This podcast focuses on some individual reflections on waiting worship as practiced by Conservative Friends. We are reminded that the best source on waiting worship is Barclay’s Apology.
The English word “worship” is a combination of two words: “worth” and “ship”: giving back something to God in understanding of what He is worth. True worship recognizes Who He is, and gives respect and awe back to Him for it. It is not what Paul calls in the King James Version 17th century rendition “will worship” (Col 2:23), i.e., “Do what you want religious practice and worship". Friends' worship is drawn from John 4 where Jesus says that God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth. In waiting worship, two traditional Quaker meanings are mentioned: 1.) We wait for the Lord, wait to feel His presence and 2.) We wait on the Lord, as a servant or waiter waits upon some one, to listen to him and do what he asks us to do;
As Quakers we believe we must experience a total true repentance of who we were, resulting in a complete transformation of the way we think and act, becoming a living sacrifice for the Lord. (Rom 12:1,2) A quotation from Francis Howgill underscores the total change early Quakers experienced and practiced, along with an understanding of the biblical Greek words for slave (δοῦλος (doulos)) and servant (διάκονος (diakonos)): we are to exemplify those attributes as believers in Jesus.
There is a brief discussion of two contemplative Catholic Quietists: Miguel de Molinos, and Madame Guyon. Molinos A Guide to True Peace presents many similarities to Quaker worship.
An (uncited) quote from John Wilbur’s letters is read describing the complete change of heart, mind and spirit of those who follow Christ. Quakers are a religion of the Spirit, like the first generations of Christianity.
Four sentences (from Letter XVI) of the early Quaker Isaac Penington on the essentiality of depending on the [Holy] Spirit to interpret the words of the Holy Scripture are read.
The roles of minister and elders among Conservative Friends, and how ministry and teaching are accomplished are briefly mentioned.
Resources
An Apology for the True Christian Divinity by Robert Barclay. See Worship in the index.
Francis Howgill quotation
A Guide to True Peace (1815 edition)
Isaac Pennington. “Letter XVI” excerpt
The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles to the Nations, Known as The Didache
Credits:
The words to the music are from
Visit us on our website at ohioyearlymeeting.org.
Any who might be interested in joining any of the Ohio Yearly Meeting Zoom online studies should check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. All are welcome!
We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website, or email us at OYMConservative@gmail.com.