Communicating with All Souls

Early on in Jesus' ministry, He instructed His disciples to preach predominantly to Jews. At that time, our Lord visited the earth physically and primarily related to the first covenant individuals. . .

As an example, Jesus sent His trusted followers to visit individuals who had not yet espoused the gospel. Our Lord commanded them to travel without much materials and preach Christ's earthly ministry to the aforementioned individuals. If the disciples were unsuccessful in their calling, they did not attack the recalcitrants but merely wiped their feet as a symbol of rejection. Jesus, in other words, instructed His loyal followers not to respond violently to the disobedient.

After His resurrection, however, when the world, and not just the Jews became Christ's people, Jesus, through communicating inwardly, prevailed on His adherents to preach the gospel to all souls and not to just a particular people. As the Apostle John enunciates, Christ, at the right hand of God, enlightens all individuals at birth with His penetrating light. This means that Jesus expects all individuals to receive His visitations. And that is the reason that Christians following Christ's command ministered to Gentiles and Jews.

Fortunately, early Friends began to understand Jesus' calling and began preaching the true gospel to all who would listen, not only to their outward words but to Jesus' everlasting Light and when we listen to the living Christ, we understand that He is our Savior who functions as our everlasting prophet who ministers to all.

George Fox and other early Quakers received God's mission to bring all people to hear our Lord preach. Small wonder they traveled in the ministry to bring the message of God's love for all people to receive. This message was not for just a remnant of individuals who remembered God's action on their behalf but for all souls willing to hear and obey.

But some Friends after the toleration act of 1689 by the British Parliament, were tempted to become one sect among many others. But George Fox reminded these Friends that they were obligated to continue preaching the gospel to waiting souls. George Fox, as a member of Jesus' Church, urged his fellow Quakers to preach to the Blacks and Native Americans in addition to their Friends. Fox clearly understood that Christ's message needed to be heard by all people, not just a remnant.

Small wonder George Fox, along with Margaret Fell began to establish meetings for worship which gave the opportunity for devoted Christians to wait on the Lord for inspiration as well as guidance. As He is doing today, God gathered people to wait on Him silently to discern Christ's message. Early Friends would wait on the Lord for true discernment. Once Friends heard the Word, Christ prevailed on loyal adherents to preach the good news. New Friends, therefore, after they heard the gospel shared Jesus' admonitions with their fellow Christians. This message encouraged Friends to feed the hungry, refrain from violent responses, to love each other with the love that Christ extends to all people. We are a people when we are willing to obey.

Yes, it is imperative when we are instructed by the Lord to preach the gospel to all souls. Remember, Friends, we do not own this gospel; it is a precious gift from the Lord to all people, not just a few gifted individuals. In unity with early Friends, we must be ready to preach to all souls. Of course we may have different talents in rendering service to our Lord. But if in listening, we are able to cooperate with God and our fellow Christians God will move us to spread the good news to all souls. May we prevail in the Lord's will.

Arthur Berk

03-04-2011