Friends General Conference

Together we nurture the spiritual vitality of Friends
A Quaker community in Frederick, Maryland

The Frederick News Post's: Words on Faith by Helen Tasker

Public ContentAnyone can view this post

Helen Tasker's essay "Reflecting on the fruits of the spirit" appeared in the Frederick News Post on April 16, 2016.

Words of Faith: Reflecting on the fruits of the spirit

by Helen Tasker

April 16, 2016

Today a Friend expressed her deep pain in watching the world news of a young suicide bomber who blew up himself — and dozens of other young soccer players. In our shared faith, the Religious Society of Friends, better known as Quakers, we generally share the belief that there is that of God in each person, and because of this light we each have within us, we are called to live in a way that takes away the occasion for war. But in moments such as the one she speaks of, how do we answer that of God in people who seem so full of hatred for others while claiming that their religious calling brings them to act so violently on God’s behalf?

It is a constant struggle in the world today to be loving, but if we turn to Scripture, we may get some advice on how to do so. Take this part of Galatians, for example: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Then, after enumerating the acts of sinful human behavior, Paul goes on to say, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

And so how do we love but at the same time judge and condemn violent and unjust acts across the world that are never brought to light in the media? How do we continue to act from a place of love when feeling so angry about the injustices we see in our own society and others around the world?

We need to continue to connect with our faith community, the church that is made of people and Spirit, not of bricks and mortar. If our faith is one based in love, service and justice, and we know that it must become a lifestyle, not merely weekend attendance, then perhaps we may effect change. We need to know that perhaps what we can only do in our own communities is to be loving, and work for the justice for all. We must have a measure of hope in order empower the next generation to live in love, while listening to those in despair, and answering to their needs as best we can. We must also listen to those whose self-righteousness makes them believe that they have the power to take lives, out of fear or hatred, but answer them with a firm hold on our understanding that love, from that deep spirit that is beyond our intellect, is most powerful.

My friend is a woman of deep faith, who works in the ways she knows to bring about change for the world. When we carry the pain so deeply, we sometimes may forget our impact, as I believe many of us do. When we each live in a way that in some part addresses the needs of others, share our struggle of dealing with the anger at the many deep injustices in the world, and continue to address that Light in others that may yet be a dim spark, we may effect some changes that inspire others to do so as well. Even though we may never see the outcomes of what we witness, we must keep on living faithfully — and affirm others’ work when we can. We must remember that these “Fruits of the Spirit” can do much to counter the ways of the flesh. Then we may encourage others, in the words of an early Quaker, to “live in that virtue and power of life that takes away the occasion for war.”

Share