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| Charalambos Epaminonda, Cyprus |
Except the one “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather . . . he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross." (Philippians 2)
Jesus demonstrated what it is to give up power and privilege and invited his followers to do the same. That passage from Philippians 2 was preceded by this instruction from Paul:
In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
Jesus set aside power as he went to the cross, but also as he washed his disciples’ feet, and as he cooked fish for his friends after the resurrection.
He told his followers:
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20)
Track through history and it’s not hard to find times when the Christian Church ignored those words completely. This may be one of those times, as a tragic majority of white Evangelical Christians align themselves with protective power rather than sacrifice comfort to serve the needs of global refugees and poor urban communities.
It’s never hard to find religious groups misusing scripture to justify an unjust status quo. Fortunately, it’s also possible to find times when faithfulness to Christ’s call to love, serve and give up power changed the course of history.
This week we’re celebrating the passage of the 19th Amendment affirming women’s right to vote. That event was the culmination of decades of work begun in large part by Quaker men and women.
The King James Bible, commissioned by King James in 1604, democratized the use of scripture, making it available to the common people in a language they could understand. George Fox and other early Quakers took that work even further, insisting that the Holy Spirit would bring the words of scripture alive in the hearts of men and women, allowing all to interpret and apply scripture appropriate to the challenges of each day.
Quaker apologist Robert Barclay explained in 1676:
This is the great work of the Scriptures and their service to us, that we may witness them fulfilled in us, and so discern the stamp of God’s Spirit and ways upon them by the inward acquaintance we have with the same Spirit and work in our hearts. (Apology, Proposition III, Sect. V.)
One early principle, drawn from Acts 2, was that all are equally called to ministry, equally invited to speak and serve:
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
History demonstrates imperfect application of that scripture and others like it, but also shows that Quakers led the formation of abolitionist societies in England and colonial America.
Quakers were also a driving force in women’s suffrage. The Declaration of Sentiments, a formative suffrage document shared at the historic Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 was written by Quaker women. Most of the initial signers were Quaker women and their husbands.
Amazing what can happen when people commit to reading scripture and wait together for the Holy Spirit to apply it.
And amazing how much scripture was used to push back against both the movement to end slavery and the effort to give women the vote.
Elaine Weiss, author of The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote, described the way opponents "use[d] religion as a cudgel to beat the suffrage movement." Religious leaders insisted that allowing women to vote would violate Biblical teaching and damage the moral health of the nation.
I’m thankful for those faithful followers of Christ who led the way in both abolition and women’s suffrage despite the opposition they faced from others who claimed to share their faith.
I’m thankful for their example of setting tradition aside and listening instead to the voice of the Spirit.
I’m longing and listening for such voices today, voices reminding us that as followers of Christ, our job is to apply ALL of scripture, through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, in the complex political issues of our day.
Angelina then became a Quaker and eventually moved to Philadelphia, where she became a teacher, became active in the growing abolitionist movement, and eventually met and married abolitionist Timothy Weld. With her husband and her sister Sarah, she wrote American Slavery as It Is, an encyclopedia of slave mistreatment, an important addition to abolitionist literature. (Side note if you’re looking for good books to read: she appears as a prominent character in Sue Monk Kidd's novel The Invention of Wings.)
I’ve been wondering how to speak, as a Christian, with Christians friends who label quickly, judge harshly and brandish scripture against any view not their own. I’m struck by the wisdom of Grimké Weld, who in her early thirties wrote An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South. It was published and widely distributed by the American Anti-Slavery Society. In some places it was well received. In others it was publicly burned.
I find it offers advice for this deeply divided time. Its tone is loving and respectful and it assumes a shared love of scripture and shared determination to obey God’s leading.
Most important, it encourages her readers to make up their own minds, rather than be swayed by tradition or religious leaders. She asks them to
1. Search the Scriptures daily, whether the things I have told you are true. . . The Bible then is the book I want you to read in the spirit of inquiry, and the spirit of prayer. Even the enemies of Abolitionists, acknowledge that their doctrines are drawn from it. . . . Read the Bible then, it contains the words of Jesus, and they are spirit and life.
2. Pray over this subject. When you have entered into your closets, and shut to the doors, then pray to your father, who seeth in secret, that he would open your eyes to see whether slavery is sinful, and if it is, that he would enable you to bear a faithful, open and unshrinking testimony against it, and to do whatsoever your hands find to do, leaving the consequences entirely to him, who still says to us whenever we try to reason away duty from the fear of consequences, "What is that to thee, follow thou me." . . . There is great encouragement for prayer in these words of our Lord. "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you"—Pray then without ceasing, in the closet and the social circle.
She encourages women to withhold judgement until scripture and the Holy Spirit confirm the truth, then speak and act on behalf of that truth, even if opposition is strong and sacrifice is needed.
Her own life provides an example of sacrificial work on behalf of slaves, freed slaves, poor women and children, anyone in need of an education or a caring advocate.
Last week was the Democratic Convention, with the historic nomination of a woman of color as a vice-presidential candidate. Faith leaders from a mix of traditions shared their support for candidates and platforms.
The Republican Convention starts tomorrow, with even more faith leader scheduled to speak.
I think of Angelina’s appeal and pray that followers of Christ will consider candidates, platforms, even parties, in light of the full range of Scripture: Proverbs, Psalms, prophetic books, teachings of Jesus, epistles to the early churches.
Some questions:
- Do character and compassion matter?
- Should power be used on behalf of the poor, or to further the goals of the rich?
- Do leaders serve, or insist on being?
- Do we insist on truth, and seek it earnestly, even when it contradicts our preference or party?
Join me in holding fast to scripture, in spending time in prayer.
Join me in speaking and acting even when it hurts.
We have some rough weeks ahead.
May God’s word and Spirit shape our hearts.
