QuakerQuaker

Primitive Christianity Revived, Again

small 'q' quakerism

I love the Quaker Way. Though perhaps love is not the right word - I 'm not sure we should ever "love" a created thing, and for all its depth and beauty, Quakerism is a created thing. What I mean to say is that in my understanding of Quaker life I have - somehow, someway, to some extent - come to find God. One day in early September 1987 I had a mystical experience. In a state of depression and hopelessness I sat alone in a small woods when suddenly what I can only describe as a Divine Light wordlessly gave me an overwelming sense that "everything is alright" and there is a Spirit at work in the world and in my life. In trying to find a way to interpret or understand this experience, I walked into the nearby Quaker Meetinghouse and stayed, sensing that this was the path that might show me the meaning of that experience. This was perhaps the only time I felt I was truly led. And perhaps this was because I have not always walked in that Light, sometimes I believe not at all, and there have been times, sometimes long times, when I turned away from that Light. But whenever I hunger again for that Spirit, it is in reflecting on that first experience, and its leading me to Friends, that brings me back. It was also through Friends, both present and historical, that I came to Christianity and an awareness of the presence of Jesus Christ. Quakerism has then, for some reason I am still not totally sure of, become the Christian path for me.

But there are times when I feel that Quakerism can sometimes have a parochial sense about it. I have heard the word Quaker used (as I have just used it) as though it were a clearly defined "thing", something we can follow as if it were holy, or something we can use as a source of pride, like "I am a Quaker!" If an Episcopalian said they followed "the Episcopalian Way", or if the word Methodism was used that way the word Quakerism is, we might find a little Denominationalism in this. Now I believe there are many paths, and God in His love for human variety has given us an infinate number of ways to follow the Spirit, depending on what best speaks to our condition. But sometimes I think Quakers, perhaps because we have a particular history as a "peculiar people" or more distinctive worship and organizational forms, of for whatever reason, may be prone to a kind of spiritual pride or elitism we would reject if we found it in a fundamentalist or charismatic sect. Have other Friends ever wondered this?

Have other Friends ever wondered if we might not get a little too sectarian sometimes?

Can Quakerism become an idol? I suppose as a created thing, it could become an idol as much as any other created thing if we let it. Can we focus too much attention on the path and lose focus of the destination? (I may know this experientially). Since the Spirit of Christ can be just as truly heard in all churches/sects/creeds - or in none - might it be more in keeping with that Spirit to speak of small 'q' quakerism and not let our path get out ahead of our Guide?

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Comment by Howard Brod on 2nd mo. 15, 2013 at 8:27am: A wonderful post. You speak my mind.

Comment by Aaron J Levitt on 2nd mo. 15, 2013 at 3:01pm: Mine as well; thank you.

We all might be well-served to use small letters for just about everything: quakerism, christianity, judaism, aaron, united states, etc. Reserve the capital only for God and, even then, take care that this one last big-letter word doesn't become an idol between us and the inexpressible.

Comment by Aaron J Levitt on 2nd mo. 15, 2013 at 3:51pm: I almost forgot to add bible and scripture.

Comment by Randy Oftedahl on 2nd mo. 16, 2013 at 1:35am: Friend Aaron;

What a wonderful idea! I would keep the capital in people's name, though, to honour that of God in all. Thank you!

Comment by Stephanie Stuckwisch on 2nd mo. 16, 2013 at 11:51pm: I think we do fall into idolatry. Our testimonies have become a golden calf. We forget that they are the fruit and not the vine.

Comment by Aaron J Levitt on 2nd mo. 17, 2013 at 3:04pm: I think you're right about names, Randy, but maybe "i" could be a small letter (especially considering that "you", "we", and even "thee" already are).

Comment by Sharon Annis on 2nd mo. 18, 2013 at 1:06am: Stephanie speaks my mind and i appreciate the post.

Comment by Paula Deming on 2nd mo. 18, 2013 at 12:25pm: Proud to be a humble Quaker, thee says??

Comment by Christopher Hatton on 2nd mo. 22, 2013 at 3:12am: Thank you Friend Randy, and Friend Stephanie also speaks my mind.

Although I would add that it is because of the "testimonies to truth and peace" that initially attracted me to Friends back in the summer of 1999. It was not until sometime in late 2008- early 2009 I began to see them as fruits of the vine and not as separate pillars of our religious society.

I agree some (many?) of us (myself included) do have a sectarian / denominational ways of thinking. I wonder if that has its roots in our past as a "peculiar people". We were (still are??) very much a 2nd Comming Church, as opposed to other denominations that are/were primarily 1st Coming centred.

Is that changing in the wider apostolic Church and amongst Friends? There are many many Friends today (but hopefully not yet majority worldwide), that struggle with the term "the risen Christ has come to teach us himself". I must confess I am not sure where our Friends in Evangelical Friends Church International (EFCI)stand, but I have often missed this distinctive q/Quaker term amongst other denominations. A Lutheran lay preacher that occasionally attends our meeting for worship, tells me it is no longer so uncommon to hear amongst Lutherans and Pentecostals that Christ is risen and has come to teach us himself, so that we will be ready for his actual physical coming.

Amongst my experiences of many Liberal Yearly and Monthly Meetings in Europe, I perceive a drift into a post-Christian multi-faith based umbrella peace orientated organisation with something like "Quakerism: a religion without dogma".

Our Christianity I believe was always based on a Universalism of Christ, to those of all faiths and to those of none. I hope that when I try badly/humbly to live in the spirit of Christ, the way will open. However, I have noticed that when I am amongst a majority of people that can expectantly wait for Christ to come amongst as we gather in the silence, I feel that mystical presence more often, and will quake and be moved to minister.

It is this way, this truth, this life giving light that sustains me (purposely paraphrased Jesus's words from Gospel of John).

There are many dwellings in the house of The Lord, we Friends just happen to be in our little corner trying to live simply, peacefully, truthfully whilst working to build Gods faithful Community that is based on justice and equality.

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