How does the experience of participating in the varieties of Protestantism differ to that of Anabaptists like the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Amish or followers of Menno Simons (Mennonites), to name some of the more widely known groups? Take Congregationalism: worship each week normally gives attention to both Old and New Testament readings and interpretation. Private or small group Bible study may take place during the week. There is belief in the Trinity aspect of God, combining both the human manifestation in Jesus of Nazareth and the Holy Spirit, along with God the Creator of all. Watchwords are "praise and giving thanks" when engaging in worship of God each Sunday morning, or when praying alone or with others.
By comparison, the watchword for Mennonites and Quakers seems to be "peace [on earth] and social justice." So the attention and efforts are focused on doing the example shown by Jesus. The Praise/Thanksgiving element is not absent or anathema, but the emphasis is on right thinking and right actions; being mindful in the choices to act or intentionally not to (re)act. So the Kingdom of God is in one's own heart, but also in one's actions. The Old Testament God is not very evident, nor is the Jewishness of Jesus and those related teachings. Experiences of God by Quakers, according to one online video by the Watford (England) Friends, describes how each person understands the Creator in individual terms, images and meanings which change over the course of one's lifetime of growth and direction. As a worshiping group, it is not important to define God for all to follow. Instead the power of shared worship is mutual support, aid, respect and hearkening to the Inner Light as something of the Holy Spirit to lead one's life.
In conclusion, are these two ways of understanding God's story, presence and direction contradictory or mutually exclusive of the other? Surely they connect to one another, but the point of emphasis and the number of things to juggle when trying to understand the whole matter and then resolve to respond is different. With the Quakers and Mennonites, the emphasis is on action and individual understanding of the Word of God; it is forward directed. With the mainline Protestants (northern Europe's roots for Lutheran, Presbyterian, Congregational, Methodist, perhaps Baptist –if not allied instead with the Anabaptist roots) the emphasis is divided between understanding God of the OT and God-on-Earth of the NT. Order of Worship, familiar music making, and the Church Year go round and round giving comfort and repeating structure to worshipers across their lifetimes as their interest and capacity for faith waxes and wanes. The church body rather than the individual seems to be the main subject among the Protestants, compared to the Anabaptists. As a result the group members come and go, but the organization sails along with a feeling of unchanging equilibrium.
