Friends have, over time, developed some consistent ways of behavior and
of interacting with the world that we call our testimonies. There have
been many testimonies over the years, but a basic list of our
testimonies will generally include: integrity, community, peace,
simplicity, and equality.
Integrity
The most important testimony, because it is the one that all the other
testimonies are based on, is the testimony of integrity. At its
simplest, the testimony of integrity means that we believe that it is
wrong to lie, and we try to tell the truth in all things and at all
times. We do not take oaths, because Christ has forbidden it, and we
believe it sets up a double-standard for telling the truth. On a
deeper level, the testimony of integrity means that we believe it is
important for the whole of our lives to be consistent with our
Christian beliefs: we believe we need to "walk our talk", or, as George
Fox said, "Let your lives preach."
A few Friends are led to adopt the "plain witness" in dress and
lifestyle as part of their testimony of integrity. The plain witness
is an outward manifestation of an inward attitude of the heart: an
attempt to bring even one's outward appearance under the visible
Lordship of Christ. Not everyone feels this call to outward plainness
in the same way. Conservative Friends believe that there are many ways
to live that are under the Lordship of Christ, and so we worship side
by side with each other in charity, some wearing suspenders and
broad-brimmed hats, some wearing crosses, some wearing white robes, and
some just acting like damned fools - all servants of the same Lord. The
plain witness also extends to other areas of life--one's use of time,
one's possessions, one's vocations, all may be evaluated in terms of
the integrity of specifically aligning them with our perception of the
will of God. Those who choose plain dress also find it a telling
witness of our faith to other people that invites conversation about
God.
As far as I know, no other church is as accepting of as much latitude
of individual conscience in the area of personal appearance. Other
churches either require their members to wear their official version of
plain dress, or exert pressure on their members to abandon plain
dress. Conservative Friends trust that each person can listen to God
and be guided by the Holy Spirit to wear the clothing that is best for
their own spiritual growth.
Peace
Probably the most well known Quaker testimony is the Peace Testimony.
Friends believe that war and violence are inconsistent with
Christianity. Jesus told us, "...Love your enemies, bless them that
curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
desptefully use you and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44) - we believe that
it is difficult to love someone sincerely if we are trying to kill
them. And also, "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but
whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other
also." (Matthew 5:39). Our concern for peace stems from a desire to be
obedient to the commands of Jesus Christ, not originally from political
or social beliefs.
Sometimes people indeed do evil things, individually and as nations.
We believe that the proper response is to prevent them from harming
others, while at the same time remembering that there is that of God in
the perpetrators as well. As hard as it is to do, our call as
Christians is to love both the hurtful and the hurt, to look for ways
to heal both sides, and to live so as to help prevent conflict in the
future.
Simplicity
The testimony of simplicity takes many different forms, but it is based
on the idea that all of our lives need to revolve around one thing - our
relationship with the Living God. Generally, it means that
Conservative Friends attempt to live lives free of clutter,
superfluity, and affectation that can distract us from God. We attempt
to ensure that we choose in all things what is simple, useful, and
good. Friends apply the testimony of simplicity to their clothing, to
their possessions, to their work, to their way of speech, to their
choice of recreations - in short, all aspects of our lives can show in
clear simple ways that we are "not conformed to this world, but
transformed by the renewing" of our minds.
Equality
The testimony of equality means that all people are to be given equal
respect, regardless of anything - including their gender, age, race,
station in life, intelligence, or criminal behavior. Friends believe
that we are all equal in the sight of God, and so we should treat each
other as equals. This does not mean that we are all to be treated
exactly the same. It does mean that no one is to be treated as either
a superior or an inferior. Because of the testimony of equality,
Friends try to avoid the use of titles, as well as avoiding ceremonial
behavior, such as removing their hats, in front of legal or social
"superiors". They may also adhere to older Quaker testimonies such as
the plain speech of "thee and thou," one purpose of which was to show
equal respect for all individuals one was addressing.
Community
The testimony of community is extremely important to Conservative
Friends, particularly in this age of individualism. Friends take
seriously Jesus' admonition to love each other, as well as Paul's
admonition to subject ourselves to each other. If we really are the
body of Christ, and all the parts need one another as the Gospel says,
then it isn't right for one part to be off doing its own thing separate
from the body. The Lord can and does do a lot through people as
individuals. But the real power of the Gospel shows itself when we
function as a united body witnessing to the world what God has done
among us.
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