Comments for things that might have been otherwise

Comment on Being Salt and Light at Kabarak, Kenya by kish bwabi masafu

kish bwabi masafu — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:36:00 +0000

it was all beautiful along, we need to be real salt and light in the brokeness world,what a rea pleasure to be at kabarak.

Comment on Why I am a Christian Quaker? by axel landmann

axel landmann — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:31:37 +0000

I believe that Jesus shows us the way and reveals the truth but differ in the interpretation which is put on these words by the majority of those who quote this passage, because they include the the churches interpretation and some specific texts in the bible eg that one who is not a Christian cannot see the truth or follow the way! Who are we to question or limit the working of the spirit of Jesus ?
axel landmann

Comment on Why I am a Christian Quaker? by David S.

David S. — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:35:45 +0000

It would seem to me the early Quakers,
thought the Nicene Board mistakers
for trying to put in pen and ink
what the emperor would require we think

Not notions, said old Shaggy Locks
You can’t put Christ into a box
Nor make sense of phenomenon
(you see it, you hear it)
until you have the noumenon!
(closer to you than “yourself”, the Spirit)

So Liberal Quakes may be Friends of Jesus
Who said its not crying “Lord” that pleases
Be still and know, and then go do
The loving thing revealed to you.

Comment on Why I am a Christian Quaker? by Robert Hammond

Robert Hammond — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:39:10 +0000

I agree with Bill’s comments. Thanks again for the original post. Many religious groups today have departed from the faith, having a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. As was revealed to George Fox, “There is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to your condition.” Calling oneself by a label doesn’t change who one is any more than putting on a football jersey makes one a professional football player. It is not about groups or community activism or politics or outward forms and appearances, it is about the Truth that sets one free, the inner Light that has appeared to all, the living Word that leads into salvation and all truth. Here is another article which goes to the heart of the matter: http://www.hallvworthington.com/whyjesus.html

Comment on Why I am a Christian Quaker? by Bill Samuel

Bill Samuel — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:17:40 +0000

I believe that there is a large tension in trying to be both a Christian and identifying with a faith group that is not committed to Jesus Christ. My experience in liberal Friends is that most Friends in them who are deeply committed to Christ eventually either leave liberal Friends (I know dozens of these and one myself) or water down their Christianity. Scripture tells us not to neglect meeting with one another, and I am firmly convinced that means meeting together in the context of a commitment to Jesus Christ.

This is important. I implore all Christian Quakers in meetings where there is not a shared commitment to Jesus Christ to meet regularly with other believers, whether or not they remain with their meeting. These other believers may or may not identify with Quakerism. It is not Quakerism which is important. It is Jesus Christ, who is indeed the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Comment on On being a Quaker and a philosopher by Why I am a Christian Quaker? : The Viral Marketing System

Why I am a Christian Quaker? : The Viral Marketing System — Sat, 12 May 2012 22:31:07 +0000

[...] So we should focus on our experience of the Spirit, not the complexities of doctrine and theology. But in writing this post, I do feel led to be fairly specific about my beliefs and experience, in the hope that this might clarify where I am coming from, and respond to the false dichotomy I mentioned in my introduction. I prefer ‘experience’ to ‘belief’, since my spiritual journey has been much more about experiencing God and the Inward Christ in my heart, rather than an intellectual process of assenting to propositions. This seems an odd position for an analytic philosopher to be in. I have tried to make sense of it on this blog before. [...]

Comment on Why I am a Christian Quaker? by Jennifer Staples

Jennifer Staples — Sat, 12 May 2012 21:07:39 +0000

John: Very well written and explained in a way in which both non-Quakers and non-Christian Quakers can understand. I also definitely agree about the Bible not having to be the primary source, and that’s one reason where I would differ from Quakers who are more BIble-oriented, both those who are from unprogrammed meetings and still hold a high reverence for the Bible, and those who are from programmed meetings.

Comment on Why I am a Christian Quaker? by Justin Meggitt

Justin Meggitt — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:08:32 +0000

Well said and very important.

Comment on Why I am a Christian Quaker? by Dr. Bruce Arnold

Dr. Bruce Arnold — Sat, 12 May 2012 18:28:26 +0000

Thank you, John. Very well said.

You might be interested in my blog on the topic: http://wp.me/p1OXtI-12

Comment on Why I am a Christian Quaker? by mindfulbeader

mindfulbeader — Sat, 12 May 2012 18:25:20 +0000

I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently, as a result of studying in ecumenical groups. I’ve always thought of myself as Christian but it’s only very recently that I feel I’ve understood, at last, the difference between the “one, even CHRIST Jesus” of whom Fox spoke and Jesus of Nazareth, the prophet. This feels key, somehow, though I don’t have the words to explain it properly here as yet.