|
Friends United Meeting |
 |
August/September 2002
Fox Pix
350 Years of Quakerism—Now What?
By J.R. Keller
Have we really experienced 350 years of true Quakerism? After spending some considerably difficult time thinking over this topic another question arose in my mind, "How many Friends have truly experienced even one year of Quakerism?"
Do we as Friends truly believe that George Fox's idea of a great people to be gathered has been made manifest in our individual meetings? How far have many of us strayed from the seminal teachings of George Fox when he admonished us as Friends to return to his sense of Primitive Christianity? I wonder how many of our meetings George would visit and rise to speak during worship so he might lead us down the Lighted Path.
Some Friends may say that many of Fox's ideas were tailored to his times or are not applicable in our present society. Today, the defense of our actions is immersed in a deceptive truth many Friends are convinced of and, as a result, are dying from. By tailoring our spiritual lives to enable us to enjoy our many so-called modern conveniences, we separate ourselves from, and eliminate the subservient and self-sacrificing Truth the Quaker Testimonies call us to seek. Now more than ever in my short 23-year existence, I realize the need for Friends to be a force that speaks out and admonishes believers to return to the True Christ who loves all, who is available to all and is made manifest in all since we are created in the image of God.
It pains me greatly when I am met by an individual who professes no particular faith, yet projects a truer image of the Christ Within than many Friends with whom I coexist. My prescriptions are that we as Friends must heed the advice of Thomas Kelly and bring those things of the outside life into the Light. Then we may see that, "Much apparent wheat becomes utter chaff, and some chaff becomes wheat." When we finally come to this realization, we might fully know the Truth that God has called each of us to live out every day. Spend time each day in your own personal communion with God. Weekly seek out gatherings of Friends and experience the strength that accompanies corporate communion. To have a healthy relationship with both God and humanity, there must be a two-way communication of both listening and speaking.
I take great solace that we have, as Friends, many life-giving and positive affirmations of the true work of Christ that needs to be done such as that carried out by Right Sharing of World Resources, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Quaker Bolivian Link, Friends United Meeting, Friends World Committee on Consultation and Quaker United Nations Office, just to name a few.
The continuation and proliferation of such groups are used to carry out the true work that Christ has called us to in Matthew 25:35-40, "I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you came and visited me... I tell you whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me."
One person can make a difference. You need not strive to be George Fox to impact this world! Just listen and be attentive to the Spirit of Truth within yourself, temper that with an understanding of scripture, and it will lead you to a life of wisdom and influence, the likes of which you cannot even imagine.
Reflecting on the gathering of Friends as a people 350 years ago, I am suspending my music reviews this month. In November, watch for reflections from international youth attending the Triennial in Kenya. I'll be back to reviewing music again next year!
Copyright (c) 2002 Friends United Meeting
Return to August/September 2002 Contents page