Presence in the midst
Michael Wright has been stimulated by the approach to Jesus he has discovered in the faith and practice of modern Anabaptists
The picture ‘The presence in the midst’ is one that I have seen in many Meeting houses. It depicts a deeply gathered Quaker Meeting of former years, with the genders segregated, and the filmy figure of Jesus as the otherwise unseen presence.
During the past year I have become very conscious of the absence of any reference to Jesus in the midst of the Meetings for Worship I have attended. I miss his word and influence in those Meetings.
In the last couple of months, the ecumenical book club at our Meeting house has been experimenting with a form of worship aimed at enabling us to share our current concerns and to reflect on them in silent worship. We have also listened to a passage from the gospels related, instead of read, to us, with the narrator’s own insights threaded in. We have then discussed, in groups of three, what we have found in that gospel account and, then, shared our thoughts with the group as a whole.
There are other elements to this experimental worship, which is designed to supplement (not replace) the worship each one of us is part of on a Sunday. Listening to the gospel has provided me with a focus that I have found very valuable.
These thoughts have been further stimulated by reading Stuart Murray’s book The Naked Anabaptist. The Anabaptist tradition, via the Mennonites, influenced early Friends. The focal point for modern Anabaptists is Jesus encountered in the gospels. They are not in the literal tradition of conservative evangelicals but are open to new light on the gospels from modern scholarship and divergent opinions.
Modern Anabaptists are committed to exploring ways of being good news to the poor, the powerless and the persecuted. Their churches are called to be committed communities of discipleship and mission, places of friendship, mutual accountability and multi-voiced worship. Eating together is important, as is nurturing and developing young and old, leadership is consultative, and roles are related to gifts rather than gender.
Spirituality and economics are interconnected. Peace is at the heart of their gospel, as is finding nonviolent alternatives to conflict and learning how to make peace between individuals, within and among churches, in society and between nations.
There are, of course, a number of their traditions that many Friends do not share – believers’ baptism, sharing bread and wine and recognising Jesus not just as an example, teacher, and friend, but also as redeemer and Lord.
It has been something of a revelation to realise how attractive the modern Anabaptist tradition is to me. What I hope for is to encounter Jesus of Nazareth, not the Christ of traditional theology, in the Meetings for Worship I attend.
I am a Quaker who has lost a concept of ‘God up there’. While I do not read the gospels in any literalist way, I find that I am stimulated to reflect on my life, values and behaviour, and how I seek to live the Quaker way, by reading, reflecting and talking with others about what I find in the gospels.
The Quaker way has grown out of the direct challenge, encouragement and stimulation of Jesus, the one who alone could speak to the condition of George Fox. Jesus speaks to my condition today. Any renewal or refreshment of the Quaker tradition needs a focal point. I commend Friends to re-engage with Jesus in the gospels, and share that with those of other traditions who also seek to walk in his footsteps.
The Naked Anabaptist: the bare essentials of a radical faith by Stuart Murray. Paternoster. ISBN 978 1 84227 725 8. £8.99.
Comments
Oh how I heartily concour with Michael Wrights thoughts of Jesus in Meetings of Worship and his review of The Naked Anabapist by Stuart Murray. You will I am sure find much in common and much to encourage you from begining to end in this and his other books. I have finaly taken a step back from Christendom and spent the last 18 months away from any form of Fellowhip prayerfully and Scriptually seaking direction. I much miss my Baptist Fellowship from where I last lived and at the moment there is not a group of Anabaptists in the Inverness area although I hope this may not be far off.However the Quaker way has much in common and I too look forward to finding a Worship Meeting amongst Friends where Jesus of Nazareth is seen to be and is the Light both Scriptualy and Prayerfully May I also commend The Upside Down Kingdom by Donald B. Kraybill first published in 1976 .This Classic literaly turns Christendoms soft, cosy .reverential approach on its head and shows us what the Message of Jesus and Gods Words through the centuries is actualy about and how VERY relevent today in a secula world where greed grab and injustice is so common but which I feel the Nation is increasingly questioning and challenging and where Truth, Justice,Peace,Tollerance and Equality is being sought both in living and in Fellowship with folk of like minds even though they may not know where to look or have been dissapointed when they have. Friends, Anabaptists.Nonconformists and think tanks like Ekklesia have much to offer in terms of hope or direction, the question is are we aware of a need that is increasingly being sought, are we ready and how do we welcome ,encorage and guide those re-emerging to go on that new journey. Yes, I too am re-emerging and continuing the journey and will try to learn as I find my feet again to do it in a softly softly way learning from Friends and enjoying once again fellowship within my new found sunday Worship Meeting. Thank you for being you and that which you offer, Barry Clarke.
By Barry Clarke on 8th September 2012 - 22:25
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