Quaker
Similarities
Some
members of the Jesus Christians are also members of the Religious
Society of Friends (Quakers). Most other members have at least
attended Quaker meetings. And, at the time this was written, some of
us were working with programmed Quakers in Kenya. Articles on this
page relate (in a very general way) to subjects which we feel
represent similarities between the teachings of Quaker in Australia
(i.e. unprogrammed Quakers), and the teachings of the Jesus
Christians. Some articles were written without any conscious
reference to Quakerism. However, they have, on reflection, touched on
subjects which are of interest to Australian Quakers, and this has
led to them being added to this book. There are even a couple of
articles which suggest dis-similarities between Jesus Christians and
Quakers.
Please bear in mind that due to the very nature of
Quakerism, no individual Quaker can make a definitive statement on
what Quakers believe. The articles on this page should, in no way,
be taken as representing some official statement by Friends, whether
in Australia or elsewhere.
Note:
Descriptions include star ratings for
the more popular articles. If you would like copies of articles
posted to you, send fifty cents for each article requested (to help
cover printing and postage), to Jesus Christians, Box A678, Sydney
South 1235 Australia.) Include the address where they are to be
sent. Those articles with an 'R' after them can be sent to you via
email if requested. Just write to fold@idl.net.au,
stating which article you would like.
1.
Quakerism
A brief summary of Quakerism, with a number of
similarities noted between what they teach and what we teach.
Includes a hint of caution about some tendencies in Quakerism as seen
through the eyes of Jesus Christian emphasis.
(See also Musings
on Quakerism [R],
Many
Paths Up the Mountain, and Universalism:
Pros and Cons.)
2.
Musings on Quakerism Available
on request
As Quakers themselves, Dave and
Cherry examine what they consider to be similarities (and some
differences) between Australian Quakerism and the teachings of the
Jesus Christians.
(See also Quakerism.)
3.
Without Guile
This study on the Virgin Army of Revelation 7 and 14 stresses the
sincerity of members of that body. Although unprogrammed Quakers do
not teach the traditional evangelical “plan of salvation”
(recognition of sin, confession, a change in lifestyle, and on-going
fellowship) this article suggests a link between the two different
approaches, by showing how all of those steps can naturally flow from
sincerity, something which does seem to be more in line with
the Quaker approach to spirituality.
(See also The
Twelve Tribes, In
Search of Truth, and The
Virgin Army, part 2 [R].)
4.
Plain Speech
Available on
request
How often have you hidden (or hidden
from) the truth? Yet honesty sets people free. If others don't want
to hear the truth, at least be honest with God and with yourself
about what is really going on. Historically, Friends used the term
“plain speech” to refer to the use of “thee” and “thou”
to obliterate class distinctions; but it also lends itself well to
the idea of Integrity, which is one of the fundamental Quaker
“testimonies”.
(See also Disagreements,
Insanity, and The
True Conscience.)
5.
In the Name of the Father
A tiny, almost insignificant rule: Don't call anyone 'father'
except God. Sounds easy to follow too. And yet Jesus Christian
attempts to obey Jesus even with this simple rule have stirred up a
hornet's nest of opposition.
(See also Protestant
Popes [R],
Titles [R],
and The Social Conscience,
part 1 [R].)
6.
Titles Available
on request
A brief discussion of the ins and
outs of obeying Jesus with regard to using titles for various people.
It deals with some of the complications that can arise as well.
(See
also In
the Name of the Father, and Forsaking
Your Parents [R].)
7.
Spiritual Quietness Available
on request
An 'Easy English' article on the
need for quietness when living in community, and the tendency for
people in the modern world to be addicted to noise.
(See also
Prayer Meetings [R],
and Buying Time.)
8.
Eight Ways to Know God's Will
Does God really speak to people today? Yes, definitely! Christine
has listed eight ways that our community has used to discern God's
will. The best part is that it works!
(See also Hearing
from God [R],
Dreams [R],
and Hearing
What You Don't WANT to Hear.)
9.
Prayer Meetings Available
on request
Jesus Christians don't pray out loud
in public meetings. But it does not stop us from having prayer
meetings. This article lists several options.
(See also Constant
Prayer [R],
Two Witnesses [R],
and The
True Conscience.)
10.
Thoughts on Prayer
Available on
request
Dave considers how much sincerity is a
part of real prayer, and how much it is not a part of
religious pretences at praying.
(See also Constant
Prayer [R],
and Hearing from God [R].)
11.
Christine on Baptism
Christine has put together a thorough summary of our position
with regard to water baptism in this letter to an enquirer. (Note:
The enquirer later became a member.)
(See also Water
Baptism [R].)
12.
I will have Mercy Available
on request
Why don't we Jesus Christians have
any sacraments? Sacrifices were to the Jews what sacraments have
become to the institutional church. "Mercy" is hard to
institutionalise, and that may be why sacraments have proven to be so
much more popular.
(See also Water
Baptism [R],
and Living
in Community.)
13.
Missionaries Available
on request
Some ground rules for Christian
ethics that are all too often overlooked by supposedly Christian
missionaries.
(See also Idolatry [R],
Non-Christian
Religions, and The
Unknown God.)
14.
Idolatry
Available on
request
The New Testament approach to pagan
idolatry is radically different to the Old Testament approach.
Sincere pagans are tolerated more lovingly now, while covetousness
within the ranks of the "chosen people" (see Colossians 3:5
and Ephesians 5:5) is condemned as the real source of idolatry.
(See
also I-Dollar-Tree [R],
The Unknown God,
and Missionaries [R].)
15.
The Unknown God
The Apostle Paul demonstrates a gracious
approach toward non-Christian religions when he builds on what the
two beliefs have in common, rather than attacking the opposition.
This more universalist approach to non-Christian religions is shown
to be an extension of an Old Testament teaching about the God with an
unpronounceable name.
(See also In
Search of Truth, The
Good Hindu, Idolatry [R],
Universalism:
Pros and Cons, and Father
and Son‚ Two for One [R].)
16.
A Good Hindu Available
on request
This letter to one who questioned
whether a Hindu could get to heaven, challenges the lie that good
works have nothing to do with faith, grace, or salvation, and the
sister lie that religious affiliation does.
(See Non-Christian
Religions, Amazing
Grace, and The
Unknown God.)
17.
In Search of Truth
A whole new slant on how to tell the good guys from the bad guys.
Clue: It has nothing to do with what religion they profess.
(See
Another Cornerstone [R],
The
First Rule is: There are no Rules, The
Unknown God, and The
Cross [R].)
18.
Enemy Loving
Available on
request
Shows how loving enemies can actually
end up making them friends, and even if it doesn't, it will make you
a better friend to those who are closest to you.
(See also Space
Without Spice.)
19.
Resolving Conflicts Available
on request
There are problems whether we bury
anger or express it. To resolve it, we must come to terms with what
can (and cannot) be done about changing both ourselves and the person
with whom we are angry.
(See also Forgiveness,
From Bitter to Better [R],
and Bitterness.)
20.
Godly Counsel
Tells how to actually solve problems and to arrive at the best
possible decisions, as opposed to scoring points when discussing
plans and problems.
(See also Singles
or Doubles, and Eight
Ways to Know God's Will.)
21.
Gathering Together
Available on
request
Meetings, organisations, and the
mystical Body of Christ all get a mention in this essay on the role
God must play in creating genuine religious unity.
(See also
Armageddon
for Beginners, chapter 7, The Missing Week.)
22.
Our Father Available
on request
Jesus instructs us to address God as
"our" Father (and not “my” Father), apparently to keep
us aware of our need for others besides ourselves along our various
spiritual journeys.
(See also Two
Witnesses [R],
Loose Cannons,
and Living
in Community.)
23.
Civil Disobedience
Four powerful arguments are given to support the right (and
responsibility) of true followers of Jesus to break the law at times.
(See also Character,
Jesus and the
Law, The Peace that
Disturbs [R],
and Why
Did They Kill Jesus?)
24.
Christian Politicians?
Most people can see the error in trusting political solutions in
some areas, but they are inclined to overlook the error in other
areas. Christianity is not a matter of choosing the right candidate
for an earthly government; true Christianity is based on faith in a
completely different kingdom, ruled by a completely different
government.
(See also Our
Mission, and Thy
Kingdom Come.)
25.
Why So Much Persecution? Available
on request
William Penn's essay No Cross, No
Crown is the basis for this article about how the world commonly
reacts to someone with true spiritual authority.
(See also Why
Did They Kill Jesus, and Peace
that Disturbs [R].)
26.
An Old New Member Available
on request
After reading Tolstoy's Confession
and What I Believe, we were amazed to learn that he had
experienced much the same treatment that we have experienced as a
result of discovering the teachings of Jesus. It is reassuring to
hear someone else affirm the truths we have found in the teachings of
Jesus.
(See also Faith and
Sincerity [R],
and Anarchy and
Pacifism.)
27.
Anarchy and Pacifism
Although this study defends the ideals of both anarchism and
pacifism in general, it also examines the error in trusting them in
preference to the teachings of Jesus as the cornerstone for our
beliefs.
(See also Loose
Cannons, Divine
Authority [R],
and No Pain, No
Gain.)
28.
A Letter to a Friend
The subject is grace, and the letter is in response to a reader
who questioned whether a heathen could be saved without someone
preaching to him or her. This is the most complete answer to that
question that we have so far given. It is recommended for anyone who
is having problems with our position on the grace of God. In
particular, it deals with the double-think that is so prevalent in
the churches, which applies grace to people inside the institution,
but the law to those outside.
(See also Universalism:
Pros and Cons, What
is Faith? and What
is a Christian?)
29.
Liberated Poverty, part 1
Available on
request
Unlike abject poverty, liberated
poverty is inspiring and exciting. One can be neat, clean, healthy,
and happy by living a simple life. Our poverty can be a testimony to
God's simplicity and order.
(See also Pleading
Poverty [R],
Bearing Burdens,
and Contentment [R].)
30.
Liberated Poverty, part 2 Available
on request
A short article on "clutter",
including a humorous illustration of how being "poor in spirit"
makes life both simpler and happier.
(See also Living
by Faith-How to do It.)
31.
Pleading Poverty
Available
on request
Miserly greed takes many forms, but
one of the most depressing is the endless whinge about being poor,
that so many Christians get into. Fund-raisers use it, and so do
Christians who offer stingy hospitality. God loves a cheerful giver,
so stop whinging and start giving.
(See also No
Strings Attached [R],
and Ananiases [R].)
32.
Materialism Available
on request
Americans in particular are targeted
in this article, which explains just what we mean by "materialism".
(See also The
Xmas Spirit, The American
Dream [R],
and The
Root of All Evil.)
33.
The Word of God
Is the Bible the Word of God? Is Jesus the Word of God? Did the
Bible create the world? Are the Koran and the Baghavad Gita holy
writings? Can people be inspired when they speak today? If so, are
they speaking the words of God? Are they infallible? Find the answer
(as understood by Jesus Christians) to these questions and more in
this thought-provoking study.
(See also The
Role of Experience in the Quest for Truth [R],
The Spirit of
God, The Holy Spirit [R],
and The Bible.)
34.
Superstition
How do miracles differ from magic? For that matter, do
miracles differ from magic? And what about the difference between
Christian faith and primitive superstitions? Are they as different as
what some people think they are?
(See also Heal
the Sick, and Miracles.)
35.
Adam's Sin
Available on
request
If you're tempted to blame your parents
for your faults, why not change parents? This article tells you how.
(See also Malcontents.)
36.
The Myths of Mysticism Available
on request
We Jesus Christians are mystics
(people who have a personal relationship with the spiritual force
behind the universe). In this article, some strong points are
covered, along with some shortcomings of mysticism.
(See also The
Role of Experience in the Quest for Truth [R].)
37.
The Love of the Left Available
on request
According to this article, three
changes are needed to make the political left truly effective in
changing the world. But how many are willing to make them?
(See
also Anarchy
and Pacifism.)
38.
Honest Doubt Available
on request
Blind faith in an organisation can
be a barrier to real faith in a God who is bigger than the
organisation. It pays to question even your most treasured dogmas at
times.
(See also Dogmas [R],
Churchies, and System
Worship.)
39.
Honest Faith
Available on
request
Religion seems to get in the way of
faith - both for those who accept religion, and for those who reject
it. But a genuine search for truth should take us beyond religion and
into a quest for meaning. And rwe feel that eal meaning can best be
found in the teachings of Jesus.
(See also Convenient
Doctrines, and Which
Christ are you Following? [R])
40.
Hey, We're Quakers Too! Available
on request
A short plea to liberal Quakers to
respect the faith of those Quakers who feel offended when God is
harshly criticised or ridiculed.
(See also Universalism:
Pros and Cons.)
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