Out of my mind…
Written by Colin Saxton
December 2006
For the next several months, I want to focus this space on exploring our
identity as NWYM Friends. One of the clear messages communicated throughout
the entire vision and long-range planning process has been that we need to
relearn and reclaim our identity as Christ-centered Friends. Both among Friends
and as I listen to non-Friends, there is a sense that we have something significant
to offer the world as we are faithful to our particular calling as followers
of Jesus.
At a time when the whole Body of Christ is deepening its commitment to
work together and be in unity, there has also been a heightened appreciation
for one another’s unique contribution to the overall work of the Kingdom.
It has been argued, and I certainly agree, that we do well when we are willing
to join in partnership with other Christians AND live out our own Friends
understanding of discipleship with all of the passion and integrity we can
muster.
Similarly, it has been suggested that many of the historic Friends values
or testimonies seem to resonate deeply with the spiritual hunger that is
present in our world—if we were clear, creative and courageous in proclaiming
and demonstrating our Good News to others.
Unfortunately, we have been too prone to rely on our long-ago history as
we try to articulate who we are as the Friends of Jesus. Recently, I got
an e-mail from a pastor in our Yearly Meeting sharing frustration over this
very tendency. Throw in the general lack of clarity about Friends’ identity
world-wide and it seems to me that we would be well-served to re-articulate—in
those clear, creative and courageous ways—what it means to be the Friends
of Jesus in NWYM today! Instead of just telling the stories of how God used
Fox, Woolman, and Fell, we also need to be talking about how that same Life
and Power from Christ is using us to minister today.
So…for the December e-letter, I would like to focus on our testimony
that Christ is present to teach and lead us.
Maybe of all the Friends “testimonies” (that is, those core
convictions that flow out of our experience of knowing Christ), the declaration
that Jesus is present to teach and lead us is pre-eminent. In many ways,
it gives shape and meaning to everything else we say and do as Friends.
By claiming this as a “Friends” testimony, we are not implying
that other Christians do not, also, believe the same. For us, however, this
experience and self-understanding is central to who we are and what we do.
For Friends, Jesus Christ truly is the focal point of faith! More than a
person from history, or a character in a book or a name we claim, Jesus is
the Living, Resurrected Son of God, who continues to speak, teach, guide,
lead and empower the lives of all who trust in and follow Him.
Of course, Friends believe that Jesus was the Incarnate Word—the Living
God cloaked in human flesh. The same Jesus who lived in history is the Christ
we serve today. And, of course, Jesus is revealed in the text of Scripture.
The Bible is the written testimony of God’s action in history. Through
it we see the continuity of God’s revelation and it serves as the check
and standard by which we must test our own personal and corporate experience.
Friends simply assert that Jesus continues to be Emmanuel—God with
us—abiding in us through the Presence of the Holy Spirit, meeting and
gathering us in community, and available to anyone as the Light that gives
light to all people.
The implications of such an insight have been and can continue to be enormous!
We serve a Living, Active, Speaking God! We follow a Savior and Teacher who
actually leads us, who truly functions as the Head of the Church! We are
not left to our own devices or meager spiritual resources to carry out the
work of the Church. No! Jesus is active in us, through us, preparing our
way, providing us with divine wisdom, eternal compassion, and unending power.
This means, of course, that every moment and every place becomes an opportunity
to encounter the Living God. Whereas humans are tempted to divide the sacred
from secular or compartmentalize their life with God from other activities,
Friends resist this urge. Instead, we understand Christ is always with us
(or even better…we learn to attend to Christ always leading us!). Am
I tempted to sin? Feeling lonely or fearful? Uncertain of what to do? In
all cases, Christ is present and willing to be my guide and teacher. Furthermore,
as we live in His Presence, as we understand His heart, and are shaped by
the values of His Kingdom—suddenly life becomes more than a mad scramble
for security or daily struggle to endure. In His Presence, it is a life of
mission…carrying out His purpose, demonstrating His love, peace and
compassion, and issuing a call to others to know and follow Him as well.
As noted above, the practical implications of this testimony are huge. And
while it is always dangerous to provide a list (for fear it will become a
rule rather than a guide), let’s think about some of the possibilities:
*In our evangelism—we believe Christ is already active in people
long before we arrive on the scene. As many people have noted, we don’t “bring
Christ” to the world. He is already there…even actively working
in the lives of people who do not know Him. How is it, then, that we might
help them see Christ, or teach them to look for and listen to Him? How are
we being sensitive to the work that God is doing in others and learn to call
them to a decision at the appropriate time…instead of treating each
and every situation as identical?
*In our worship—do we make space for Jesus to teach us? Historically,
this has meant a period of silent waiting or open worship in which the gathered
community learns to listen to Christ together. To me, this has always been
the heart of worship. Music, preaching and other worship activities have
their own important purpose…but that period of listening to, attending
to, and responding to the leadership of Christ in corporate worship has been
a life- changing spiritual discipline and an amazing opportunity for ministry,
transformation and evangelism.
*In our business—we have an opportunity to carry that same worshipful
attentiveness into the work of discernment and deliberation that every church
needs to do. Rather than voting on matters, we believe that the Spirit of
God can unite willing hearts and minds and lead us together in God’s
way. Most people in NWYM know there is nothing simple about this kind of
work. It requires each of us to lay aside our own personal agenda. It means
refining our listening skills—both toward God and our brothers/sisters.
It means active trust.
The work of corporate discernment does not mean, of course, that every
decision needs to be reviewed by every person. Part of believing in the Presence
of Christ means (I hope!) that I can trust Jesus to lead others even if I
am not there to give my two-cents worth! We do well to save some decisions
for the whole group to discern, but we also do well to trust specific groups
and/or particular leaders with the responsibility and authority to make and
implement decisions as they are led by God. In my own experience, this happens
best when we agree ahead of time about these matters of responsibility and
authority and have enough relationship and common understanding of Friends
decision making to trust each other.
*Our view of human leadership is certainly shaped by our awareness that
Christ is our True leader. Quakers, we all know don’t have a pope.
Pastors, elders (and even superintendents) have their place and function
in the life of the community—but they are still under the authority
of Christ our Head. In addition, leadership is a function within the Body
not a classification of importance. And so while we value good leadership,
we recognize both those who are typically “leaders” and “followers” as
true equals in the life of community. Human leaders, functioning well in
the Body of Christ, serve us best by faithfully pointing us toward Christ,
faithfully exercising their unique gifts and call, clearly sharing their
sense of vision, and modeling a life of devotion and integrity to Christ.
Friends often struggle with human leadership. The truth is we need leaders
among us. We need people with a call to step up and speak up for the sake
of the whole. In my experience of Friends, we have good leaders…but
often they fail to lead because they are afraid to act as they are led…because
others might complain, disagree, or accuse them of taking over.
Maybe where we struggle most is not with leadership…but follower-ship.
Sometimes, “leaders” forget they are followers, too. Or they
forget that sometimes others are called to lead or have a God-given vision.
Sometimes, because Friends want to protect the idea that “Christ is
the Leader of the Church,” we overlook how Christ is using the gifts,
call, and abilities of those leaders among us to do that very thing! And
so, we undermine, micro-manage and disparage the work of those who have been
given the genuine, spiritual authority to lead. But if Christ is truly present
in the Body, able and willing to lead us, maybe it will happen in a variety
of ways—even through the ministry and giftedness of those we identify
and release to exercise leadership.
Much more could be said about how this testimony intersects with our life
and lives. Believing Jesus is somehow present and active in every person
has profound implications for how we treat others and how we speak to others.
Asserting that Christ remains Present and Active in a world that belongs
to Him, hopefully shapes our imaginations about and participation in the
society. The Kingdom of Heaven has drawn near, the Scriptures affirm, and
we are called to pray (and act) that God’s will “be done on earth
just as it is in heaven.” Wow! Suddenly, the implications of such faith
explode our human sensibilities! Now, more than ever, we recognize our absolute
dependence upon the One who truly is available to us…willing to guide
us…able to teach us and transform us into people and into A People
who, in fact, make the Present Christ visible in their own lives.
Next month we will continue this subject by considering the Friends testimony
that we are empowered to do the will of God. I’d love to hear your
stories about how you see this testimony lived out in your local church and
how we might better share it with a watching world.
Blessings,
Colin Saxton
Colin Saxton, General Superintendent
Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends
Church
200 N. Meridian St.
Newberg, OR 97132
503-538-9419
csaxton@nwfriends.org
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