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Friends and History |
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Some members of OYM meetings have not understood my need to emphasize my concern for elucidating an accurate account and lessons to be learned from our history. That is why I delineate the theology of Fox's prophesies. Even though his writings are from the Seventeenth Century, they speak to us today, particularly about our relationship with Christ Jesus. One of his early openings was that there is one, even Christ Jesus who could, and did, speak to his condition. He was admonishing his friends to expect Jesus to speak to them in their gatherings and in their homes. Fox emphasized that Jesus was always present to instruct His People, to console them, and when necessary, to elder them. In God's grace our beloved Lord gathered His people to listen, and more important, to obey His heavenly voice. Fox, as well as other early Friends, expostulated Jesus's commands in their ministry in addition to their writings. This same Christ Jesus revealed the hidden mysteries of scripture to our ancient Friends therefore encouraging us to wait on the Lord for Biblical understanding. In that way Fox understood that when he fed the hungry, ministered to the sick and visited those imprisoned, he was in obedience to our Lord, Christ Jesus. Indeed, Christ was the author of our beloved Bible. Fox and his companions were not satisfied with merely being enriched in Christ's goodness but were moved to promulgate that God encouraged them to spread the good news of God loving his people, all of humanity. Friends, as a result, visited many continents in this compelling prophetic vision. Today, we too can receive the everlasting gospel of Truth. We can open ourselves to God in the same manner as our first fellow believers. Yes, we have much to learn from these courageous Christians. Above all, as a people we can wait on the Lord together in the same spirit and openness as George Fox and his companions in Truth.
Arthur Berk |