PRACTICES OF GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER V -- THE QUERIES
(CHECKLIST OF FAITH AND PRACTICE)

These Queries, with the related passages of Scripture, are intended to serve as a reminder of Friends standards of moral and spiritual life. They should be read at least once a year in the local business sessions. Their use can help individuals examine themselves to see if their lives are consistent with Christian principles. Serious consideration of these questions should tend to promote the spiritual welfare of the church as a whole as well as that of individuals.

1. Do you earnestly seek to maintain a life in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you practice the daily reading of the Scriptures in your families, giving time for waiting upon the Lord? Are you watchful not to be unduly absorbed by temporal affairs? Are you careful to avoid all places and amusements inconsistent with a Christian character? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30 NIV)

2. Do you love one another as becomes the followers of Christ? Are you careful of the reputation of others? When differences arise do you make earnest efforts to end them speedily? "A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35 NIV)

3. Do you attend regularly the services of your church and participate in them actively? Do you prayerfully endeavor to minister, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in humble dependence upon Christ, the spiritual gifts with which you have been entrusted? "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25 NIV)

4. Do you provide for the suitable Christian education and recreation of your children and those under your care, and endeavor to train them for upright and useful lives? Are you thoughtful and careful to supervise their social activities and to guard them against harmful reading and evil associates? Do you encourage them to read and study the Scriptures? Do you prayerfully seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your efforts for their conversion and growth in grace? "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4 NIV)

5. Do you abstain from the use of alcoholic liquor as a beverage? Do you abstain from the use of drugs, except as prescribed by and under a doctor's care? Do you faithfully encourage the enforcement of all laws relative to the selling and use of alcoholic liquor and narcotics? Do you intelligently and lovingly use your influence to limit the use of alcoholic liquor, tobacco, and narcotics and seek to minister to those already damaged by such use? "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: . . . drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19_21 NIV)

6. Do you consistently practice Jesus' spirit and teaching of love and goodwill to all people? Do you support every Christian movement to do away with war and preparation for war? Do you endeavor to make clear to all whom you can influence and especially our own youth, that war is utterly un-Christian and cannot be reconciled with the spirit of Christ? "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy, without holiness no one shall see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14 NIV)

7. Do you try to observe simplicity in your manner of living? Do you frequently inspect your affairs and settle your accounts? Are you careful to live within your income and avoid involving yourselves in business beyond your ability to manage? Are you just in your dealings, punctual to your promises, prompt in the payment of your debts, and free from defrauding the public revenue? "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness." (Matthew 6:33 NIV)

8. Do you make diligent effort to acquaint yourselves and those under your care with the spiritual and material needs of the world? Do you support by prayer and systematic giving those who are laboring to extend Christ's kingdom, and do you make evident your loving sympathy with them and their service? "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth." (I John 3:17_18 NIV)

9. Do you exercise your rights and duties as a citizen to vote, to fulfill jury duty, and in other ways to bring Christian influence in all levels of government? "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." (Romans 13:7 NIV)

10. Do you uphold the doctrinal beliefs of Evangelical Friends Church - Mid America Yearly Meeting and support its ministries? "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them. . ." (I Timothy 4:16a NIV)

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