Amish People - From America’s Dutch Country a Lesson for the Whole World
By Michael Bresciani (10/06/06)
After the gruesome execution style slayings of five young Amish girls the
Amish community responded with something that only those who are
spiritually numb could fail to see. Why is this so important?
In early October 2006 Charles Carl Roberts a 32 year old truck driver
brutally shot down five young Amish Girls in the town of Nickel Mines
Pennsylvania. Following this slaughter of innocent children the news media
made fair coverage but the tragedy was quickly overshadowed by the news
about e-mails sent to a congressional page by Florida congressman Mark
Foley. Now the debate rages about the resignation of House Speaker Dennis
Hastert who allegedly had full knowledge of Foley’s behavior.
Commenting on the indiscretions of congressmen Foley one commentator said
“the real issue is keeping our children safe.” Some have equated just
sending our children to a public school could be the equivalent of
criminal negligence. Safe? If police presence, metal detectors and drug
sniffing dogs can’t do that, then what will? God forbid we hold Hollywood
and the media culpable. A sex and violence drenched media, a cesspool like
ocean of internet porn, a money hungry pop culture full of sexually fired
music and images, just couldn’t be what makes our schools unsafe. Naw!
Our children bring those sounds and images with them every day to the
public halls of learning and there they create a social peer community in
layers. Each layer with its own appointed appellation to keep the strata’s
uniquely separate like geek, jock etc. etc. Some kids describe it as
something like “hell” itself. Home schooling, private schools and other
means of escaping the public school experience are now being sought by
millions as relief. Until recently, perhaps becoming a member of an Amish
community might have been an option by which to save children from the
public school horror show.
The Amish don’t recruit or evangelize but they will accept people who are
serious about joining and have fully acquainted themselves with all the
Amish customs and rules. In Pennsylvania Dutch country the website of The
Fulton Steamboat Inn answers the question "Can an outsider join the Amish
church/community?"
"A local Amishman recently remarked, "You do not need to move here to
adopt a lifestyle of simplicity and discipleship. You can begin wherever
you are." Yes, it is possible for outsiders, through conversion and
convincement, to join the Amish community, but we must quickly add that it
seldom happens. First, the Amish do not evangelize and seek to add
outsiders to their church. Second, outsiders would need to live among the
Amish and demonstrate a genuine conversion experience and faith that
results in a changed lifestyle. Third, it is extremely difficult for
anyone who has not been raised without electricity, automobiles, and other
modern conveniences to adjust to the austere lifestyle of the Amish. And
to truly be a part of the Amish community one would need to learn the
Pennsylvania Dutch dialect."
It may not be easy to get in the Amish community and very few from the
outside ever do but what comes out of that community is something we
should take a long look at…and maybe we can learn something.
With his head turned away from the camera the grandfather of two of the
slain girls described a scene that could rip the heart out of anyone.
While holding the two in his arms they drew their last breath and expired
in his loving arms. On Wednesday October 5 2006 a CNN news women asked him
what his feelings were towards the gunmen Charles Roberts. He relied with
“we forgive him.” But the story doesn’t end there. The news women then
asked “how can you do this?” In a short reply he said “With God’s help.”
All those who glibly put down the entire Christian church and its message
with “Oh, the church is just full of hypocrites” can see by this single
remark that the church is not quite “full” of the fakers. Here is a
profession of faith being put to practice that only someone without brain,
heart or conscience could fail to see.
We live in an era where Islam is threatening to kill people for anything
they consider insulting to it, much less for not joining it. Hatred seems
to be the driving force behind what has been almost jokingly referred to
as a “peaceful religion.” Add to this worldwide perverted idea of God,
western civilization’s penchant for sleaze, violence and sex and the
statement made by the grandfather of the two slain Amish girls looks like
a welcome light from the shore in a turbulent storm that threatens to
drown the world itself.
People who are genuinely searching often pass by the ceremonies, liturgies
and general religious hokey pokey and keep searching until they find
something that gives real meaning to life and life itself. That search
ends for most people when they discover the power of God’s love. He
doesn’t crack the whip of judgment until all else has failed. That is why
all judgment is reserved until the end.
Through Christ the gift of salvation is offered freely but it is only free
to the taker, the giver paid the very highest price to purchase it by his
death on the cross. It was there where the greatest example of forgiveness
the world will ever see was fully displayed. Writhing in anguish and pain
Christ looked upward to God the Father and cried “Father, forgive them;
for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
Forgiving us was the costliest thing in the world for Christ and for us to
forgive each other also has a high price attached to it. The world view of
forgiveness is that it is a show of weakness. This notion is not just off
by a few degrees it is diametrically opposite the truth. Forgiveness is
the costliest matter on earth and it the most powerful substance known to
man. It dwarfs the implications of E=MC2 and cheapens the price of gold.
America and the world community are undergoing a transfer from the forces
and wrangling of mere ideologies to the heretofore ignored implications of
theologies. A loving Savior or a wrathful and vengeful God as presented by
Islam are the only choices. Those who have previously remained aloof to
these theologies are finding that they can not escape the turbulence that
is now emerging as an outgrowth from them.
Now and then a great reflection of the mercy of God shown to us through
forgiveness comes across the waves. One gentlemanly old Amish grandfather
has just sent a bright light along with those who share his faith. We can
only hope that all churches and the whole world will not let this beam of
light be blocked out by the raging storm of societies other urgencies’ and
distractions.
Rev Bresciani is the Author of two Christian books. His articles are read
around the globe both online and in print. Please enjoy a visit to
http://www.americanprophet.org
(Printer friendly version) Email: Michael Bresciani
