Trouble In Amish Paradise

[damo1]

Trouble in Amish Paradise

this topic is not set up to pick on the amish people i know some members dont take the time to read what a member puts in worthy forums i dont want what happend last time when i placed a topic to were i was asked and then i noticed certain members began acusing and atacking with out reading what i had said at the start of my old topic so please be respectful

i was watching compas on sunday night its a program i like it comes on in australia on abc very late

it was on the amish people and two members who were excommunicated for questioning the bishops power full rules

with the way the world is changing and the way we have advanced with all the new technology i got to say this the amish people are not budging the amish people have stuck to ther old ways the simple life no electricity no modern technology in ther homes they work hard they look after each other they listen to ther bishops they realy pul together and help some one in ther flock

compas was alowed to see the way the amish live compas was even alowed to interview the two men compas realy showed respect towards the men and ther familys and the amish people them selves a posative out come tho at the end the amish community came behind one couple ther girl was sick and the whole community pitched in

the amish came to america 300 years ago and settled in pennsylvania

as i watched the program and listened to the two amish men questioning the bishops rules and the way they are discipled i thought to my self i am blessed to have a pastor and elders and leaders who care i am blessed that i have a father who cares for me i either drive or catch the bus to work some times i will walk into civic and walk back to were i live only half an hours walk

i am blessed that i have the phone so i can talk with my fiance and even the inter net were i can talk to my fiance threw yaho keep up with my new friends that the lord has put in my path i am able to catch up with what is going on in my fiances country and around the world and my x wife can cal me on the phone any time she wants and so can my son i am even blessed that i have my mobil phone i can receive phone cals recieve tex messages and send mesages and ring from my mobil phone

have the bishops got it right are they leading ther flock right or are the bishops leading ther flock on a dangerous path were they risk being rebuked by god the loyal amish people dont question ther bishops like thes two amish men have and by questioning the bishops thes two men and ther familys have been excomunicated from the flock ther wifes cant talk to ther female friends and ther kids cant play with the kids in ther school or in ther own neighbourhood until they meet with the bishops

i realy feel sorry for the two men and ther familys yet at the same time they were the ones who decided to join and take on the bishops teachings

if our pastors were to say take that stance with us were we were told one sunday for now on if you tend to be part of this denomination and tend to want to fellowship with us you wil have to sell your car you wil have to close your phone acount with the phone company you are with you will have to close down your internet account sell your computer your tv your dvd player get rid of your kids play station and other toys they have even ther stereos in ther rooms and tvs your boats your second holiday home and other spare car and being told you cant travel over seas including mobil phones

would you be able to handle it would you do as you are told or as a humen being would you question your pastor your elders and your leaders

i thought to my self ther would be no way that i could do this it would not be fair on me or my fiance or even my boy

then i looked at it this way it has its ups you are saving money your not paying for the electricity you use you are not paying for the gas you use or phone bill mobil bill and inter net bill thes bills seem to come in at the same time the amish people have money to spare and have lived like this for 300yrs not ever wondering what it would be like to play with the new technology we are so use to having in our own homes

one advantage i would not have to shave al the time i like that letting my beard go but with the work i do i have to shave and my fiance has put her foot down she does not want me growing a full beard or even a gotie every time we chat on line she wants to see threw that darn web cam a clean shaven face if i miss say shaving my face for two days she can tell

if you want to see the program i just saw on sunday the 12th googl compass abc trouble in amish paradise when you are in the site look for trouble in amish paradise may be nebula if she is reading this could set up a link or one light i am still not able to do this i want to learn so if you are reading this nebula could you do this for me it can be viewed on line the whole show

damo1

[Guest TheChief]

I am not, nor have I ever been, Amish

I have attended a Conservative Mennonite congregation where the member's lives were controlled through the church proper. I was never, nor will I ever, be a full member.

No radios, no television, no computer or Internet (without prior approval of the Bishops). Cars were OK, as long as the color was plain and the radios and antennas were removed. Nothing ostentatious (like a Corvette).

No movies, no dances, no hanging out at the local Mall.

Ladies were to dress in plain (or small-print) full length dresses with or without capes or aprons. Makeup and jewelry are forbidden. Hair is to remain uncut. Prayer veilings are mandatory. Men's clothing, likewise, is to be plain. Frock coats are to have no collars. Hair is to be kept short. While beards are permitted, moustaches are frowned upon.

Now...after seeing all this, and having the men of the church attempt to show me the "error" of my worship, church (I come from a Baptist background), and ways, I could only think of one word -

Legalism

Before you think I use this term ill-advisedly, please understand there is "more to the story."

One aspect of their doctrine that, while admirable, doesn't always work is that of nonresistance. This is not to be confused with pacifism, which has a political overtone. I served in the military for 20 years as a combatant; this set me off to the men of the church, who had no experience with military men. Their goal at the time was to show me that I am to follow in Christ's footsteps and "turn the other cheek," not exchanging "evil for evil." Funny, the brothers never did explain to me what the eternal fate would be for those who were on the front lines assuring their continued right to exercise their nonresistance.

Further, we discovered that the congregation held to very strict views concerning Sundays. When they said no work was to be accomplished on the Lord's day, they meant it! Our commute to attend services was 3 1/2 hours one was (about 150 miles); a brother and sister saw us on the way to the sanctuary as we stopped to get gas in the van. Nothing was said, but that next week my wife got a "letter of concern" from the ladies of the church, laying out their case for the sinfulness of working (of any kind) on Sunday. To them, it was less important that we spent the time and effort to show up every week than it was that we didn't get fuel to get there, if needed.

The way things are supposed to work is, if there is a problem within the family that needs to be addressed, the brothers are supposed to contact the man of the house, and we work towards a solution. This did not happen; instead, they foisted the problem onto the ladies of the church, attempting an end run (seeing as they didn't think they could get anywhere with me).

Damo, to answer your question - yes, I would (and have!) questioned my Bishops, and expected concise answers to my questions. These were not forthcoming. The usual response is to send us to the book "Doctrines of the Bible," by Kauffman for the answers. Unfortunately, these answers are not completely relevant to today (the doctrine, not the scripture therein!).

I believe that Jesus has granted us liberty, and no man has the right to subourn us to the will of "the congregation" unless we so choose to be.

[Burning_Ember]

It's hard work and sacrifice living in an Amish Paradise.

[Silver Shadow]

It's hard work and sacrifice living in an Amish Paradise.

We sell Quilts at discount price, living in an Amish Paradise!

[damo1]

thanks the chief

yes i can understand what it must have been for you thes two men were only new to the amish community the young guy who was excomunicated was being helped by the second guy who went threw what this young guy is going threw they had ther home and the car was very new he was doubting and they were discussing on who is a criminal who is a fornicator and who can come to the prayer meetings basicaly they were going over what paul said this is the verse the young man was discussing

1 corinthians 6

9 or do you not know that the unrighteous wil not inherit the kingdom of god do not be deceived neither the sexually immoral idolators nor adulterers nor man who practises homsexuality

10 nor theives nor the greedy nor drunkards nor revilers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of god

you could see he was up set and said i am niether of thes and they excomunicate me he stated he did not want to let go of the family car and have to get use to riding the bugy

thank you the chief

it must have been hard for you when ther are christians in the army and in the marines

i am watching the next episode next sunday as compass did not say it was the last episode comes on at 10.30pm at night he was welcomed back into the community so i did not get to see him being drilled or hear him question the bishops he just was not sure why some one would be excommunicated for keeping a family car

damo1

[sheya joie]

What did the two young men question the bishops over?

Edited to add: Also, were these two young men recent converts to the Amish way of life, or had they grown up Amish?

Thanks.

[damo1]

What did the two young men question the bishops over?

Edited to add: Also, were these two young men recent converts to the Amish way of life, or had they grown up Amish?

Thanks.

high

they were both new converts the younger one did not like some of the rules he has just grown his beard he was stl very wordly and did not like the bishops stance you can watch the program i watched on tv googl compass abc trouble in amish paradise no ads on ther web site so y will see the hole program i was able to watch it also from my small lap top

he was mad with the bishops excommunicating him and said this is the only reason a member can be banned from the verses i gave from 1 corinthians in my second post

damo1

[georgedrw81]

The day you go to live at the place your girlfriend is then you will discover that you dont need electricity or even running water and your handphone does not work because there is no signal.It might be like amish in a way.It sets your mind free to do other activities.After an experience like that you no longer have desire to buy the latest handphone or tv or any other appliance.

The last sentence of TheChief says it all.

Blessings

[Believer1997]

My husband & I were watching a movie the other day set in Amish country and they were doing a 'barn raising' and there were the men working hard together and the women putting fabulous food on the picnic tables and about the same time - we laughed and said "I wanna be Amish!!!".... I'm sure we wouldn't last 10 minutes in communal living like that, but it was beautiful countryside and it hearkened back to another time - then we changed the channel.... - gotta have that remote!!!

[sheya joie]

Ok, not a surprise that they were converts and not raised Amish. I am a bit surprised, though, that the young men didn't know what would be required of them to live the Amish lifestyle. I'm not Amish, but I know that there would be no electricity and no cars...