The Quaker revival

[easternstar]

I don’t mean that in a rude way, see I just lost my wife to cancer in November and it was a battle attempting to keep her alive. She was a very joyful individual and so I really tried hard to, well you know. All I ever got from the church and many people is that they would hold her in their prayers… but that doesn’t cut the mustard, they didn’t watch her deteriorate no, they didn’t see the pain. So sure, I’m abrupt, I’m in a state of deep grief and I question much of what was done by the medical profession. Religion let me down, time after time I cried out … why my cerebral palsy sister, why my baby, why my father, mother, uncle, cousins , now wife and still no answer even when I begged on my knee’s. Now I want answers.

If you have gone through this then I could well understand crisis. Know that I’m a believer and a child of God and there must be something I’m missing. So I search for answers. I want to know more than just why… I want to know that the compassion is there and that the Lord reaches out in comfort & that’s something that hasn’t been afforded to me.

I see Spinoza as a man hurt by his church, his own people for also seeking answers. And the guy was a believer but he used his intellect to obtain answers, most the organized religions of the day disliked, so they attempted to silence him. I find some of his findings fascinating but then again others are recognized threats to many Bible believers. And again, I’m a radical Christian who wants to know the truth… the story behind the story and that’s my nature, maybe your nature as well but I don’t know you and your back story.

There are features on BB you could use to communicate , privately if you prefer& there is a feature that blocks people who become indignant to your posts so use them if you want to protect yourself from the mob… you decide. And I’m here for you if you want to open up.

Be well

I believe I'm in a very similar condition to yours. So, I understand where you're coming from, and I don't say that lightly.
BTW, I didn't take anyhting you said as being rude.
Thanks for the invite to private messaging. I may do that.

 

[easternstar]

Discipleship is essential to any church in the business of following Jesus and there are those who might argue that baptism and communion don't necessarily need to take place in a gathering of a church body.

To me, when Jesus said baptize and observe His supper they weren't suggestions. When, where, how, and how often have been debated and debated over the years on the BB. I don't think I can remember any focus being given to a church that completely ignores both of these.

I don't know what Quaker churches are like in New Jersey, but here in Oregon I don't know of any that aren't liberal. So I suspect not much emphasis on discipleship. Many Mennonite churches on the West Coast have lost their theological moorings as well.

I thought Quakers in the Pacidic Northwest were of the evangelical holiness variety.

 

[Walter]

I thought Quakers in the Pacidic Northwest were of the evangelical holiness variety.

Not the ones I know in Oregon anyway. There are evangelical Friends congregations in California but I believe they are in a minority. I love their pacifist positions though but most seem to be very liberal theologically. The Quakers had a big presence in the Gay Pride parade in Eugene, Oregon.

 

[easternstar]

Not the ones I know in Oregon anyway. There are evangelical Friends congregations in California but I believe they are in a minority. I love their pacifist positions though but most seem to be very liberal theologically. The Quakers had a big presence in the Gay Pride parade in Eugene, Oregon.

The group I was referring to is this one: Evangelical Friends Church International

Evangelical Friends Church International - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Are you familiar with them?

 

[Walter]

The group I was referring to is this one: Evangelical Friends Church International

Evangelical Friends Church International - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Are you familiar with them?

I am not familiar with them, but I am happy to see a Bible believing association of Friends congregations exists. My first two years as an undergraduate in college were at Biola university in LA Mirada, CA. I often attended church with other Biola students at Granada Heights Friends Church. My 'Survey of the Old Testament' professor was an associate pastor there and although I transferred to California Baptist College, I still occasionally traveled many miles to Granads Heights to receive the benefits of his teaching.

 

[easternstar]

I am not familiar with them, but I am happy to see a Bible believing association of Friends congregations exists. My first two years as an undergraduate in college were at Biola university in LA Mirada, CA. I often attended church with other Biola students at Granada Heights Friends Church. My 'Survey of the Old Testament' professor was an associate pastor there and although I transferred to California Baptist College, I still occasionally traveled many miles to Granads Heights to receive the benefits of his teaching.

Friends reflect the broad theological divide that is present in Protestantism. There are the conservative evangelical Friends represented by the group I referenced. Then there are the 'moderates', represented by the Friends United Meeting, and finally the liberal Friends represented by the Friends General Conference.

 

[Walter]

Friends reflect the broad theological divide that is present in Protestantism. There are the conservative evangelical Friends represented by the group I referenced. Then there are the 'moderates', represented by the Friends United Meeting, and finally the liberal Friends represented by the Friends General Conference.

You know far more about the Quakers than I do.

This is why I became a member of the BB. I don't think there's been a visit I have made to this board that I have not learned something new. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[easternstar]

You know far more about the Quakers than I do.

This is why I became a member of the BB. I don't think there's been a visit I have made to this board that I have not learned something new. Thanks for sharing this.

You're very welcome.
I've been extensively studying different denominations for decades. I started doing that to try and figure out where I fit in, and I'm still wondering about that to this day. I think I'm a theological misfit.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

You're very welcome.
I've been extensively studying different denominations for decades. I started doing that to try and figure out where I fit in, and I'm still wondering about that to this day. I think I'm a theological misfit.

No you’re not… you are discerning. BTW, never talk about yourself that way… you must have supreme confidence Ian yourself. So be that person who evaluated, discusses openly, measures, looks for meaning… I applaud that. Now answer me this, was Jesus a realist or a dreamer? That answer alone says much about your outlook on life.

 

[easternstar]

No you’re not… you are discerning. BTW, never talk about yourself that way… you must have supreme confidence Ian yourself. So be that person who evaluated, discusses openly, measures, looks for meaning… I applaud that. Now answer me this, was Jesus a realist or a dreamer? That answer alone says much about your outlook on life.

He was a realist.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

The broad range of different types appears to be related to the geographic area that they live in. For example I live in NJ so I can’t find Evangelical Friends here vs the mid western portion of the country. Why is that do you think?

He was a realist.

I agree

 

[easternstar]

The broad range of different types appears to be related to the geographic area that they live in. For example I live in NJ so I can’t find Evangelical Friends here vs the mid western portion of the country. Why is that do you think?

I agree

The East/Northeast is liberal theologically, generally, across the religious landscape. The Qukares in the midwest and west were more influenced by the Wesleyan revival, and so they tended to be more evangelical/conservative. Evangelical Quakerism and Wesleyanism are quite similar.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

The East/Northeast is liberal theologically, generally, across the religious landscape. The Qukares in the midwest and west were more influenced by the Wesleyan revival, and so they tended to be more evangelical/conservative. Evangelical Quakerism and Wesleyanism are quite similar.

thanks

 

[Jerome]

Map showing counties in USA with congregations of a particular religious group

For Quakers, you can select:

Conservative Yearly Meeting of Friends
Evangelical Friends Church International
Friends United Meeting
Friends General Conference

[Be patient, it takes several seconds for the map to load once you select a group]

 

[Jerome]

Map showing local congregations of Friends

Those color coded blue have programmed worship, green have unprogrammed worship, and other colors have variations of/between the two.
[Key to the color coding at right, opens when clicked]
Evangelical Friends have programmed worship, so generally they will be among the blue.

Select a congregation by clicking, and a panel will open at left showing the "branch" of Friends that congregation is associated with, and other info.
Note that some are unaffiliated with any of the four groups listed in the post above.

 

[shodan]

Has anyone ever looked at the Quaker religion? I’m in New Jersey and there seems to be a revival of Quakers as a legitimate church. In fact the whole of Christianity here appears to growth with the Peace religions…ie Quakers, Mennonite, etc

Interesting to see the Methodists, PCUSA, Eposcipal shrinking & closing churches.

I'm in S. Dak. NO Quakers near, but I keep in contact (I went to their seminary at Earlham in Indiana) 1st,) Quakers, like Baptists and Lutherans come in different flavors. Left to Right. Generally, the most liberal are on the East Coast, and the Evangelical branch on the West Coast.
2nd) Charles Spurgeon, a baptist, said he and Geo. Fox (founder of the Quakers) were of one spirit. Read Fox's Journal. (bookfinder.com best source for cheap used books) Fox was thoroughly Christ centered. Just saw an historic painting of him, Bible in hand. Liberal Quakers are far from Fox.
3) There are two types of Quaker meetings (churches) a) on the Evangelical end, meetings have a pastor and a sermon, typical protestant low church worship on Sunday. b) on the liberal end (but there is overlap of this) the classical Quaker meeting (but Fox was not silent) of silence, only broken by someone moved by the s/Spirit.
The type (a) meeting will generally have a period of silence/open worship following the sermon. allowing for others to speak if so moved.

Interesting that England had 3 centuries of real revival: 17th with Quakers and Fox; 18th with John Wesley; 19th with Charles Spurgeon.

 

[shodan]

I thought Quakers in the Pacidic Northwest were of the evangelical holiness variety.

You have two groups on the West coast. Evangelical Friends and Western Friends. George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon is evangelical.

 

[shodan]

Has anyone ever looked at the Quaker religion? I’m in New Jersey and there seems to be a revival of Quakers as a legitimate church. In fact the whole of Christianity here appears to growth with the Peace religions…ie Quakers, Mennonite, etc

Interesting to see the Methodists, PCUSA, Eposcipal shrinking & closing churches.

I would like to hear more about that revival.

 

[Walter]

You have two groups on the West coast. Evangelical Friends and Western Friends. George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon is evangelical.

Oh, for Pete's sake! George Fox University here in Oregon is pretty liberal if you ask me! Are you familiar with their position on LGBTQXYZ? That's all you need to know about how 'evangelical' they are. The University is up the road from us and I have close friends with kids there. Quite the 'party' school from all reports. Weed IS legal in our state, and the campus is surrounded by smoke shops. Supposed to be a "dry" campus as well, but it constantly reeks of weed

• Transgender Student Policies: The university has a policy for accommodating transgender students and has enrolled and graduated transgender students.

George Fox University

Being Queer at Fox: Resilience — The Crescent
George Fox University (GFU) has a queer community at Table 14.


George Fox has: * Transgender students enrolled and graduated students * A transgender position statement that explains h...

Diversity at George Fox University
George Fox University's Office of Inclusive Excellence integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion into the university's policies, practices, and culture. The u...

Identifying Medical Schools With Robust LGBTQ+ Support Systems
Each school's website will typically feature a list of clubs and social groups. To gain an even better understanding of support, you may want to research if the...

AAMC

 

[Walter]

I would like to hear more about that revival.

I don't doubt that there are still students and faculty that are biblically sound and take their commitment to Jesus seriously at George Fox U. But, from what I have heard and read regarding the behavior of much of the student body, it appears to me that George Fox is going the way of the world much like other once sound schools like Westmont, Peppermint, Cal Lutheran, etc.

Unfortunately, often times what appears in the student handbooks in these schools regarding expectations of students code of conduct seems more geared towards reassuring parents and prospective donars than anything else (IMHO).

BTW, I believe that the entire state of Oregon is spiritual wasteland and I pray for revival here. There are Bible believing Mennonite and Old Believer communities here, but too often they keep to themselves in an effort to keep their communities unstained from the world. Some of the Mennonites do outreach to the homeless and vets on the street. Some volunteer at our local food pantry and are permitted to share their testimonies as well as sharing produce they grow through the summer. Males the ♥ glad!