Simplicity and M.L.K.

“Tis a gift to be simple……”

I have been reading from Quaker writers recently – especially J. Brent Bill. I find a peace in the simplicity of Quaker teaching. Quakers (The Society of Friends) believe that there exists an element of God's spirit in every human soul. Thus, all persons have inherent worth, independent of their gender, race, age, nationality, religion, and sexual orientation. Their opposition to sexism, racism, religious intolerance, warfare, and the death penalty comes from this belief.

Simplicity, pacifism, and inner revelation are long standing Quaker beliefs. Their religion does not consist of accepting specific beliefs or of engaging in certain practices; it involves each person's direct experience of God.

They do not have a specific creed; however, many of the coordinating groups have created statements of faith. The statement by the largest Quaker body, the Friends United Meeting includes the beliefs in:

true religion as a personal encounter with God, rather than ritual and ceremony
individual worth before God
worship as an act of seeking
the virtues of moral purity, integrity, honesty, simplicity and humility
Christian love and goodness
concern for the suffering and unfortunate
continuing revelation through the Holy Spirit

Many do not regard the Bible as the only source of belief and conduct. They rely upon their Inner Light to resolve what they perceive as the Bible's many contradictions. They also feel free to take advantage of scientific and philosophical findings from other sources.

Individual Quakers hold diverse views concerning life after death. Few believe in the eternal punishment of individuals in a Hell.

All aspects of life are sacramental; they do not differentiate between the secular and the religious. No one day or one place or one activity is any more spiritual than any other.

Quakers have had a tradition of opposing war. They have followed the beliefs of the early Christian movement which was strongly pacifist. Early Christians even refused to bring charges against others if there was a possibility of the death penalty being exercised. Together with the Amish, Church of the Brethren, and Mennonites, they made it possible for men to be classified as conscientious objectors.

Although most of my friends would consider me complex, I long for and find comfort in simplicity, perhaps because I am so complex. Perhaps part of that longing is because, as I grow older, it becomes more difficult for me to remember all the rules, regulations, and expectations of the religion of my birth and early formation. While I have felt for sometime that the complexity of many religions’ expectations is overwhelming and often adds burdens rather than eases them, I also felt it was mostly my problem and had a sense of guilty for even thinking such heretical thoughts.

But, over the years, I have come to truly believe that, in matters of faith, as in most aspects of life, there is a beauty in simplicity. Hence my attraction to words, phrases, and simple instructions that sum up all the other “stuff” that is more the work and will of institutions than of the Jesus of the Gospel – the Jesus before Christianity as Albert Nolan named him.

The core of Jesus’ teaching focused on the poor, the marginated and those who have no voice, no advocate. Thus, Jesus was able to sum up the requirements of life in God as feeding the hungry, giving comfort to the dying, visiting the prisoners, clothing the naked, and caring for the widows and orphans. He also said, when asked the most important “law,” that we “love God with our whole heart, soul, and mind, and our neighbor as ourself.” And finally, to the rich young man who was careful to follow all the “rules” yet still sought to be “saved” Jesus said: “sell what you have and give it to the poor.”

While I would much rather say novena’s and rosaries than sell what I have, I understand that the more simple, uncluttered, and unattached I live, the more I am aware of the presence of God, and the more I can respond to that presence in freedom because I am less distracted from that presence.

It is Martin Luther King day. So the focus is on equality, justice, liberty, and respect for all people. It’s tragic that the principle of equality is such a struggle for our world, that brave, visionary people have died in their efforts to promote equality for all. MLK lived the principle of Jesus that all people have a spark of the divine life, that they are created equal and are to be treated so. He was a committed Christian. And he was hated, resented, despised, attacked, jailed, and eventually killed – by “committed Christians” who believed segregation was a moral, and yes even a family value ordained by the almighty.

And we continue to witness this paradox. The strongest supporters and detractors of the war in Iraq, immigration issues, poverty programs, same sex unions, and global warming to name a few are, on both sides, Christians who believe that they are being loyal to their beliefs. Richard Rohr provides the best answer as to which side to “come down on.” He says: “It’s those with the power and the money who are the most threatened.” In other words those with the most to lose – position, prestige, power, credibility – are the ones to be suspect. They are the ones whose argument is most often self-serving. The ones who have nothing to lose and who only seek what is just and fair – those who seek equality and justice are those to be supported. That’s how we tell which side to support.

That is what brings me back to simplicity – that is where I find solace in this tension, peace in my confusion and anger, and a North Star to lead me along the challenging path of discipleship.

So here are a few of my favorite, simple, words to live by:

“It is merely bad luck not to be loved, it is tragedy not to love.” Albert Camus
“Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
“Be careful how you live your life, it may be the only Gospel most people will ever read.” Dom Helder Camera

Comments

[Don]

Thanks for a lovely and thoughtful piece.

[plain foolish]

Thank you for this entry. I am glad to have been recommended to read your blog. It speaks strongly to me, and reminds me of some of my own experiences.

I, too, am called by the Quaker testimonies and their call to stay in touch with the simple call within to be faithful to that Light. I, too, believe that God is Present to each of us, and that we must strive to be Present to God, to open ourselves to that light, and so allow ourselves to be led in the ways of peace and simplicity and justice.

[Scott Sheperd]

Wonderful post. What happens to us? We are like the person in a well lit room whose eyes are closed complaining about the dark.