tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post741834511229036483..comments2023-06-28T11:56:24.073-04:00Comments on The Lamb's War: Missional Quaker Faith: Deep ListeningMicah Baleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849915973708989620noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post-61621345395609574642010-10-28T18:01:44.239-04:002010-10-28T18:01:44.239-04:00Well written. Might be too long for someone not i...Well written. Might be too long for someone not in the choir. Would easily work as a series of short blogs with a challenge to the reader at the end of each one to seek more of Jesus, hear more from Jesus or see more of Jesus in others.<br />God bless you and keep you.Jim Schultznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post-65297157138884017222010-10-28T17:51:08.686-04:002010-10-28T17:51:08.686-04:00@David Thank you for your encouraging words!
I h...@David Thank you for your encouraging words! <br /><br />I haven't seen the FUM document that you're referring to, but I do take issue with referring to the Bible as the Word of God - even the "written Word." I recall that the furthest that the early Friends were willing to go in this regard was to refer to the Scriptures as "the words of God." But to think of the Bible as the Word of God leads to twisted interpretation of Scripture. The "word of God" as used in Scripture, never refers to the Scriptures themselves.<br /><br />As to my writing about "looking inward": I knew when I wrote this essay that I could be mis-interpreted as advocating some form of quietism and retreat from the world. I hope it is obvious already that this is not my intent, but I trust that by the end of the Missional Quaker Faith series that it will be beyond doubt. <br /><br />We must look within and be directed by Christ-in-us. But if our journey ends there, we have not been faithful. I am convinced that we must take the Word in our hearts and once again make it flesh, embodying Christ's truth and love in our daily lives and in our interactions with the wider world. This is ultimately a call to action and engagement with the world. Just as Christ in his earthly ministry broke down human boundaries of ethnicity, sex, social status and religion, so must we, as imitators of his nature.<br /><br />@Sara I'm so glad to hear of the growth in your relationship with Christ! It is a blessing to hear how he is at work in the lives of others, changing us from within and preparing us for his work in the world. The Bible is certainly an aid to understanding Christ and the fullness of his message; but, as Friends have always testified, the Substance is Jesus himself, not writings about him. <br /><br />Nevertheless, I am glad to hear that you are interested in going deeper in your study of Scripture. I would encourage you not to wait for any outward condition to begin this study. Consider starting now, on your own; Perhaps at the beginning of the New Testament. I am sure that there are individuals and groups in your area that would be willing to study with you. Perhaps you could start a Bible study in your Meeting.<br /><br />I hear your desire to study the Scriptures with the poor and marginalized. I have experienced this before, and it is indeed a gift. I hope you will pursue it. It will mean developing relationships with those who you might not interact with in your normal life as (I hope I am not wrong in assuming) a middle-class person. While I would not want to romanticize poverty, there is indeed much we can learn from the poor, and I trust that if you follow Jesus he will lead you to the communities where you need to be.<br /><br />I'm sorry that some of these posts are so long, but it seemed unavoidable. I have observed that the optimal size for posts is around a thousand words, and this particular essay reaches almost three thousand. This will probably cause some to give it a pass. But for those who hang in there, I hope that there will be something that is worth the strain on the eyes!Micah Baleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06849915973708989620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post-66999137968709588212010-10-28T07:24:28.931-04:002010-10-28T07:24:28.931-04:00Micah:
I must admit I prefer shorter blogs! Still...Micah:<br />I must admit I prefer shorter blogs! Still, it is good to read where some of your thinking is on these really critical issues. Interestingly, I am currently experiencing that my relationship with the Christ is growing, despite my continual lack of biblical reading. So I appreciated your emphasis on the Word as being distinct from the Bible. And I appreciate your reference to the lambs war: it is, I believe, one of the most beautiful and challenging aspects of our Quaker faith, to let the light of compassion change us, utterly and completely. I feel challenged to grow into that at the moment. But I find I do want to go to the bible - but preferably with others, more than alone - preferably with poor people. something laura magnani once said to me - the bible really is an emancipatory document that can best be read with the homeless and the downtrodden. (though there are certainly days when i feel downtrodden). I do believe we find jesus in so many ways - and fellowship with people who are different from we are can really bring us deeper into knowledge of Him. Haven't found a bible reading group with the homeless around here though.... will have to keep an eye out! <br />best - SaraSara J Wolcotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17677193834471517927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post-68363188848653797282010-10-26T13:48:39.490-04:002010-10-26T13:48:39.490-04:00Micah,
This is a rich series of essays and I am ...Micah, <br /><br />This is a rich series of essays and I am benefiting much from them. Thank you. <br /><br />I think you are absolutely correct in rooting this in Jesus as the Word. I remember an FUM document from the late 1980's early 90's (??) where the board, I believe, articulated a "Four-Fold" Word of God: The Living Word (Jesus), the Written Word (scriptures), the Inward Word (Christ), and the Corporate Word (prophetic word and discernment). That was helpful, but it was principally built Jesus as God's spokenness among us. <br /><br />I also think you are right in reminding faithfulness must be in "small things." Public relations' splashes often convince us that the most important is the most visible. Not so. <br /><br />The one place where I would offer a quibble you actually address in a very helpful and creative way. Your remark about reading the bible always "turned inward" concerned me initially. I think I know what you mean, but I thought of how often Friends can be turned in upon themselves and lacking either a wider, more expansive, global vision, or lacking in turning toward the scholarly resources in the always "suspicious" world of theological learning. <br /><br />However, in reading through your essay again I realized that you give much to consider on this point, I think. When you talk about Jesus in the stranger I realized that, as you are helping us understand, that seeing Jesus means not only looking inward, but turning outward as well. <br /><br />...and herein we speak of missional faith! <br /><br />Thanks for these great essays. <br /><br />David JohnsDavidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01013094990874670912noreply@blogger.com