Christianity and Friends

Dave Carl on Quakers, Christians and the glue that holds Friends together

Several Friends (myself included) have come to "believe in God" through Quaker worship, although that phrase may not mean to them what it would have prior to convincement. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-07-01T16:02:08Z.)

Quaker Monasticism and emergent and convergent Friends

Be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations wherever you come; that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone; (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-06-17T20:26:33Z.)

Bill Samuel is an evangelical but not an Evangelical

Evangelicals also proclaim Christ is Lord, but their emphasis on the written word as the sole determiner of Truth tends to contradict that. am not an Evangelical because I'm not sure that Evangelicalism is really centered on Jesus Christ. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-05-17T15:11:19Z.)

West Rindge Frederick on quaking then and now

We look back at that ag. and say they received spiritual gift. hundredfold, an outpouring unstoppable of the water of life. We think they had some secret. Did we not both quake? Were we not both smitten to the ground, and despairing? (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-04-10T23:33:26Z.)

Light & Silence Simon on Hauerwas and early Friends on Jesus

Theologically, this i. powerful statement, but seen fro. modern historical perspective, it's earth-shattering. This telling moves well beyond practices that acknowledge bias to what many would argue is sheer propaganda. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-04-08T03:30:01Z.)

Scott W on functional atheism in Friends decision-making

Part of what the emerging church can teach us and remind us is that we easily fall into the trap of "functional atheism" [where] we give lip service to God and to the guidance and power of God but we function as if we are doing it all ourselves. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-04-08T03:09:31Z.)

Skybalon says: It's Bigger Than Hip Hop

Quakerism offers the means to challenge the dominating idolatrous tendencies of Christianity a. religion. In that sense it can help keep Christianity Christian. (Posted by chrismsf on 2008-04-06T03:41:14Z.)

Quaker writes article on Baltimore emerging church movement

Reporter is Diane of Emerging Quaker blog. "A lot of the emerging church has grown out o. new emphasis on narrative theology, the story of God and God's people. How does this story connect to God's plan for the people of Baltimore? There is no formula." (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-04-05T05:49:03Z.)

Shawna on Myteries of Transformation

This perspective feels generous, and open, and positive. It feels like an invitation. have always felt that talking about Christ should feel more like an invitation t. party than lik. summons t. court. (Posted by chrismsf on 2008-03-17T04:00:42Z.)

Liz's vision of Jesus

(Posted by robinmohr on 2008-02-21T05:33:22Z.)

Martin channels Kevin-Douglas's Baltimore Emergent Church Qr experiment

I do prefer unprogrammed worship, bu. mean that literally: that we don't necessarily se. program, but that there indeed may be silence o. query, scripture or advice read at the beginning of worship. (Posted by chrismsf on 2008-02-19T06:58:53Z.)

Skybalon is reading the Evangelical Declaration Against Torture

In one of our Sunday school classes we're going over an Evangelical Declaration Against Torture. When I've mentioned that to people, they've often said it'. weird topic fo. Sunday school class. (Posted by robinmohr on 2008-02-19T03:36:57Z.)

Further Reflections on Gospel Ministry - The Lamb's War

I. can commit myself to seeking the Spirit of unconditional love, i. can dedicate my life to living the incarnation, i. can accept the very real possibility of bearing the sufferings of Christ in my own bod. that, by the grace of God, will spea. (Posted by micahbales on 2008-02-05T22:54:34Z.)

Cherice is joining a christian peacemaker delegation

for two weeks this May and June I'm going to begin trying to help resolve conflicts using nonviolence i. place where there has been an ongoing war for decades, and off and on for much longer. (Posted by robinmohr on 2008-01-28T05:21:08Z.)

In Search of the Gospel - The Lamb's War

What does the Religious Society of Friends have to say to the world if the Gospel is beyond all words? More specifically, what is my mission as evangelist if the evangel is beyond any human expression or conception? Is there any meaning to proclamation of (Posted by micahbales on 2008-01-26T23:00:35Z.)

Robin M reads thriving churches book, Christianity for the Rest of Us

If the keys t. thriving congregation are shared tradition, practice, and wisdom -- how are we sharing these with each other, especially newcomers? My meeting is i. growing phase right now. Can we step into the opportunities that God is showing us? (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-01-25T17:56:49Z.)

Gregg gambles on a discussion of communion

...we are not articulating well, we are not calling people toward, we are not setting before them the beautiful example of lives lit aflame by the all-consuming presence of the bread of life. (Posted by robinmohr on 2008-01-25T16:45:54Z.)

Pagan Cat on Quakers' Light and Christianity

Is that Light "Jesus"? Seems lik. small name to me...I love that Light. rejoice in it. am trying to listen to it, to be faithful to it, and perhaps to grow into it. Is that Christian? (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-01-24T11:22:12Z.)

Will T explains Quaker perfection to the NFL crowd

Say that sin is like committin. penalty. You, even your whole team could play an entire game without havin. penalty called on them. In that regard you have played perfectly. But you might have fumbled the ball, thrown interceptions... (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-01-18T12:42:23Z.)

San Francisco Meeting's Bible class flyer

The Bible belongs to us... Our Quaker faith is deeply rooted in the Bible, and exploring the Bible can nourish our faith, enrich our understanding of our history, and provide language for communicating about the ineffable (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-01-17T13:15:30Z.)

Gregg K preaches about hell!

[M]y attempt to be faithful to obey the leadings of the Spirit for this particular group who are my spiritual community. would guess that we may have ample opportunity to broaden the discussion. [Follow link in post for sermon] (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-01-14T12:20:48Z.)

Quaking Elizabeth revisits the Good Samaritan

Sounds to me like Jesus isn't just telling us that we need to be kind and loving. Seems to me that Jesus is actively shaming our little cookie-seeking lawyer. I'm going with the shame-on-you version of the story, 'caus. like that Jesus best. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-01-12T17:37:14Z.)

Simon SL continues with Fox's view of salvation

My current best guess is that George Fox's message that "Christ is come to teach his people himself" was not just apocalyptic, but about the nature of salvation: Christ comes not just a. visitor, but a. permanent and growing part of us. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-12-28T14:01:53Z.)

A new visitor to Friends describes why he left Unitarianism

It'. circle-the-wagons,insular,bubble mentality that reminds m. little o. Soviet Propaganda film. This defensive posture couches all events, identities, policies, and daily minutia in cloying, self-referential terms of purpose and esoteric phrasing. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-12-17T19:39:38Z.)

What Canst Thou Say?: Call to Conversion

(Posted by robinmohr on 2007-12-10T03:25:54Z.)

kathy thinks inaugurated eschatology will be on the final...

(Posted by robinmohr on 2007-12-07T03:27:30Z.)

Liz posts Marshall channeling "Early Minsiter" reminding us who's in charge of gospel order

Just speaking personally, it seems to me that the answers to all these questions become fairly obvious, once we understand that it is God who is in charge and not ourselves! (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-12-06T01:35:06Z.)

Peter B on reading Marcus Borg on reading the Bible

That's me i. nutshell?my personal faith and practice in five simple sentences?and the first bit could just as well have bee. quote from George Fox with the language updated and the thee's and thou's taken out. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-12-03T11:44:33Z.)

Light & Silence Simon on deification, Friends and Eastern Orthodox understandings

The Orthodox emphasis on changelessness, going back to the apostles, and the Quaker idea of Primitive Christianity Revived may have brought them to similar places, however different they appear on the surface. (See his followup post for quotes) (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-11-23T13:44:21Z.)

Kirk W's Quaker bookmarks on eBible

I tagged verses that mean the most to me, relating to Quaker faith and practice, particularly in the historical context. After markin. handful that I've noted for myself over the years. drew from several other sources as they've presented themselv (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-11-16T19:03:02Z.)

Kirk W explains his eBible work

I picked verses that seemed to me most relevant as stand-alone cites... fe. marked with the tag/topic "quakers" whe. thought they were most germane to Quaker distinctives, e.g, hireling ministry, oaths, and manner of worship. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-11-16T18:58:44Z.)

Mark W takes the Quaker Bible Index and compiles the most quoted verses

I took the data from the Quaker Bible Index and munged it int. count of the most frequently quoted verses. then took the top 100... think it give. good flavor of how early Quakers used the bible. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-11-06T22:27:27Z.)

What Canst Thou Say?: The Challenge of Jesus

Wright on how to be Christian: Neither o. shrill and shallow level, denying the depth of the problems our world faces; nor weakly and thoroughly compromised by worldly pressures; nor by escaping t. place of idealized and isolated purity. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-10-26T21:49:04Z.)

Will T urges us to use "that of God within" in a more honest & useful way to inquirers

"This Light within is not something that we can take pride in or claim as our own as if it granted us some special merit... Where things get dicey is when we go from describing the spiritual organs and go on to describe their functions." (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-10-03T05:12:23Z.)

Robin M goes Emergent, comes out a step closer to a conversion of manners?

"Long time readers of this blog may remember earlier steps in my process of becomin. christian. This workshop was another step towards really living the life, my conversion of manners, as Friends used to say." (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-09-26T15:54:12Z.)