Thought for the Week: The Quaker testimonies
Peter D Leeming considers the Quaker testimonies and how Friends express them
And this is the word of the Lord God to you all, and a charge to you all in the presence of the living God: be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come, that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people and to them… Quaker faith & practice 19.32
These words of George Fox are important for any understanding of the Quaker testimonies. The passage is often referred to, and frequently quoted, by Friends inspired by the call to become patterns and examples to the world. Unfortunately, this is far from easy, as we may quickly discover. By focusing on the end product of anything we overlook the often lengthy and difficult process by which this end is achieved. We also forget the power and resources required.
By directing us to the source of this power – ‘the word of God’, the Light of Christ George Fox reminds us of whence this strength will come. Any achievement is not the result of our effort and will alone, though these are indeed necessary, but being patterns and examples is the result of God working through us and reflected in our lives.
The Quaker testimonies are end products. They are, as such, the evidence of something that has happened or is happening deep within us. They are the proof and fruit of an ongoing spiritual transformation. Our testimonies are certainly not principles that we seek to observe. They are not guidelines for daily life. Rather, they should be understood as the expression of the Light to which we turn, that it may shine through us. If we strive to be faithful, seeking the presence of God in our Meetings for Worship and in our daily tasks and encounters, our lives will bear witness to the Light. Our lives will ‘preach’ and testify.
For this reason, our historic testimonies to truth, equality, simplicity and peace are not statements of belief or intent, credal in nature, but are resulting forms of social behaviour that we have been led to adopt and which become so integral to our nature that we cannot betray them.
There may be apparent contradictions in the way that individual Friends express these testimonies, but provided that Friends remain faithful to the Light within them and constant in seeking the Divine Presence there will remain, nevertheless, an underlying unity and an enduring respect for each other.
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