Bible Reading in the Manner of Conservative Friends

An interview with San Francisco Friend Charles Martin of the Christian Friends Conference.

I have to say there's a disclaimer here because if you went to Ohio Yearly Meeting [Conservative] and told them you wanted to have a meeting for worship where you also included "Bible Reading in the Manner of Conservative Friends" they'd wonder what you were talking about.

THE START OF THIS BIBLE READING PRACTICE

This was a hybridization by West Coast Friends who were instituting Christian worship through the Christian Friends Conference. We felt it was important to include reading the Bible as part of the introductory work of our meeting for worship so that it would be Christ center.

We do it without any commentary--this is where it is in the manner of Conservative Friends. It is our understanding that in personal Bible reading in the home, where most Conservative Friends would be doing their Bible reading, that they don't read Bibles that have commentary. They just read the text and read it in the spirit in which it was written so that none of what we call the airy notions come in or human theology. It's reading the text as it was written to be spiritually guided.

Our experience at the Christian Friends Conference is that by having the first half hour of a two or three hour meeting for worship exclusively given over to reading scripture as led leads to more worshipful and more Christ-centered worship.

If you've attended any liberal meetings, where most of our attenders at the Christian Friends Conference come from [you'll find that] anything can be opened up for discussion. People come to our meeting for worship and they still might think they can talk about politics or how it's a wonderful day in the park. Really we're here to talk about how God is working within us, how God is guiding us. The leading text that we have for that, besides the writings of early Friends, is Christian scriptures.

HOW TO START

First, you just get a group of people--it doesn't have to be a very large group--that agrees to meet for worship. We do extended worship that lasts anywhere from two to three hours, but it doesn't have to be that long. We also practice what is called waiting worship: we believe that if we wait upon the Lord that his presence will come into our meeting and if we wait upon a table offering the Lord our services it will enhance the meeting for worship.

You don't have to restrict the Bible reading to just a certain part of the meeting or exclude other ministry from the part of the meeting the way that the Christian Friends Conference does it, that's just our peculiar little quirk.

A LIBERAL VARIATION

The San Franciso Meeting also does this now. Once a quarter we have an extended meeting for worship. Being a liberal meeting, we say that any spiritual text can be read. We've had people read from the Bhagavad Gita, for instance. It's different that if you're attending a Christian Friends Conference.

WHAT HAPPENS

Stand up, announce what book you're reading from, the chapter and verse, and also the translation because many of us use different translations. Like: today I read from The Message, a modern paraphrase translation. Normally I read either the NRSV or the King James, but I like using The Message when I'm with people and I don't known how Biblical literate they are.

You can read just a verse or an entire chapter you want to: it's up to the individual. It can be a very powerful way of ministry. No commentary: the idea is to sit down and the next person who stands up to read should be reading something that they're led to and not necessarily something that's a follow-up. It's not a thing to have a thematic thing where we're all talking about love or forgiveness or patience, even though that can happen in any Quaker meeting themes develop. The idea is to be led by the spirit to read what you're reading.

Charles Martin
Website: Innerlightbooks.com

Charles is involved with the West Coast Christian Friends Conference and is co-clerk of Quaker Uniting in Publications

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• quaker
• quaker.reclaiming2009

[stampguy01]

"The San Franciso Meeting also does this now...Being a liberal meeting, we say that any spiritual text can be read. We've had people read from the Bhagavad Gita, for instance."

OK, the above statement is the big difference between conservative Friends and liberal "Friends." Conservative Friends turn to Christ, not idiolatrous religions like Hinduism, for the truth. The Bhagavad Gita is about Krishna, a Hindu false god who orders Arjuna to slaughter and kill his enemies. Is that Quakerly?

[stampguy01]

Also I must note that the Bhagavad Gita expounds the doctrine of reincarnation, which is completely contrary to the Bible's teachings on what happens after death. How do I know this? I studied the Gita as part of my own personal comparative study of religion. But read it in a Friends' meeting as if it's another book of truth? That's contrary to the very principles of the Religious Society of Friends. By the way, according to Hinduism, Krishna was an adulterer. This can all be verified.

[maximuslaurius]

Given this, May I ask how conservative friends select a Bible? given the numerous translations (and means of translation); do they remain attached to the KJV or tend to be more flexible?

[maximuslaurius]

Its sounds to me like you have found a good balance in your meetings and a great way to experience the Bible; I have always struggled with any notion of Sola Scriptura or Biblical Innerancy as illogical. Yet its important to understand where the Quakers foundations have come from.

[vijaychennai100]

@stampguy01 , it is wonderful that you have a thirst to know the real GOD. We can explain you the same. u can contact me at "vijaynambiar47@yahoo.com"

[pathoftruth1]

You wrote, "I thought Christ would want to embrace the understanding and beliefs of others in order to reinforce our own faith." What causes you to think that? Where did Christ ever express such a thing? Where did Christ ever talk about Krishna? Also, according to the Hindu texts, Krishna committed adultery with Radha and the Gopis, as these women were all married to husbands. The Bhagavad Gita shows that Krishna ordered Arjuna to murder his enemies. Education yourself before commenting.

[evernetherall]

I just found this site & am so gratefu!. E..g., "Worldwide Quaker Fellowship" had got pretty 'liberal' which strayed from our founding principle: "[Be Still &] Listen to the Still Small Voice Within." Now the internet (AND You-Tube) are SO helpful 4-me to find the Conservative Quaker so much more preferable 2-me. Thank you so much, MartinJKelly! //^_^\\

[evernetherall]

@stampguy01

Nope. But I think there may be a question of context involved here. Your posit however is most valid & astute.Thru my 40+Yrs'spiritual pursuits from within my hereditary Quaker perspective, I found East'n-style.Meditation conducive to & compatible with 'listin[ing] to the still small voice within:'- a1st Principle of practicing Quaker [since my 7th yr @1954]. //~_~\\

[Paljoey]

As I recall - Paul went to prison - and Jesus was executed by law - I say, If you can't do the time - don't do the crime...lol Even Jon McCain was a prisoner - once again - if you can't do the crime (mass murder in this case) - don't do the crime! lol