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Embracing Christ |
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In early Hebrew history, people of Jewish heritage searched the scriptures for spiritual answers to their questions. Remember God at first communicated with such Jewish figures as Abraham, Moses, and Jeremiah to enunciate His laws which appeared in the Hebrew scriptures. Small wonder that Jews relied on the Bible in their search for spiritual Truth. Let us not forget that the Lord did order His covenant people to rely on the Bible as their prime source of faith. Yet the Lord did promise His adherents that He would send a Messiah to them like the prophet Moses whom they needed not only to hear outwardly but to obey His divine messages of Truth. They needed first to wait for Jesus' appearance and then recognize God's commands. Despite the miracles of healing, which include feeding the hungry, few recognized His divinity. The Jewish Establishment demanded that their people rely on outward laws rather than the anointed one for answers to their prayers. Fortunately there were individuals such as Mark, Peter and John who were not only prepared to listen to the Lord but sought to obey Him inasmuch as they understood that Jesus was not just speaking for Himself but for our Heavenly Father. Because Christ's Spirit pervaded their souls, these disciples heard that they were commanded to love their enemies, feed the hungry, minister to the sick and, most important, preach the Gospel to all people, not just to their fellow Hebrews. As a result of His Heavenly teachings, Jesus announced to His followers, that the World powers would eventually execute Him. Peter and the other disciples were shocked. They expected Jesus to be among them physically. But the rulers feared His presence and eventually executed Him thinking that they overcame their competition. But God raised Jesus and anointed Him as the living Christ. That is why at Pentecost the disciples were encouraged to bring people, many different tribes, to welcome Jesus' presence among them. Needless to say, these humans heard Him preach in their own languages. They heard Him proclaim that He is their Lord who teaches them directly. Jesus also instructed these willing souls when they witness in Christ's power to proclaim that they are rendering ministry in the name of Christ. Consequently, the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews declared that at first God's people searched the scriptures for ultimate Truth but now if they are obedient rely on the living Christ for ultimate Truth without neglecting biblical study. Christian communities therefore waited on the Lord for guidance. Eventually various political entitles seized control of Christian communities and installed emperor worship. Yet there were individuals who resisted the State's intrusion and still preached in the name and power of the Lord. Among these people were the early Quakers such as George Fox who heard the Lord proclaim that there is one Christ Jesus who can and does speak to their condition. Because these Friends heard Jesus enunciate spiritual Truth, they understood that Jesus opens Scripture to them. Once they submitted to Christ in their biblical search, they understood the essence of Biblical Truth; Christ is the author and finisher of our faith, a faith that enables us to reconcile our lives to God. But early Friends, in submission to the Lord, heard that their faith was not private property but belonged to Christ. Is it any wonder these Friends moved by our precious Lord preached the necessity to gather and wait on God for inspiration as well as instruction. And they followed the command of Jesus to preach the gospel to all people they contacted. For that obedience, many early Quakers, including George Fox, were imprisoned and suffered economic hardship. The English government eventually passed the 1691 toleration act which enabled Quakers to worship, as a group. Some Friends were willing to accept this toleration and adhere to the premise that they were one church among many. But George Fox and other early Friends rejected this compromise and continued proclaiming that the Lord required all people to wait on Him. George Fox encouraged His Friends to preach this gospel to blacks and native americans among other people. They even invited minorities to worship together as one body in Christ. Indian elders began to recognize in worship that Jesus' spirit moved them to recognize God's presence. Christ is moving us to reach out to other people in His name. Our ministry is of the Lord and will promote His Kingdom, if we are faithful.
Arthur Berk |