Amish

What do Amish people believe?

 

You know, it's funny. I live within about thirty minutes of Lancaster PA, the largest Amish community in the world. I shop with them. I know several of them. But if you were to ask what they believe (as you just did) I couldn't tell you.

My mother has an Amish handyman named Ephraim who let us ride in his buggy with him once.

 

Oh man, once we get to trying to "convert" the Amish, that's when I say enough is enough. The idea that a rich culture might be destroyed because of our well meaning intentions.

Shouldn't we be going after unsaved people first?

 

We live in an amish community and my husband works with them. They are very strong in their beliefs. If you read their articles of faith as we have you would think the are straight on their salvation doctrine. It gets pretty tricky dealing with them though. They behave in such a way that you would question their belief in works and security. Each set of amish believe differently. So I would say, you have to know the people you are dealing with. I will say this-the amish we live with have been better friends to than most of the people we have gone to church with and have helped us when we needed it.

 

Here's some information on the Amish tradition:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/amish.htm

 

Let them be. Some>most Amish don't appreciate meddling, and should any of their family members accept the outside ways then there is a high likelihood of them being shunned. My wife was born and raised in Lancaster Co, PA, been around a lot of Amish folks. I have no problem with them as they are.

 

Good website!

Jeff, I too like the amish but the ones where we live do not believe immersion is necessary for baptism and during services the women have to turn their backs during the reading of scripture. I do not understand why they would do that. Any ideas?

 

As for immersion, since it is non-salvic in Amish and Baptist theology, it isn't worth the arguement and pain it would cause. However, I was under the impression that they do immerse, although face first. I have seen some Mennonite's baptize, and they used that mode in that way. Since the Amish are branches of the Mennonites, (My family physician is a Mennonite, and we have discussed their beliefs on occasion). I would have assumed the same or at least something very similar. As for the women turning their back during scripture readings, I wasn't aware of that, and can't comment.

 

Though not consistent throughout all the branches, the main Amish/Mennonite mode of baptism is by pouring. Don't know anything about the women and the scripture reading.

 

You are saying that lost people are okay in their condition? You know, the more I read of primitive theology, the more the lines really are defined.

 

I don't consider them lost, and they are able to spread the gospel to their own without interference from outsiders.

PTW, BTW, why do you hate us Primitive Baptists so much?

 

It is apparent that Jeff did not even intimate these Amish were 'eternally lost.' But that he regards their freedom and liberty to worship after the dictates of their conscience to be respected. Are the Amish going to hell because they do not fully understand Gospel doctrines or pratices?

Jesus did not think so. When the perfect opportunity arose for Jesus to straighten out some errant brethren and forbid them to worship He chose to leave us a good example by saying, "Forbid him not." (Lk9:50)

Likewise, when Paul confronted a difference in understanding which day of the week should be respected above another he simply said, "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." (Rom 14:5c)

When Jeff Weaver basically expressed the Amish be left alone he was not saying he was content on seeing them vanquish in eternal hell. He was simply speaking of their freedom or liberty to worship the way they wanted.

Much of what we see in other believer's lives reflects more on Gospel issues here in this time's experience, as the references above noted. Lets leave the eternal destiny up to God's covenant grace (2Tim1:9) and not man's erroneous works! Anyway, only God can judge the heart.

Jeptha

 

why on earth would you think their souls are lost? Just because they chose to live seperate from the world as the bible says we should? Sprinkling vs. immersion shouldn't even be an issue because the difference doesn't even come close to determining a person's salvation.

The only thing I've seen so far that I don't agree with is their stance on music. They don't use it because they think it is worldly, while I think it is from God (not all music). Of coarse, that's no reason to try to convert them. I think they are to be respected and admired for doing away with the influences of the world. They are surely more pure in their life than we are.

 

do the amish share the gospel, or have they written the world off as lost?

 

Jason1,

Where do you get they don't do music? The ones we live around sing but no instruments in church, but they have instruments and we get together with them and play gospel music. Also, they have singings all the time.