7 Principles Behind Quaker Freedom

I am sometimes distressed!

I am sometimes distressed by the life and lifestyle decisions made by lifelong Quakers - especially in the areas of sexual morality, politics, and embracing culture.  Seems many of our decisions, actions, and lifestyle choices just don't square with righteousness and the Holy Spirit's guidance as recorded by the words and examples in scripture and by Christ-history.

How do we Quakers, as an individual and as a community of faith, make our decisions?  I mean on what basis do we justify to ourselves some of our positions and especially our flaunting of our freedom in Christ as an excuse for questionable actions and selfish lifestyles?

Some of God's standards are clear.  Most of such are plainly written in scripture and then plenteously illustrated in the stories and teachings also recorded in those scriptures.  Many are so clear that they stand as universals of righteousness common to other religions and many secular societies. 

How we excuse ourselves from these is a grievous question which we are rapidly confronting as their destructive social and individual effects are beginning to unquestionably be reaped in our lives, most families, and the streets of our communities.  We have sown a wild and wicked form of spiritual freedom.  The fruits reaped have begun to demonstrate the evil of our choices.  That universal principle "what you sow is what you reap" will not be denied.

There are, however, issues that are not clearly defined by scripture or the created order.   These issues even more clearly deal with Christian freedom—things that fall between what God prohibits and what He commands. What entertainment is acceptable? What kind of music is okay? What can a Christian do or not do on Sunday? What about what you wear, what you eat and drink, or how you spend your free time? What is the appropriate way to handle our natural drives and urges—does the Bible address those things?

You can find plenty of rules and strictures in the various spheres of evangelicalism, orthodoxy, liberalism, and among progressives that address these type questions.  Many of these rules and strictures (whether written, stated, or merely engaged through peer or cultural group pressure) have frankly become unhelpful and even harmful.  [Note this truth stands both within and outside the fundamentalist camps of this world though we like to claim they alone suffer this malady.]

Among Friends, some say, "The Bible doesn't address those things. Those are gray areas, so do what you want to do—you're free in Christ!" Some of course simply declare the Bible as a harmful book and Christ a myth and dispatch morality and righteousness that way.

It is true that Christian scriptures, starting with the words of Jesus in the Gospels, speak clearly and strongly about our freedom in all things - even declaring that all things are now lawful for us in Christ.  It is also true that this same Christ and the same teachers and apostles also state that many things are incompatible uses of freedom and do not square with the righteousness God demands, the righteousness Christ came to demonstrate and provide.  Equally true, the Bible doesn't list every possible decision you'll face in life.  Nonetheless the scriptures do address our choices with principles that govern Christian freedom.

When Quakers, you as an individual and you (plural) as a community, together with the Spirit, run your choices through this grid of principles from God's Word, you/we will find both clarity and true freedom to live life to God's glory.


7 Principles of Christian Freedom:

1.     Will it benefit me spiritually?All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify (1 Cor. 10:23).

"A 'profitable' thing is useful, helpful, or to your advantage to do; and the idea behind 'edify' is to build up spiritually." So based on this verse, ask yourself, "Will doing this enhance my spiritual life? Will it cultivate right living (godliness)? Will it build me up?" If not, you should seriously question whether that behavior is the best choice.

2.     Will it bring bondage?

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything (1 Cor. 6:12).

"In the second part of this verse, Paul is saying, 'I will not be brought under the power of anything.' If what you are considering can be habit-forming, why pursue it? Don't allow yourself to be in bondage to anything or anyone."

3.     Will it defile God's temple (my body)?

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,  for God bought you with a high price. Honor God with your body.(1 Cor. 6:19-20).

"Don't do anything that you know will harm your body or bring shame—it is the only instrument you have to glorify God. Romans 6:13 says, 'Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.' How you choose to use your body should always reflect your concern to honor Jesus Christ."

4.     Will it cause anyone to stumble?

Food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak (1 Cor. 8:8-9).

"This is the principle of love. As Romans 13:10 says: 'Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.' If you know that your choice—what you consider 'in bounds' and approved—causes another Christian to stumble and sin, love that brother or sister enough to restrict your own freedom. That is not very popular in our self-absorbed society, but it is biblical. To continue to indulge in a legitimate freedom that causes problems for another Christian is a sin. For 'by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore,' Paul said, 'if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, that I might not cause my brother to stumble' (1 Cor. 8:12-13)."

5.     Will it further the cause of evangelism?

Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God.  I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved (1 Cor. 10:32-33).

"Whether you are aware of it, what you allow or disallow in your behavior affects your witness for Christ, and the world is watching. It's an issue of testimony—what your life says about God. Your testimony either tells the truth about God, or it tells a lie. The choices you make in areas where Scripture speaks principally as well as specifically should reflect your concern not to bring offense to God's reputation but to bring Him praise instead."

6.     Will it violate my conscience?

He who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin (Rom. 14:23).

"1 Corinthians 10:25-29 contains three references to abstaining from a certain practice 'for conscience sake.' Never train yourself to violate your conscience. If your conscience is troubled by what you consider, don't do it. If you aren't sure about it, don't do it. It is hard to overstate the value of a clean conscience, but it is worth keeping your conscience clear so that your relationship to God will not be hindered. If you'll keep yourself in prayer and the study of God's Word, you will inform your conscience so you can 'walk as children of light...finding out what is acceptable to the Lord' (Eph. 5:8, 10)."

7.     Will it bring glory to God?

Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

"That verse is clearly both the summary and the goal of all the principles listed above. Isn't our heart's cry to glorify our Lord and Savior with our lives?" If not it should be for that is a fruit of loving God. "Think about your decision—Will He be glorified, honored, and praised through it? May we say along with Jesus, 'I glorified You on the earth' (John 17:4)."

[The above are excepts from "Decision Making to the Glory of God" by John MacArthur: http://www.gty.org/Blog/B101230.]

So, how do we as Friends stand in light of these 7 principles?

How does your own life and lifestyle stand?

Do you need some more chances to talk these things over?