Friday, June 30, 2006
Early Christians wrote to each other frequently, and some of their correspondence has been cannonized in the New Testament. Early Quakers also wrote to each other -- much as the first-century Christians did -- to offer each other support and admonishment as necessary. Many of the challenges faced by the early church and 17th-Century Quakers -- including widespread persecution -- are no longer.
Instead, Quakers are facing a perhaps more insidious threat. The erosion of Christianity among liberal Quaker meetings is threatening to turn what was once a vital movement in Christ into an intellectualized, politically-correct body. Others -- like those with the New Foundation Fellowship -- can document this erosion better than I. But a simple way to monitor this transition is to compare Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's 1972 Faith and Practice (used widely by FGC meetings nationwide) with the current edition. More and more, we see a Quakerism cleansed of Christ, and the Quaker writings section now includes writings that are definitively universalist in their focus. Many meetings are welcoming places to goddess worshippers, Buddhists, aetheists, recovering Catholics, political activists and everyone else with the exception of those who seek communion with Christ through worship in the manner of Friends.
Even in the silence, I notice a dramatic difference when I am among Christian Friends, and the vocal ministry is like night and day. So often I come to a meeting with the fervent need to open myself up to the living waters -- as described by Jesus to the Samaritan woman at John 4:14 -- but go away thirsty. I seek the bread of life and go away hungry. Not yet am I among the Quaker saints who are always in the Kingdom regardless of their surroundings. I often feel the need for Christian fellowship and support.
Conservative Friends meetings are few and far between, and far outnumbered by FGC meetings in most areas. So while those who would be Friends of Jesus as outlined in John 15 are no longer under threat of imprisonment as we were during George Fox's time, we are often very much alone.
Currently, I am working to establish a conservative Friends meeting in my hometown, and relying on correspondence with others for daily admonishment and encouragement. On a semi-regular basis I will post my thoughts here -- thoughts on the scriptures and the Spirit and on openings I have had in them. I look forward and appreciate your ministry during these times.
Instead, Quakers are facing a perhaps more insidious threat. The erosion of Christianity among liberal Quaker meetings is threatening to turn what was once a vital movement in Christ into an intellectualized, politically-correct body. Others -- like those with the New Foundation Fellowship -- can document this erosion better than I. But a simple way to monitor this transition is to compare Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's 1972 Faith and Practice (used widely by FGC meetings nationwide) with the current edition. More and more, we see a Quakerism cleansed of Christ, and the Quaker writings section now includes writings that are definitively universalist in their focus. Many meetings are welcoming places to goddess worshippers, Buddhists, aetheists, recovering Catholics, political activists and everyone else with the exception of those who seek communion with Christ through worship in the manner of Friends.
Even in the silence, I notice a dramatic difference when I am among Christian Friends, and the vocal ministry is like night and day. So often I come to a meeting with the fervent need to open myself up to the living waters -- as described by Jesus to the Samaritan woman at John 4:14 -- but go away thirsty. I seek the bread of life and go away hungry. Not yet am I among the Quaker saints who are always in the Kingdom regardless of their surroundings. I often feel the need for Christian fellowship and support.
Conservative Friends meetings are few and far between, and far outnumbered by FGC meetings in most areas. So while those who would be Friends of Jesus as outlined in John 15 are no longer under threat of imprisonment as we were during George Fox's time, we are often very much alone.
Currently, I am working to establish a conservative Friends meeting in my hometown, and relying on correspondence with others for daily admonishment and encouragement. On a semi-regular basis I will post my thoughts here -- thoughts on the scriptures and the Spirit and on openings I have had in them. I look forward and appreciate your ministry during these times.
