SIMPLE LIFE POWERPOINT

HOW TO LIVE A PEACEFUL LIFE IN A VIOLENT WORLD

This blog, How to Live a Peaceful Life in a Violent World, is based on the Pastoral letters of George Fox, which he wrote between 1643 and 1690, and his Catechism for Children, written in 1660.  Fox was an extraordinarily good and generous man who had great moral clarity.  He had a passionate love of God and Christ the Light.  He also had a rare insight into their natures.  He believed in peace and saw God's plan for how we can live peaceful lives, everyday.

 

REMARKABLE GEORGE FOX

 

-  A Christian with his faith anchored in the Bible, he didn’t write a new belief system in his own image

-  Genuine mystic.

-  Passionate lover of God.

-  Specially chosen and loved.

-  Knew that there was terrible evil in the world.

-  Real clarity on what is right and wrong.

-  Everyone could make the choice between goodness and light or evil and darkness.

-  A genuine egalitarian.

-  Good and generous man who liked people.

-  A kind man concerned for the distressed and vulnerable.

 

     This blog explains how we can use George Fox's belief about God's Plan for living a peaceful life in a violent world.

 

Charlotte Williams, Peacemaker

HOW GOD HELPS US LIVE A PEACEFUL LIFE

 
God has created us in the His Image so that we may be like Him, peaceful, loving and good.
God gave us His Son, Christ the Light, who lives within us and enlightens us.
God is within every person and we may speak to that God within others.
God has placed us in His Kingdom here on earth and we will live in His Kingdom in Heaven for eternity.
God shows us how to live a simple life and share with others.


WE ARE  CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD

We are created in the His Image so may be like Him, peaceful, loving and good.

Being created in the Image of God means that everyone may:

• be pure
• be holy
• be righteous
• live good, moral lives
• know right from wrong
• love others
• live a peaceful life

Because we are created in the Image of God our decisions are not completely selfish and self-serving but do consider other people’s wants and needs.

We can live a full life and use the gifts that God has given us.

Part of being in the Image of God is that we can share in the day to day process of creation.

Of course both men and women are created in the Image of God.


CHRIST THE LIGHT LIVES WITHIN US

Christ lives within us as the Light so we are enlightened by Him.

     Christ the Light lives within everyone, helps us, shows us what is right and wrong.

     Christ the Light said, “I am the way who doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world, and no man cometh to the Father but by me, every man having a light from Christ the way, it leads to the Father.”

     The Light comes from and gives knowledge of God.

     The Light is within us.  He is with us everywhere no matter where we are or whom we are with.

 THE LIGHT IS WITHIN US TO LOVE, PROTECT AND TEACH US           


WE CAN FIND, OR ANSWER, THE GOD IN OTHERS

We may find God in everyone and speak to that God within them.

Answering means having empathy and showing courtesy and respect for others.

     To find the God or the Good within every person the truth, goodness and purity within one person speaks to the truth, goodness and purity in the other person.

     We can understand others, have empathy with them, respond to that which is equal, just, and true in ourselves and in every other person.

     We are courteous and show respect for the other person.

GOD’S KINGDOM

 We live in God’s Kingdom now and forever.

     Peacemakers live in God’s Kingdom which is both "come" and "coming." It is "come;" present within each person who tries to do God’s will. It is also "come" with Christ reigning over the world. The Kingdom "coming." is the final stage of humanity.

     This Kingdom will never be destroyed. God’s goodness will become the everyday standard for the universe.

     This Kingdom is not a human kingdom but spiritual and eternal. We live in it now and forever.

A SIMPLE LIFE

We may live a simple life and share with others.

     A life as a peacemaker is not possible unless one lives a simple life. The two essential elements of the simple life are equality and sharing.

     Because God creates us in His Image and lives within us as the Light, we are members of His family. This makes everyone equal.

     Sharing means to take only our fair share in the first place and then give away our surplus.

GOD CREATES US IN HIS IMAGE

     God creates men and women in His own Image. Everyone may be like God, pure, holy, perfect and righteous. These are moral characteristics. What Fox seems to be saying is that we may be like God in that we may live good moral lives. We are in God's Image in that we know right from wrong, good from evil. We are capable of loving others, of living a peaceful life, of being pure and chaste.

     Because God creates us in His Image and lives within us as the Light, we have great value and may be truly human. Our decisions need not be completely selfish and self-serving but may consider other people’s wants and needs. We may live a full life and use the gifts that God has given us.

     It is possible to lose the Image of the Creator and to be driven from God on the earth. For some people are out of the Image of the Creator and set up images of strange gods made of stone and wood. But if we dwell in the Light and wait upon God, He will renew His Image. Christ Jesus redeems men and women up into the image of God as we were before we fell. In Christ it becomes clear what being in the Image of God means.

WE ARE CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE

     The biblical underpinning for this belief is Genesis 1: 27: So God created man in His own Image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

     This means that we may be like God, pure, holy, perfect and righteous. These are moral characteristics.

     What Fox seems to be saying is that we may be like God in that we may live good moral lives.

     
     Of course, Fox believes that God creates both men and women in His Image.


     In marriage men and women are restored and sanctified in the image of God. The couple are help-meets in righteousness in the image of God. Everyone is to be a new man or woman, renewed in the Image of God.


        An image is a copy, not the real thing. For we certainly are not God; God is radically different from us. However, we are in God's Image in that we know right from wrong, good from evil. God is Love. One way in which we are in the Image of God is that we may love Him in return.

    
     Part of being in the Image of God is that we share in the day-to-day process of creation, have children, do a job well, write a story, have a garden. We have a responsibility for the environment, are kings and queens over creation and all creatures.

    
     We may lose or fall from the Image of God, if we turn away from His pure spirit.

     But if we dwell in the Light and wait upon God, He will renew His Image.

     Then we may be made like God, created anew in His Image, pure, holy, perfect and righteous. Sinners may be healed if we dwell in the Light and wait upon God for He may renew His Image.

     Christ Jesus restores faithful men and women into the Image of God and makes them as kings and priests to reign upon the earth. Everyone may be renewed into the Image of God by the Seed Christ. For He redeems man and woman up into the image of God as we were before we fell.

     We are not only created in the Image of God but also “bear” the image of the Just Christ who suffered by the unjust. It would seem to follow that we may be just, too. In 1656 Fox writes in letter 110 to Friends in prison to be examples, patterns to the other prisoners in the Image of the Son of God. In Christ it becomes clear what being in the Image of God means.

    
     Being created in the Image of God means that we are truly human. It means that we are of value because God lives within us. Our decisions are not completely selfish and self-serving but do consider other people’s wants and needs. We may live a full life and use the gifts that God has given us.

    
     To live a complete life we, "should know the Power and Life of Christ’s resurrection, have fellowship with Him in His death so that we will be comfortable to His Image.”

HOW DOES BEING CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD EFFECT OUR EVERYDAY LIVES?

GOD MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO LIVE A
PEACEFUL LIFE IN A VIOLENT WORLD

CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
CHRIST THE LIGHT LIVES WITHIN US.
FIND GOD IN EVERY OTHER PERSON.
LIVE IN GOD'S KINGDOM ON EARTH;

LIVE IN GOD'S KINDOM IN HEAVEN.
LIVE A SIMPLE LIFE AND SHARE WITH OTHERS.

GOD CREATES US IN HIS IMAGE
    
     We are the best human beings that we can be. Our decisions are not completely selfish and self-serving but do consider other people’s wants and needs. We can live a full life and use the gifts that God has given us.

     Part of being in the Image of God is that we can share in the day to day process of creation.

     Of course both men and women are created in the Image of God.


AN IMAGE IS A COPY NOT THE REAL THING
    
     An image is a copy, not the real thing. For we certainly are not God; God is radically different from us. However, we are in God's image in that we know right from wrong, good from evil. We are capable of loving others, of living a peaceful life, of being pure and chaste.

Created in the Image of God means

that we are truly human;

that we are of value because God lives within us;

that we may share, in a very small way, with God in Creation.

HOW DOES BEING CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD EFFECT OUR EVERYDAY LIVES?

On Being a Business Person in the Image of God.

     No matter how much it may  be to a self-perceived advantage, we are not to wrong any man or woman, covet the possessions of others, oppress anyone, live highly on other men’s means, go beyond our capacity, nor reach after things more than we can justly perform.

     We are to keep out of debt and keep our word in all our dealings.

     Any person who has done a wrong to anyone should be held accountable and must make restitution speedily.

CHRIST THE LIGHT LIVES WITHIN EVERYONE

CHRIST THE LIGHT LIVES WITHIN EVERYONE

     The Light is within us. He is with us everywhere no matter where we are or whomever we are with. We should love the Light within.

      The Light calls us to repentance. He sets a watch over all our thoughts, words, and actions. He also helps us so that we can change, and will give us the strength, the courage to give up whatever we are doing wrong.

     Secretly, the Light will lead us out of darkness.

     Although the Light is many things to Fox, primarily He is Christ. Christ, who knew no sin, was crucified for us in the flesh, buried, rose again the third day by the power of His Father.

     Christ the Light will enlighten us, give us understanding.


ALL MUST BELIEVE

All must believe in the Light Christ who is

• a heavenly Light,
• a divine Light,
• a saving Light,
• the Light of the Glory of God.

 The Light is Power. This power will shake the earth and remove it out of its place.


BE CONTENT IN THE LIGHT


     In the Light we receive the love of God. Be content in the Light for It is comfort, wisdom, love and mercy. The Light is truth, He is pure, He is sufficient.


THE LIGHT CHRIST WILL CLOTHE US

     The Light is spiritual but it gives material support as well. He will clothe us if we love and obey Him.


CHRIST THE LIGHT IS ONE


     There are not individual Lights; the Light is One. The Light is consistent, doesn't differ in different persons, male or female, young or old. Always the same, He doesn't differ throughout time.

     Although the Light is given to all, even to unbelievers, we don't own It.

     Friends should not fear the power of darkness for we have the bright morning Star in our hearts to expel it. All men’s and women’s strength is in the power of God which goes over the power of darkness.

     Everyone should be faithful having on the armor of Light which was before the power of darkness; everyone should walk in Righteousness and Holiness in the Power of God which goes over the power of darkness.

     The Light and the Power of God make an end to all unholiness.

     We may know the Light and taste His  Power. Power is Christ’s name: the Name of Christ who is Power and Light in us all.

     As always for Fox, Christ is the answer. Through His power and strength, we will be able to do all things.

CHRIST THE LIGHT

WHO IS THE LIGHT CHRIST IN WHOM WE MUST BELIEVE?

The Light:

     before the world began
     binder up of the broken
     blots out sin and transgression
     breaks the bonds of iniquity
     bring back that which was driven away
     comes from the Father of Light
     comprehends all ways
     condemns sin
     created all things.
     discovers all things and makes them readily seen
     and understood
     enlightens
     first step to peace
     from Christ Jesus
     gives thee Faith
     gives victory over the world
     justifies us to God
     Kingdom of heaven
     lets us see our sin and saves us from this sin
     lets us see Christ, the way to the Father of
     Light, from whence light comes.
     Life
     lighteth every man that cometh into the world
     Mediator between God and man
     not of the world
     not natural and created
     only way to go to the Father
     peace
     reconciles us to God
     reigns
     restorer and seeker of the lost
     saves us from sin
     spiritual and eternal
     True Light by whom the world was made
     True Light who was glorified with the Father
     True light who lighteth every man and woman way, truth, and
     life
     way leads to the Father
     wisdom which comes from above