My sort-of response to Callid’s great Youtube piece on the Quaker testimonies, I compare the classic testimonies to a wiki: the collective knowledge of Friends distilled into specific cautions and guides. “We as Friends have found that.…” I do talk about how the recent “SPICE” simplification (simplicity, integrity, integrity, community and equality) has robbed our notion of testimonies of some of their power.
I appreciate your thoughts and one of th ways I measure how much others have made an impact on my thoughts is by how much I am moved to respond. In this case I wrote a new post on quakerseeker in response. I believe we need to emphasize the positive intent of following the Spirit of Christ as our testimony as much if not more than not following the ways of the world. Rather than prohibitions of actions we need to emphasize the DO unto others, Love God, Love your neighbor more than the “Thou shalt not.” It seems that the “Quietistic” period of Friends came about as a result of focussing on the NOTs rather than the DOs. However, I strongly gree with you that far too often the DO becomes “license” rather than “Discipline.” I particularly was struck with one advice regarding alcohol use. I am away from home and do not have the reference available but will try to do justice in spirit if not in letter to the advice. We dare not take away the light of friendship and companionship, no matter how dim, of the windows of the (pub) unless we have something better and brighter to put in its place.
I think the Friends testimonies need to be articulated from doing the will of God or following the Spirit of Christ more than as a set of rules telling us what not to do.
One of the best expressions of this attitude I know is that Friends are not so much AGAINST the “Sacraments” as FOR Sacramental Living in all that we say and do 24/7.-
Hi Tom: thanks for your reply here and on your blog. I suspect we aren’t so far apart. Having not grown up very religious, I’m attracted to the discipline Friends offer; having grown up a preacher’s kid you’re more attracted to the freedom Friends offer. Both together are needed, of course.
Most on my mind these days are various Quaker bodies that I know that have become endlessly distracted by a few clearly-transgressive Friends. I’ve seen communities torn apart because the people who should be leaders just let troublemakers hijack all of the attention. Certainly, you’re right that the main part of our work is love. But I think we do need some standards too. The body of Christ isn’t healthy without both.