What are Friends attitudes toward sacraments and Scripture?
Most Friends do not observe the sacraments in their outward forms. Water baptism is at best a symbol of the true baptism of the Holy Spirit and of fire, which is inward without the need of human agency. Communion with the elements of wine (or juice) and bread is at best a symbol of the true communion with the Holy Spirit, which is inward and continual, without the need of human agency. The Holy Bible was very precious to George Fox, and he saw clearly that to understand the Scriptures, one must read them in the same Spirit that inspired those who wrote them. Reliance upon the Inner Light led some Friends in the Eighteenth Century to decreased emphasis upon the Bible. Christian Friends know that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the [person] of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
