Persecution Meant Success! by Roberts Liardon

During those physical, violent attacks, Fox would simply stand (when he could), brush off his leather pants, and walk away, deeply satisfied that persecution meant the hand of God was upon him.

It was a good thing that Fox viewed persecution as a motivation because, as we continue, your heart will break at the suffering he and those who followed his teachings endured. No one in his right mind would love to be beaten upon. Persecution only motivates a person when he understands it by the Spirit.



Fox judged the success of his ministry by one of two ways. Either sinners would be converted, and that meant success, or he would be thrown out and many times beaten, which meant success because his message had made the devil mad. Either way he couldn’t lose. Fox’s mind-set regarding persecution was more than just positive thinking. Fox was a prophet, who, like the apostles in the book of Acts, rejoiced at being counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ. Persecution and suffering motivated him into knowing he was following the right path.



They Quake at the Word of God!



In 1649, Fox’s famous description for the direction of the Holy Spirit as the "inner light" became a common cliché. He based that terminology on John 1:4, which says, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." In fact, Fox didn’t stop with that one Scripture. The books of John and 1 John specifically tie the light of God to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Fox believed that the inner light would lead anyone into truth, as long as the person followed it, and he based that belief on many Scriptures. There was nothing New Age or spooky about the way he interpreted it; it was biblical. But it made the Calvinists wild with rage!



By now those who had been converted by his itinerant teachings had grown into quite a group, and they began to hold their own meetings. His followers and converts began to assemble together, and, sitting in silence, they would wait until the Holy Spirit moved one to witness in prayer or speech or song. If the Holy Spirit didn’t move, the group would disassemble, reflecting quietly upon their relationship with the Lord.



During this time, it was the furthest thing from Fox’s mind to begin another denomination. Still, his followers were called certain titles to distinguish them from the others. "Children of the Light," "People of God," "Royal Seed of God," or "Friends of the Truth," were some of the names they were labeled. In the end, the latter name won the most favor, hence the modern name, "Religious Society of Friends" or "Friends Society." This name was again based on Scripture. John 15:13–15 says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you" (emphasis added). You can see from these verses how strong the foundation was within the group for the leading and direction of the Holy Spirit. In the early days of the Quakers, the Holy Spirit was given total preeminence.



Throughout Fox’s life, he would be imprisoned nearly a hundred times. In 1650, Fox was imprisoned for the first time on the sole charge of blasphemy. Questioned by a group of clergy, he was cursed for saying that he and his followers had no sin. Fox corrected them by stating that through Jesus Christ all were made free from sin if they learned how to follow the Holy Spirit. Refusing to hear him, they threw him in jail for six months.



During this imprisonment, Fox rebuked a justice, telling him he should tremble at the Word of God. The justice scornfully mocked Fox and his followers, calling them Quakers in reference to Fox’s rebuke about trembling. The label, Quaker, stuck—partly because they were known to shake or tremble in their meetings. This was due to the intense presence of the Holy Spirit coming upon them strongly.



About Roberts Liardon



Roberts Liardon Roberts Liardon is an accomplished author, public speaker, spiritual leader, church historian, and humanitarian. He has authored more than 50 books, which have sold over 7 million copies worldwide and have been re-printed in more than 50 languages. His ministry headquarters is located in Sarasota, Florida.