idance of His Holiness, the Exalted One
(may my life be offered up for them both). Whatsoever they decide is of
God.(111)

The relationship between these two centres of authority, Shoghi Effendi
further explained, is a complementary one, in which some functions are
shared in common and others specialized for one or other of the two
institutions. Nevertheless, he was at pains to emphasize:

It must be ... clearly understood by every believer that the institution
of Guardianship does not under any circumstances abrogate, or even in the
slightest degree detract from, the powers granted to the Universal House
of Justice by Baha'u'llah in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, and repeatedly and
solemnly confirmed by 'Abdu'l-Baha in His Will. It does not constitute in
any manner a contradiction to the Will and Writings of Baha'u'llah, nor
does it nullify any of His revealed instructions.(112)

Realization of the uniqueness of what Baha'u'llah has brought into being
opens the imagination to the contribution that the Cause can make to the
unification of humankind and the building of a global society. The
immediate responsibility of establishing world government rests on the
shoulders of the nation-states. What the Baha'i community is called on to
do, at this stage in humanity's social and political evolution, is to
contribute by every means in its power to the creation of conditions that
will encourage and facilitate this enormously demanding undertaking. In
the same way that Baha'u'llah assured the monarchs of His day that "It is
not Our wish to lay hands on your kingdoms",(113) so the Baha'i community
has no political agenda, abstains from all involvement in partisan
activity, and accepts unreservedly the authority of civil government in
public affairs. Whatever concern Baha'is may have about current conditions
or about the needs of their own members is expressed through
constitutional channels.

The power that the Cause possesses to influence the course of history thus
lies not only in the spiritual potency of its message but in the example
it provides. "So powerful is the light of unity," Baha'u'llah asserts,
"that it can illuminate the whole earth."(114) The oneness of humankind
embodied in the Faith represents, as Shoghi Effendi emphasized, "no mere
outburst of ignorant emotionalism or an expression of vague and pious
hope". The organic unity of the body of believers--and the Administrative
Order that makes it possible--are evidences of