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Quaker Beginnings: In an age of outward formalism and inward
shallowness Friends posed a striking contrast. They believed that God was a God of truth,
so they sought to worship Him in truth.
In contrast to the ritualized religion of the state church, whereby
people could participate in worship without showing any change in their
lives. Friends and Sacraments: Sacrament “an outward and visible sign
of an invisible and spiritual reality.” The sacrament is not the spiritual reality, but it points to it. In the seventeenth century People became
members of religious institution, but there was little sign of lives being
changed. Sacraments were taken with
regularity, but there was little evidence that men and women were communing
with Christ in a transforming way, To these inconsistencies Friends posed the
radical notion that the spiritual
reality is the priority, and that it can be experienced even
without the outward rites. The outward
rites could be confused too easily with a magical formula, but they are never
necessary for God’s working. John
the Baptist said “I baptize you with water…But after me will come one
who…will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Baptism by fire depicts the spiritual
change that happens within the life of one who abides in Christ and in whom
Christ abides in an ongoing sense.
Elton Trueblood says, “if we have The Reality,
nothing else is required; if we do not, nothing else will
suffice.” Fox, “Let your lives preach.” The most
effective sign is changed and changing lives.
As often as we eat and drink, we call to the present the memory of our
Lord’s sacrifice for us. Our prayer
then becomes, “as this nourishment is
to our bodies, Lord, so are you to our souls.” Friends and Worship: They believe that the spirit may lead in
the planning of a service, and that the order of service should be able to be
laid down if the Spirit dictates.
During the service, the focus is not on the leaders of worship, but on
the present Lord. It is totally
opposite to an audience appreciating a performance, because all are involved
in the act of worshiping God. Worship
without participation is a contradiction of terms. Friends see worship as the end of all we do. When we share our concerns and celebrations
with one another, we do so as an act of worship. When we wait in silence together, the
silence is not empty, but it is full-because of the One we meet in the
silence. When we meet for business, we
do so in the context of worship. Worship is not an agenda of hymns to be sung and things to said any more than the Friends and Ministry:
When one’s life is touched by the “fire” of Jesus Christ, it cannot be
contained. It must be shared with others or it grows cold. If you are a Christian, You are a
minister. As followers of Jesus Christ
the question is not if we will minister, but how. Friends as Peacemakers: The peace of Christ can never be accomplished by inward or outward
violence. Convinced of the power of
the Spirit’s conviction, Fox simply told William Penn, about his sword, “Wear
it as long as thou canst.” Friends and the |