Quakers often speak of the “inner light” or the belief of “God in every person.” This refers to John 1:9 “[That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” We interpret this verse to mean that every person is made in the image of God and has the inherent ability to respond to the gospel. We believe that the Holy Spirit can dwell within us and open our eyes to the Scriptures.
As in most denominations, there are liberal Quakers who do not believe in the infallibility of the Bible. There are some very well-known liberal Quakers who presume to speak for the majority. Many have misinterpreted certain beliefs of the Quakers.
Sadly, liberal Quakers have misinterpreted John 1:9 to mean that every person has God in them and has no need to respond to the gospel. Many liberal Quakers believe that they receive “new” revelations from the “inner light” that are on a par with the Bible. Unfortunately, people holding these heresies have sometimes caused Quakers to be looked on as a cult. This is not what true Quakers believe.
– Sandy Boswell