We Owe Much to Spiritual Rebels and Revolutionaries
“In contrast with debilitating conformism prevailing in our capitalist-communist world, there is the positive response to the irrepressible voice of the Eternal speaking to man deep within. It was response to this Voice which produced a compassionate Buddha, a pioneering Abraham, a stirring Isaiah, an appealing Zoroaster. Irrepressible Voice! Woe comes to the prophet who does not speak out. For he has failed the Eternal at a moment of crisis. The Eternal will raise another who will not fail to speak out. For His words which are Spirit and Light must be spoken through man in order to reach the conscience of men.
…All moral realignment against corruption is effected by the discontented. The race of men owes much to its spiritual rebels, and revolutionaries. They are at war with the world of shams. They are the restless, hungering Truth-seekers. They start new movements. They challenge the conditioning process of the social environment. They become fearless. They draw inspiration from other fearless ones. They go to the roots of things. Jesus who rebelled against the sham and hypocrisy of the priests, the inhuman callousness of imperial Rome, and ‘the conventional good form of his time’ has been the acknowledged or unacknowledged-inspirer of many movements.
Believers in God possess the faith that rebels. In response to the Voice within they say: Search your hearts. Truth of itself teaches and transforms the receptive.
…In humility, I would state that the Society of Friends is a society which must stand for His Cause, which must burn for His Cause, which must purify itself for His Cause — or else it peters out.
…The method is quiet but fearless penetration into all areas of the human relationship. And ever in humility for our share of the world’s distress and suffering, to penetrate like leaven which integrates itself into the bread of our common humanity as it serves.
How then shall the leaven-like seed sowers lay hold of that life and Power, and how shall they live the life of the revolutionary faith? By the quiet persistent practice of turning all our being, day and night, in inward worship and surrender to Him who calls in the deep of the souls of men and then responsively, fearlessly advancing in the service of the Spirit.”
— Heberto Sein, 1954 (source)
Mexican Quaker peace activist and diplomat
Reader Responses
How do you know if you have a leading?
How can you tell when to act and when more discernment is needed? How do you lean on others in your faith community to help you come to clarity?
"A leading is inconvenient, not something you would choose to do on your own initiative. God has to tell you to do it, because otherwise you wouldn't.
A leading comes back if you dismiss it. It weighs on your mind until you give in – or abandon the practices that open you up to such things.
A leading is consistent with the core values of Friends' faith and practice – although it may be directly counter to our established habits and routines.
A leading is a prompt to do something you can do in real life – although following it may be challenging, and involve serious self examination and elements of risk and growth.
You may resist a leading, or even reject it. But at some point in that process you will recognize that it is real. What you do then will make you a Friend, or not."
Steve K., Tampa, FL, USA
"If my first response is swearing in English, I feel pretty sure I have a true leading. If my first response is to curse in French (my father tongue), I know I have a true leading." Roscoe M., San Luis Obispo, CA, USA
This Week’s Messages
The Most Joyous and Wondrous Thing We Can Do
Dare to speak out
“Love” can be the toughest or the fluffiest word in the language
Activism Is a Species of Worship
What it Means to Be Incarnation People
How to Bring Your Spiritual Self to Politics
Banner art by Maggie Fiori
