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Quaker Community |
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Often we hear Quakers speaking about the need for community as central to their existence. Early Friends also often mentioned community but somewhat differently. They received a calling from the Lord to gather to hear as well as preach the Good News that Jesus is alive and bring people together to hear and preach the Gospel to their neighbors. Unlike some urban modern Friends, Quakers from George Fox's era were not influenced to live in the same block but were gathered by Jesus to worship together for the purpose of hearing and obeying the Lord not just as individuals but as a gathered body who wait on our beloved Jesus for His commands. As a community, early Friends prayed for guidance to provide for the poverty-stricken and to educate their children to welcome God in their lives. George Fox as a matter of fact, distributed money to individuals who were suffering from economic deprivation as well as building schools for poor children. George Fox and other Quaker ministers were not witnessing just as individuals but as true members of Jesus' body. This was - and should be today - essential community. Because Friends have heard the Lord speak of peace, God's peace requiring our obedience, Friends as a group have urged all people not only to eliminate their outer weapons of destruction but, perhaps more important, to receive God's power to overcome that emotional hostility. And when a community understands Jesus' gospel love, they can strive for peace in the Lord's name. Small wonder early Friends were not satisfied to remain isolated either as individuals or a community but were moved by the gospel to reach out to all people. Eventually, as a result of our preaching in God's love, humanity would have the opportunity of becoming one community serving the Lord wherever we may live. First though localities must begin resting in the Lord. That will bring us together as a community enabling us to obey God and love each other. Then we will be prepared to become one world-wide community in God. Let us pray for that eventuality.
Arthur Berk |