Conversation among Christians:
Larry: There's no doubt in my mind that Quakers are chosen, but I'm not sure what for (besides the peace testimony). There are zillions of disaffected "Christians" in and out of the church with no where to go.
Ellie, quoting Nietzsche: "Man is condemned to be free."
Larry: Well the Europeans have gotten pretty free from religion of all sorts, maybe humanists. So they have gotten 'free from', but what about 'free to'?
Ellie: Yes, freedom is not just a matter of license; it carries with it a challenge.
Larry: And a responsibility.
Ellie: People want a guru, so they cling to the best they have.
Larry: Ah, but Jesus said, "Call no man father." I looked for a (spiritual) father for many years, but finally concluded the only father I would ever have was my Heavenly One.
Ellie: But suppose people have not experienced the "Heavenly Father (Mother); what are they to do?
Will someone pick it up from there?
posted by Larry @ 1:08 PM 2 comments
2 Comments:
At 5:22 AM, kwakersaur said...
Ellie: But suppose people have not experienced the "Heavenly Father (Mother); what are they to do?
kwakersaur: But suppose people have experienced the "Heavenly Father (Mother)but don't know that they have; what are they to do?
At 5:55 AM, Larry said...
Good point, David. I never thought of my experience as a conversion, but as an awakening.
Everyone in our culture has experienced Him (Her), but often unknowingly. So the thing for the Christo-centric Quaker is to try to awaken. The NT is pretty strong on that. It's evangelism.
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I'm all for evangelism, but I've yet to figure out a way to help anyone awaken, or to realize that they have unknowingly. I've given up trying, but in so doing, I feel as if I've actually advanced. I no longer judge, I'm just there, with them, loving them, letting them know its okay not to know. Uncertainty is nothing to fear, perhaps it where God is found.
That sounds like pretty good evangelism to me, Marjorie.
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