Thayne A. Thompson, DMin | EFC-MAYM Lead Superintendent
During recent discussions Tony Wheeler and I have had regarding church planting a question keeps popping up, “What is a “Friends” church?” I want to personalize that question a bit more and ask, what is a “Friend”? It’s a good question, don’t you think? If I were to throw out that question to 100 people who are a part of EFC-MAYM I would likely get a variety of answers. So, as we begin a new year, I would like to take a stab at it myself.
First, let me acknowledge some of the responses I anticipate would come if such a survey were taken among Friends. I think some would define “Friends” by what we don’t do. They would suggest Friends don’t practice baptism and communion in the same way other denominations do. Some might also suggest that Friends don’t participate in war and handle a weapon. Others might focus on historical issues relating to alcohol, tobacco or even dancing. By focusing on what we don’t do, it is very easy to determine who is “in” and who is “out”.
Another way of defining “Friends” would be to determine how closely a person or a church adheres to Faith & Practice. Each region of Evangelical Friends across North America has their own Faith & Practice which defines things like church government, theology, doctrinal positions and practices which have their roots in our rich history but can sometimes be dated to a specific era of church life.
With that in mind, I want to take a shot at defining “Friends” from what I believe is most essential. There are some very smart people with much knowledge and wisdom who have written on this topic. These are people, as John the Baptist said regarding Jesus, “of whom I am unworthy to untie their shoes.” So, it is with a bit of fear and trembling I even enter into this conversation.
As you are likely aware, our theme verse as “Friends” is found in John 15:14, “You are my friends if you do what I command.” Wow, what a way to be identified as a true “Friend,” someone who does what Jesus says. Like the founder of our movement George Fox said, “There is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy condition.” It is first and foremost a choice to follow Jesus that makes us “Friends”. In addition, as “Evangelical” Friends we affirm with Christians around the world that the scriptures, in their entirety, are inspired by God and authoritative for our everyday life.
Having grown up in a “Friends” (Quaker) home I also saw a clear dependence upon the Holy Spirit, which I assumed was normal for Christians around the world. However, it has only been in recent years that I have come to realize how unique our view of the Holy Spirit it as evangelical Friends. There are some groups of professing Christians who talk mostly about the Spirit and do so even to the disregard of the Bible. Whereas others are so “biblically based” that there is little room for the movement of the Holy Spirit. I believe as evangelical Friends we are to be fully dependent upon the leading of the Holy Spirit while clearly affirming that the Spirit will never lead us in contradiction to what God’s Word has to say. The scriptures form our runway for life, and the Spirit is the pilot who takes us down the runway.
A little later in that same discourse where we find John 15:14, Jesus teaches his disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 15:26) and tells them that as He leaves the Holy Spirit would come and become their guide, leading them into all truth (John 16:7-14). We as “Friends” have a great heritage of waiting on the Spirit to lead and guide us as we submit ourselves to the truth contained in the scriptures and the moment-by-moment leading of His Spirit. And it is not only for a select few. We as Friends believe all of us who seek to follow Jesus can be led by the Spirit and fulfill a portion of His plan regardless of our age, race or gender.
Some will think my definition is too simplistic, but for me, being a “Friend” should have as its very essence seeking to obey the commands of Jesus contained in God’s Word to love people and make disciples (Great Commandment/Great Commission), as well as daily following the leading of the Holy Spirit. My friend, Kent Walkemeyer, whom I highly respect, has written and taught on this topic. He was asked to sum up “Friends” in a 20-minute lecture. After the supremacy of Jesus at the core of “Friends”, he identified (3) key pillars of Friends history including, equality, holiness and simplicity. To me, that seems to be about enough.
I trust you each had a blessed conclusion to 2023 and are walking with Jesus, and seeking Him, as 2024 is upon us. Holy Spirit, lead us into all truth and help us fulfill the desires of Jesus in our generation as we enter into a new year.
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