Prophetic Quakers
The Quaker way is not about having spiritual experiences, but finding our purpose in the world.
Quaker spirituality is often described as a kind of mysticism. The Quaker way shares with mystical traditions the possibility of direct encounter with God, but it doesn’t stop there. Quaker spirituality is prophetic and communal. It is directed towards action, to carrying out a divine task.
According to the Quaker scholar Douglas Gwyn:
“the prophet is someone who develops a deep listening relationship with God, who waits to be called to service, and who speaks or acts out a message received from the divine. That is the essence of Quaker worship and ministry. We wait in silence upon the one who can teach us directly in our hearts.”
(Douglas Gwyn, A Sustainable Life)
The silence of Quaker worship is not an end in itself. It is the stillness of listening and waiting for the guidance of the Spirit, so we can carry it out in words or in action.
George Fox described a confrontation with a group of conventional Christians, which highlights the difference between ‘spiritual experiences’ and being led to action by the Inward Guide:
“one of them burst out into a passion and said he could speak his experiences as well as I: but I told him experience was one thing but to go with a message and a word from the Lord as the prophets and the apostles had and did, and as I had done to them, this was another thing.”
(George Fox, Journal)
Mystics have a transforming encounter with the presence of God, which is experienced in solitude and is usually incommunicable to others. Prophets are sent, “to go with a message and a word from the Lord”, for the healing and reorientation of the world.
This is why the first generation of Quakers attached so much importance to preaching their message. They saw a world in darkness; people and nations dominated by a spirit of oppression, ignorant of the guidance and healing power of the Spirit within.
Early Quakers had a revelation of the world as it was meant to be; as it would be if it was true to its own nature and divine purpose. This was the kingdom of God of earth, where no-one is excluded or oppressed, and where every person can flourish in intimate companionship with God and each other.
Our modern world of ecological and climate breakdown, isolation and despair is in even more urgent need of healing and restoration. How many people still have no idea that there is a source of guidance within them? We still need prophetic communities to reveal the nature of the world as it is meant to be.
The purpose of the Quaker way is not to ‘enjoy the silence’ with a small group of like-minded people just like us. It is to get us out beyond our own comfort and interests, to empower us to use our gifts in the service of the world.
We are all here for a reason. We each have unique gifts that the world needs. There is something that only you can do in your time and place. The purpose of the Quaker way is to enable you to discover what it is and to do it.
I have recently recorded a long form video interview with Emma Roberts, as part of her Quakerology series on Youtube here.
I talk about my experience with different religious communities, and the urgent challenges facing Quakers in Britain now. (I also cough quite a bit, sorry - I’m still recovering from pre-Christmas flu).