Bahá’í Community Life/Service to the Community
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that the Bahá’í Faith has the power to change human weaknesses into spiritual strengths. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, “Should any one of you enter a city, he should become a center of attraction by reason of his sincerity, his faithfulness and love, his honesty and fidelity, his truthfulness and loving-kindness towards all the peoples of the world. . . .”18
People everywhere are looking for a force which can change the world and make it a better place in which to live. If one is living the Bahá’í life, his conduct can become a guide and example to the rest of humanity.
8. Service to the Community[edit]
One demonstrates his love for God by the way he treats others. Serving others is an important part of Bahá’í life. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explains: “This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people.”19 Bahá’ís need not wait to go to an established place at a certain time to worship. One’s daily life is worship if he lives in service to others.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá was the perfect example of a life of service to humanity. He spent much of His time visiting the sick and was a welcomed visitor in the homes of the poor. The needy often came to Him for assistance. He always had a kind word and a warm smile to lighten their burdens. Once when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s entire family was sick, He cared for them, washed them, and fed them, taking no rest until He finally fell ill Himself. During the first World War He instructed the Bahá’ís to grow extra crops, which He distributed to hundreds of people who otherwise would have starved. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s whole life was devoted to serving mankind.
Each individual must try to serve others, and the Bahá’í community as a whole must become known for its generosity and concern for all people. The Local Spiritual Assembly should try to become aware of the problems and needs of the people in its town. It can then organize the believers to fill some of those needs. The Bahá’ís can visit shut-ins and people in nursing homes with no family of their own. If there are needy
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families in town, the Bahá’ís might organize a food or clothing drive in which the whole town could participate. If one section of town is badly in need of a clean-up, the Bahá’ís and other citizens could organize a project to clean that area. Transportation is often a problem for some people. Bahá’ís with cars could offer to take these people shopping or to the doctor.
Offering religious classes for the children of a community is an important service Bahá’ís can perform. Such classes teach children the basic truths of all the world’s great religions. A Bahá’í community may want to provide social functions for local youth. Many parents would be glad to have their children at events sponsored by the Bahá’ís instead of wandering about with nothing to do.
In each community there are many needs with which Bahá’ís can help and thus become known for their service to all people.
9. Participation of Women[edit]
Bahá’u’lláh teaches that men and women are equal in the sight of God. Both have something to contribute to Bahá’í community life and to the progress of the world. Both must be included in the work of the Faith.
In the past women were not treated as equal with men and did not have the chance to develop their abilities. They were thought of as inferior. But today women must be educated and contribute to the progress of society. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, “women must advance and fulfill their mission in all departments of life, becoming equal to men.” 20
Women and men must enjoy equal rights in the Bahá’í community and in the world. Each one, however, has special talents to contribute.