Shakers - More than Chair Makers
So:
This weekend we watched a Ken Burns documentary about The Shakers, an enigmatic and eccentric Chri
stian group that reached its height in the 1800's. The Shakers received their name from the frantic dancing and gyrating that often accompanied their worship; a modern day example would be some Pentecostal churches (absolutely no offense intended). It's interesting to me that their style of worship was so passionate, because everything else about their lives: clothing, lifestyle, work, and yes, the furniture seemed rather dull or drab, constructed for utility rather than ornament. If you've seen a Shaker chair, you would observe that there is no extra beams, no unneccesary flourishes or additions.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Shakers was their view of marriage and celibacy. Everyone who wanted to join a Shaker community had to sign "the covenant," the most important aspect being the absolution of any marital and parental relationships. So, when your family joined, your wife became your "sister," and your husband your "brother," and your children became the spiritual siblings of the entire adult community. It's interesting that the Shakers held this belief, because without it I have no doubt that they would have become one of the most influential religious communities in early American history. They chose to grow their community through converts, not procreation, and I do applaud their efforts in that regard. However, because of their unwillingness to sanctify marriage, the Shakers today number less than a dozen.
When asked why they held to such a doctrine, their answer was simple: "We strive to live completely like Jesus in this world. He was not married, therefore we are not to be married."
Of course, I disagree with their ideas based upon many scriptural considerations. 1 Timothy 4 warns us explicitly of teachers who would forbid marriage, denouncing the idea as a "doctrine of demons." However, I do appreciate very much where they are coming from. The idea of singleness and celibacy is often sidelined in churches today, and many who feel the desire to remain celibate are pressured to heed the call of the church to be married. I think we need to understand marriage in a more scriptural light.
In the Bible, marriage is a beautiful thing, an earthly picture of the spiritual relationship betwen Christ and the church. It was God, and not man, who initiated the first marriage in the Garden of Eden. Hebrews 13:4 says "marriage is honorable, and the bed undefiled." When speaking of the "reasons" to get married, however, there seems to be only two explicit reasons for people to do so: to avoid sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 7:2) and to avoid gossip and becoming a busybody (1 Timothy 5:11-14). Now, there are many implicit reasons to get married that remain unstated in the Scripture, I do not deny that. However, we must agree with Paul's statement that "he who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord--how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world--how he may please his wife" (1 Corinthians 7:32-33). Paul does not denounce marriage because of these facts, nor pronounce celibacy as the only truly holy route. He is simply stating a fact: this is how it is. I am not denigrating marriage nor elevating singleness to a higher plane. We as the church must understand the necessity and perils of both walks of life. As one of my favorite teachers put it, it's a choice between "a golden anchor or the wings of eagles."
One thing I must also say: the Shakers would probably be denounced today for their withdrawal from most of soc
iety and their communal living. Today, the message is "we must be in the world and not of it." Again, this ideal is supported by many scriptural passages. However, open to debate is how much we are to be in the world. I have to be honest, these Shakers were a darn sight more spiritual and more loving that most Christians today. The Christian mantra of "in the world and not of it" is often no more than a pale excuse to justify watching movies that you'd normally be ashamed of, listening to music that most would call morally repugnant, spending money on folly and wasteful things.
The Shakers did not cut off all ties to society. In fact, because of their true and great love for one another, society flocked to them. There were the "winter shakers," so-called because when the weather turned they would confess the faith and receive shelter and food for the entire winter. They would "fall away" as soon as the weather turned more agreeable. However, in spite of knowing that these people were taking advantage of their hospitality, they never turned them away. When they realized that thieves were coming in the night and stealing some of their crops, they planted extra rows, enough to feed themselves, the crows, and the thieves, as they put it. In their worship they would leave the doors open. They never put up fences or guarded their property as if it was something they truly had a claim in.
As I ended the movie, I realized that I had been shaken (pardon the pun) to the core. Despite their doctrinal shortcomings, the Shakers had a richer spiritual life and a real love that most of us Christians don't even dare dream of. I know that most of you out there have felt a lack in your Christian life and experience at one time or another. You have felt that something's missing. Now, I'm not suggesting that we all move in together (at least not right away), but I do want us to meditate on our lives as they stand now. The question is not so much, What are we missing, but, What are we adding? What are we piling on top of our Christian confession and living that drowns us in spiritual shallowness? This is not so much a preaching as it is a heart's cry, from my heart to yours, that you all would encourage me to live a bold life of faith, and that I would encourage you to do the same.
And that's all I have to say about that.
posted by Team Kerbel @ 11:18 AM
18 Comments:
Good post and nice thoughts balancing the Gospel against this more radical type of biblical stance.
Brad
Simon-
You again write extremely well. Thank you for that well balanced take on the shakers. I've recently been impressed with three different Morman friends of mine at work. While, I'm certain I disagree with them doctrinaly, I've been impressed on more than one occasion of their strong work ethic and diligent attitude. All too often we close our ears to people groups that really have a lot to teach us even though we may disagree on several things. This is a strong lesson that God has been impressing on me. Thanks for the share and get back to writing your book. Peace.
Legge bear...
I think we can learn a lot from each other, and both us of can learn even more from God's word and Jesus's examples of living the Christian life on earth.
I think the Shakers were on to something in their attempt to live as closely to how Jesus lived as they could.
I just think they took it too far, like you said.
I felt like this after watching The Devil's Playground about the Amish.
They have a point:
They live as far away from the "world" as possible--hoping to not be corrupted by evil things. They take some things too far and they have an odd way of dealing with their teenaged children (hence the focus of the movie) but I like their simplistic lifestyle and their willingness to sacrifice all the modern stuff we come to hold so dear.
Great post Simon.
Wonderful post! Well said!
Excellent post - and thanks for sharing it with us over at blogs4God. Hope we rendered it to your liking.
http://www.blogs4god.com/node/373
I'm looking forward to watching the documentary now that I've read your report...
I almost stopped reading early on after:
"absolutely no offense intended"
are you serious? how can you possibly think you could make a statement like that and not offend someone?
but I'm glad I forced myself to look past that faux pas and read the rest of the article...
Simon: I've got to chime in with Nile and voice my offense. Wow. I was so offended after I read that statement that I puked all over my cubicle and I got fired. Thanks a lot.
;)
Actually it's funny you mention this because I've been watching the great film, Witness. Which is about the Amish community. It does look peaceful and in many ways they seem to have the right idea about stuff. Still I think that they've missed the point of freedom in Christ and by separating themselves from the world they're also being disobediant to the great commision. But I do agree that we could learn quite a bit from them.
I sincerely did not mean for the comment to create offense, and I don't think that it's necessary to be offended at the comment. I like the fact that some churches dance and move and shake for Jesus. It is not my style of worship, though if God prodded me to dance in worship I would not consider it an attack of the devil. I made a modern-day comparison, not to pass judgment on those who practice such things, but for the readers to gain insight into a unique characteristic of the Shakers. I cannot imagine a Pentecostal being offended at my comment if it is truthful; but I do apologize if any were offended.
Levi: wow, we like must have been writing at the same time; but you beat me to the comment punch. Now I know how that guy on Jeopardy feels who swears that his buzzer is slower and less responsive than the other guy's.
Witness is an awesome movie, with a great story. Harrison Ford is so young that he could have reasonably been voted "sexiest man alive" (rather than receiving that honor fifty years later, when he had "aged" a bit).
I agree with your points about the Shakers missing our "freedom in Christ" and the great commission. I think that in some ways communal living dictates creating more rules than if we all lived separately, but you're right, many Christian communities would rather live by rules than by God's grace. Simply put, it's easier that way, and you're less likely to step on other's toes.
In my own life, I've often struggled to balance the great commission with the idea of living a simple and quiet life, which we are also admonished to do. Since I feel that I have been called to raise a family, I consider that my main calling and mission field. But I do not want to become ingrown and share only with my family. It's easy to love your family; it's much harder to open your doors wide to those who are harder to love.
Hi :)
My name's Victoria E & I just surfed onto your blog from BlogExplosion. Since I'm here, checking out your thoughts, I figured I'd take the time to say hi.
Victoria E
http://victoria-e.com/wordpress
This is a really great post. I'm not a Christian, but I used to be and I agree with some of your ideas. The Shakers probably had a richer spiritual life than most people of almost all denominations today.
I enjoyed this post. I think I may go watch that documentary now.
The shakers were kind of like a commune or a cult. I guess that's why they couldn't last. Great furniture though!
Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake your booty, shake your booty...
That was very interesting. I would have liked to seen that documentary.
Interesting read. You have some great thoughst here again. I didn't know much about the shakers beyond the furniture, but I find it interesting that they had such intense worship, and yet the furniture reflects simpleness.
My name is Ray and I just started a new blog about the confession. Its a place where you can chat about the confession confidentially. I hope you will come and check out www.MySecretConfessionSpace.com. Thanks for letting me post on your site.
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