Social action is another form of religion. You take pride in being on "the correct side" of things. You feel righteous, but what you feel is really only an increase in pride, an increase in the flesh. Worldly activities count for nothing. Whatever you do in the flesh is not pleasing to God.
The Lord calls us to stand apart from the world. Be in the world, but be not of the world. Your focus should be inward, not outward. You can spend your days on this earth in correcting "evil" or you can seek the will of God; until you are under his control and capable of understanding his instructions and carrying them out with his power. As the disciples were told by Jesus to "remain in Jerusalem waiting for power from on high," you are called to turn inside and seek the heavenly Jerusalem, seeking the light to change you into a vessel equipped with his power and suitable for his service. (Of the 650,00 Quakers, a very small percentage were preachers; most were middle class shop owners, laborers, soldiers, farmers, etc.; but all had an office in the Body of Christ, with their lives being shining examples of Christian virtue.)
Your removing of self from involvement in the world is not a betrayal of your "goodness," it is a commitment to seeking his will without outside competitions. We are not inactive when still seeking; we are called to express our faith in acts of love; giving to those in need, visiting the widows, assisting the orphans, acts of kindness to others, encouraging others in acts of love, and avoiding evil conduct and conversation ourselves. (Acts of love do not include protests, political activity, campaigning, promotion of any institution, etc.) A good soldier does not get involved in civilian affairs. Any action in your flesh to correct the evils of the world, however holy the motives seem to you, unless you have been specifically directed as above; any action will only retard or halt your spiritual progress -- whatever the purpose: slavery, women's rights, protecting the environment, prevention of cruelty to animals, anti-drug campaigns, alcohol abuse, child abuse, globalization, abortion, war, etc.
We are called to focus on the heavenly treasures, to turn inward seeking the light, to focus on the what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtue, and praise. If we spend our energies and time in correcting evil, we miss the opportunity to be changed inwardly. After we are changed, then we can toil together with God in the causes of his choice; and there will be causes, but he will be the one who orders our activities - His Will, not ours.
If you think you are "called" to do something, I ask you: Where in the Bible does it speak of being "called," as you use it? Called is to be summoned or named. The Bible does not have a single reference to "called" being something that God is requiring you to do, except to come to Him. When he wants you to do something, he gives you commands and orders; not a feeling, a desire, a burden, a door opening, a draw, or a "call." This word is thrown around by some sects to justify anything anybody feels an inclination to do, as being "called." When you are led by God to do something, he tells you exactly what to do and exactly when to do it.
However holy our fleshly social actions feel, they only puff-up our pride - further removing us from the will of God.
A "call" is particularly used by preachers, who have "heard the call." Being touched by God, or having a spiritual experience, is not his call to be a preacher; it is a summons to seek him: Many are called, few are chosen. Far, far too many people interpret a touch by God to mean he wants us to work for him in a non-secular job; this is not true. He wants us to stay where we are, making as few changes as possible in our life, so that we can hear him more easily as we try to quiet our minds to listen for his teachings and commands. And if we start preaching or teaching before we are perfected and directly commanded to, our spiritual progress is stopped dead.
As Christians, we are told the world is passing away for us, so we don't need to keep up with its problems. When we step into the Kingdom of Heaven, which is another dimension, the world, as we see it, is gone; we see from another dimension, even though our bodies are still here on earth. The Kingdom of Heaven is within us and around us; it is another dimension of reality. Everything we now see will be gone from our sight. (Physicists tells us there are several other dimensions than the three + time we see.)
So, we are called to come out of the world and turn inward; to stop thinking about things in the world and think about heavenly things; to give to the poor and build up treasure in heaven. We are to focus on Christ and to focus on loving our neighbor. Being kind to our neighbor. Forgiving our neighbor. Loving our neighbor. Loving everyone at work; they are our neighbor too. Loving every person we come into contact with, because they all have the light of Christ within them and we are loving Christ when we love them. We are called to follow peace with all men. If we are protesting, we are not following peace with all men. Heb 4:12, 2 Tim 2:22. We are called to be apolitical - having no political opinions. We are called to not put our faith, hopes, resources, or efforts in any worldly power, person, or cause. This is not being callous to the world's problems; for we know that by dying to self, and becoming a soldier under orders from Christ with his power to help us - then we can be more effective than one hundred lifetimes without God's direction and power.
Simple Starting Rules to Follow
Beyond your daily seeking through meditation, here are the starting rules that if you follow, you will do well.
■This was John the Baptist's simple message of repentance, to get ready for Jesus and the Kingdom:
Repent: think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct. Matt 3:2
Share from your excess with those who are without the necessities of life.
Be honest in all your dealings, never exaggerating or overreaching anyone.
Don't oppress people or frighten anyone, don't lie, don't want more, don't complain. Luke 3:10-14
■Seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness. (Jesus' #1)
Set aside at least one hour for quiet time every day.
■Above all, don't swear (James #1, oaths, as in "I swear to tell the truth...."),
■Above all, love each other deeply, for love covers a multitude of sins (Peter's #1),
■Abstain from sexual immorality, (in Acts 15:29 from the Apostles' Council to the beginning Gentiles) .
Flee sexual Immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside his body, but he who commits sexual immorality, sins against his own body. 1 Cor 6:18
■Prize your time and the Love of God to you. (George Fox's #1)
■Whatever commands you receive in meditation, record them, review them, and keep repenting.
■If you make mistakes, ask forgiveness plus help, resolve to do better, and don't look back again at them.
■Don't worry, he loves you, doubt it not! (from him in meditation). He is watching over you continually!
■And don't talk about God or Christ unless he tells you to. Wait until your words are from the Spirit.
■Enjoy the good things of this life with thanks and praise to our to great and wonderful God.
Consider George Fox's statement below regarding any worldly activity:
Considering the hurries that were in the nation, it came upon me at the close of this meeting to write a few lines to Friends, to caution all to keep out of the spirit of the world, in which trouble is, and to dwell in the peaceable truth; as follows:
DEAR FRIENDS AND BRETHREN,
Whom the Lord has called and chosen in Christ Jesus, your life and salvation,
in whom you have rest and peace with God;
the Lord by his mighty power that is over all, has preserved and supported you to this day,
to be a peculiar holy people to himself,
so that by his eternal spirit and power you might be all kept out of the world,
for in the world is trouble.
In this great day of the Lord God Almighty,
he is shaking the heavens and the earth of outward professions,
their elements are in a heat, their sun and their moon are darkened, the stars falling,
and the mountains and hills shaking and tottering,
as it was among the Jews in the days of Christ's appearing.
Therefore, dear friends, and brethren, dwell in the seed, Christ Jesus,
the rock and foundation, that cannot be shaken;
so that you may see with the light and spirit of Christ,
that you are like fixed stars in the firmament of God's power;
and in this his power and light you will see over all the wandering stars,
clouds without water, and trees without fruit.
That which may be shaken will be shaken,
as will all who have wandered from the firmament of God's power.
Dear friends and brethren, you who are redeemed from the death and fall of Adam,
by Christ, the second Adam, in him you have life, rest, and peace;
for Christ said, "in me you shall have peace, but in the world trouble."
And the apostle said, "we who have believed do enter into rest," namely Christ,
who has overcome the world, bruises the serpent's head, destroys the devil and his works,
and fulfils the types, figures, and shadows of the Old Testament, and the prophets.
In whom the promises are yes and amen;
who is the first and last, beginning and ending, the eternal rest.
So keep and walk in Christ, your rest, everyone who has received him.
Dear friends and brethren,
whatever bustlings and trouble, tumults or outrages,
quarrels and strife, arise in the world,
keep out of them all;
do not concern yourselves with them;
but keep in the Lord's power and peaceable truth, that is over all such things;
in which power you seek the peace and good of all men.
Live in the love which God has shed abroad in your hearts through Christ Jesus;
in which love nothing is able to separate you from God and Christ,
neither outward sufferings, persecutions, nor any outward thing that is below and without;
nor to hinder or break your heavenly fellowship in the light, gospel, and spirit of Christ,
nor your holy communion in the holy ghost, that proceeds from the Father and the Son,
which leads you into all truth.
In this holy ghost, in which is your holy communion,
that proceeds from the Father and the Son,
you have fellowship with the Father and the Son, and with one another.
This is it which links and joins Christ's church or body together
to him the heavenly and spiritual head, and in unity in his spirit,
which is the bond of peace to all his church, and living members,
in whom they have eternal rest and peace in Christ, and with God everlasting,
who is to be blessed and praised for ever, Amen!
'Dear friends and brethren,
abide in Christ the vine, so that you may produce fruit to God’s glory.
As everyone has received Christ, walk in him, who is not of the world that lies in wickedness;
so that you may be preserved out of the vain fashions and customs of the world
which satisfy the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life,
which are not of the Father, but of the world that passes away.
Whoever joins to that which is not of the Father, or encourages it,
draws the mind from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore let Christ rule in your hearts,
that your minds, souls, and spirits may be kept out of the vanities of the world
in their words, ways, and actions,
so that you may be a peculiar people, zealous for good works,
serving the Lord through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God;
that by the word of his grace your words may be gracious,
and in your lives and conversation you may show forth righteousness, holiness, and godliness,
that God Almighty may be glorified in you all, and through you all,
who is above all, blessed and praised for ever. Amen.
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