March 27

“Conversion is the beginning not the end of a process.  When inward peace disappears it is a sign that the next stage of growth is at hand and peace can only be reached if that growth takes place.”  Howard H. Brinton, 1948, "Daily Readings from Quaker Writings" 3/27

Quakers believe there is “that which is of God” in every man which they refer to as the Light Within.  This is why they do not believe it is right to kill even in war.  Others would argue for the total depravity of man and therefore the killing of non-Christians is excusable for a higher cause.  This is how I would explain what I believe:  Because we are made in the image of God we do indeed carry within us that Light.  I would liken it to the pilot light on a gas stove.  This is the seed of faith that every man is given that enables him to believe in God.  This pilot light--at our conversion--is ignited and begins to burn brightly on top of the stove.  Then our bodily lives--the pots and pans--are filled with the power and strength of God the Holy Spirit in order to prepare the feast to feed the hungry world.  However, there are some whose pilot lights never ignite because they refuse to respond to the ignition process.  When God turns the knob on the stove they resist.  Eventually some strong wind comes and blows out the pilot light and their chance to ever be lit is lost.

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”  Colossians 3:9, 10