was the essence of the Word Itself; and the meaning of the Word, which is grace everlasting, cast a splendour on those Letters. Again, since the Letter is a member of the Word, it therefore, in its inner meaning, is consonant with the Word." (Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 60)

This is not a rank or station among the believers; it is to be accompanied by humility. It seems me me that it has to do with one's personal relationship with the Manifestation.

Brent

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:05 am
by onepence
pilgrimbrent wrote:Hi Dean, maybe this is what you mean. It is why the Manifestation is referred to as the "Word" and the followers as "Letters," such as the "Letters of the Living".

"It is evident that the Letter is a member of the Word, and this membership in the Word signifieth that the Letter is dependent for its value on the Word, that is, it deriveth its grace from the Word; it has a spiritual kinship with the Word, and is accounted an integral part of the Word. The Apostles were even as Letters, and Christ was the essence of the Word Itself; and the meaning of the Word, which is grace everlasting, cast a splendour on those Letters. Again, since the Letter is a member of the Word, it therefore, in its inner meaning, is consonant with the Word." (Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 60)

This is not a rank or station among the believers; it is to be accompanied by humility. It seems me me that it has to do with one's personal relationship with the Manifestation.

Brent


Brent,

yes ... that is part/whole of the Scriptual basis for understanding ... at a later date it might become more clear as to why i think it is important for me and all individuals to clearly define their relationship with The Universal House of Justice ... i think I really like the terminology "a servant to the members of The Universal House of Justice" ...

thanks for your input and help . ... any further considerations ... ideas ...

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Any further comments ... questions ... ideas from anybody ???

oneness
dh