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In the central part of the state of Wisconsin there is a strong and thriving Amish community.
Perhaps you do or don't know but there is a religious group called Amish that are known for living very simply, they do not drive cars or trucks, they do not have electricity, their ladies wear head coverings as well as a type of long dress. They live on farms in close knit communities and generally keep to themselves. The true facts most people know about them usually stop right there. Many people who do not understand their ways, make fun of them or spread rumors that have no basis in truth most often. They are of the Christian faith and their roots date back to about the time of the reformation in the 16th century. While we do not agree with some of their theology; we will be the first to admit much of the ways they strive to keep do have biblical roots to them. Examples would be rejecting the carnal worlds ways, modest dress, hard work, home or group schooling and meeting in homes. Please note.... not all Amish are the same so these are general traditions they hold to and can vary group to group.
We are not affiliated with any group ourselves and if you read just a short way into our main blog page you will see that we strive to NOT cling to any man made ways. After deep study we find the Amish are indeed in various areas clinging to man made traditions. As we said they do indeed have much correct according to God's Word and we applaud them for that. They do in fact believe in the basic tenets of the biblical Christian faith and that must be noted. Sadly, they also have strayed and fallen into various biblical errors that they have never come out from. Because we often try to reach out to them in love, we are told to test all things (1 Thess 5:21) and we want others to understand them better; here is a short description of those error's that are not consistent with God's Holy Word.
Most Amish communities often have:
A very WORKS based system of salvation not taught in God's Word ( Ephesians 2:8-9 )
ritual man run gatherings like all the modern places and not spirit led (1 Corinthians 14:26 )
A man made system of "additional" church membership steps (Ephesians 4:4 )
A clannish style of life that shows little love of other brothers outside of their clan (1 John 2:10 )
A policy of holding people in Christ to "pre conversion" sin issues (2 Corinthians 5:17 )
A habit of still practicing what the world does in the pagan Christmas holiday (Romans 12:2 )
A lack of gospel outreach to the lost masses around them (Mark 16:15 )
A poor biblical view/understanding of true salvation (Luke 13:3 )
A ritualistic view of foot washing and the Lords supper (Mark 7 )
A one man ( bishop ruled ) system of body control
A habit of clinging to man's traditions /strange customs not Holy scripture in all things (Matthew 4:4)
Recently I had the chance to witness to a young Amish man when I stopped to buy some of his goods. To my surprise; he did have much very correct from a biblical stand point ( most don't ) and he was very willing to talk about it. He did admit several points that are very lacking in his group. One was that they have NO desire to tell anyone the good news of the gospel when Jesus commanded us to go and proclaim it! Another was after some questioning; he admitted his bishop had some very unbiblical rules/traditions but sadly he and the other men are taught to NEVER test them or ask them about biblical issues. This creates a man ruled/lording over situation that Jesus told His followers NOT to practice. (see matt 20) Thankfully I was able to give him some printed biblical info and I hope to see him again one day out there selling his items as I do enjoy talking with them.
Just like Baptist, Methodist or Lutherans etc the Amish practice a ritualized "going to church on Sunday" mindset and are very religious but most often their spiritual lives are only skin deep. The born again message and greater biblical truth is often not found in their doctrines or in their daily fruit. Another example of error is the very name Amish (and the multi thousands of denominational names today) is a offense to God and they serve only to cause division of those who "may" really be His remnant bride, inside those bodies. Why would we say this and be against these names so strongly you ask? We are not to be Amish or Lutheran or Baptist... we are to be Christ's alone!
The Apostle Paul wrote of this type of man centered division when he said in 1 Corinthians 1:12:
Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
So it seems very clear.... man made divisions and denominational names are "sin" to be repented of.
In Acts 11:26... the early believers were first called Christians ( they followed Christ alone ) and so that is good enough for my wife and I. Any other type of naming or labeling is NOT of God, but of man and to be rejected and called out for what it is.
If you do a quick history of the Amish order you will see their name is derived from their founder, Jacob Ammann. They were actually persecuted and often killed by the very men (reformers ) who got away from the pagan roman catholic faith for the same reasons. Again Jacob had much correct biblically but sadly over time they have fallen into the trap of practicing works based salvation, a ritual like worship / man lorded over bodies and various false traditions that were handed down by pagans, the Luther reformers and others that we must reject as lies. As biblical Berean's (Acts 17) we could never unite with or cling to a group that uses a man's name for its identity. Nor would we condone how they have installed many man made extra biblical rules to impose on their people. I have personal experience of trying to reached out to them often in our area and they are very determined to cling to their old roots, even when shown they are not biblical. Many of them believe if they leave the Amish ways they cannot be saved and this is a lie. While we are thrilled to see the many things they hold to that are based on biblical truth (like dress, head covering and separation from a sinful culture) that does not excuse the error's of following man made ways that Jesus warned of in Mark 7 or for having a false gospel of works that Paul says is accursed in Galatians 1.
One quick note:
Many people notice and think their modest dress and simple set apart life is quite strange.
It is very interesting to realize that is was not that long ago ( 100 years or so ) that every decent obedient Christian ladies wore both a head covering and a long flowing dress and true believers were NOT into the fallen ways of the culture around them ( media, entertainment, music etc ) per God's Holy Word. So ask yourself... why don't your wives, daughters or you follow it obediently today if you claim Christ? Why are you NOT dressing biblically modest or living separate from this nasty world around you? You see when you follow man's traditions and do not cling to Gods Word alone... you are deceived and not in the truth.
We right this blog to expose error and lift up the Lord's truth. The fact is it is easy to see how far the culture/modern denominational religion has fallen and they have left God's truth. We strive to remind groups and you of that, ask people to repent and come back to the FULL truth for God's glory.... "if" they claim salvation in Him!
Read about the errors of the denominational system HERE and HERE.
It is our desire to help both the Amish and any of the false denominations out of those sinful divisions/false practices and into the truth of God's Word and ways. Jesus said to worship in spirit and truth in John 4:24 and that cannot ever truly happen in any place or organization made or controlled by men. God's spirit is the One who lead's His true body not any man.
Repent and believe the gospel.
For His glory alone!
www.dontperish.com
Perhaps you do or don't know but there is a religious group called Amish that are known for living very simply, they do not drive cars or trucks, they do not have electricity, their ladies wear head coverings as well as a type of long dress. They live on farms in close knit communities and generally keep to themselves. The true facts most people know about them usually stop right there. Many people who do not understand their ways, make fun of them or spread rumors that have no basis in truth most often. They are of the Christian faith and their roots date back to about the time of the reformation in the 16th century. While we do not agree with some of their theology; we will be the first to admit much of the ways they strive to keep do have biblical roots to them. Examples would be rejecting the carnal worlds ways, modest dress, hard work, home or group schooling and meeting in homes. Please note.... not all Amish are the same so these are general traditions they hold to and can vary group to group.
We are not affiliated with any group ourselves and if you read just a short way into our main blog page you will see that we strive to NOT cling to any man made ways. After deep study we find the Amish are indeed in various areas clinging to man made traditions. As we said they do indeed have much correct according to God's Word and we applaud them for that. They do in fact believe in the basic tenets of the biblical Christian faith and that must be noted. Sadly, they also have strayed and fallen into various biblical errors that they have never come out from. Because we often try to reach out to them in love, we are told to test all things (1 Thess 5:21) and we want others to understand them better; here is a short description of those error's that are not consistent with God's Holy Word.
Most Amish communities often have:
A very WORKS based system of salvation not taught in God's Word ( Ephesians 2:8-9 )
ritual man run gatherings like all the modern places and not spirit led (1 Corinthians 14:26 )
A man made system of "additional" church membership steps (Ephesians 4:4 )
A clannish style of life that shows little love of other brothers outside of their clan (1 John 2:10 )
A policy of holding people in Christ to "pre conversion" sin issues (2 Corinthians 5:17 )
A habit of still practicing what the world does in the pagan Christmas holiday (Romans 12:2 )
A lack of gospel outreach to the lost masses around them (Mark 16:15 )
A poor biblical view/understanding of true salvation (Luke 13:3 )
A ritualistic view of foot washing and the Lords supper (Mark 7 )
A one man ( bishop ruled ) system of body control
A habit of clinging to man's traditions /strange customs not Holy scripture in all things (Matthew 4:4)
Recently I had the chance to witness to a young Amish man when I stopped to buy some of his goods. To my surprise; he did have much very correct from a biblical stand point ( most don't ) and he was very willing to talk about it. He did admit several points that are very lacking in his group. One was that they have NO desire to tell anyone the good news of the gospel when Jesus commanded us to go and proclaim it! Another was after some questioning; he admitted his bishop had some very unbiblical rules/traditions but sadly he and the other men are taught to NEVER test them or ask them about biblical issues. This creates a man ruled/lording over situation that Jesus told His followers NOT to practice. (see matt 20) Thankfully I was able to give him some printed biblical info and I hope to see him again one day out there selling his items as I do enjoy talking with them.
Just like Baptist, Methodist or Lutherans etc the Amish practice a ritualized "going to church on Sunday" mindset and are very religious but most often their spiritual lives are only skin deep. The born again message and greater biblical truth is often not found in their doctrines or in their daily fruit. Another example of error is the very name Amish (and the multi thousands of denominational names today) is a offense to God and they serve only to cause division of those who "may" really be His remnant bride, inside those bodies. Why would we say this and be against these names so strongly you ask? We are not to be Amish or Lutheran or Baptist... we are to be Christ's alone!
The Apostle Paul wrote of this type of man centered division when he said in 1 Corinthians 1:12:
Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
So it seems very clear.... man made divisions and denominational names are "sin" to be repented of.
In Acts 11:26... the early believers were first called Christians ( they followed Christ alone ) and so that is good enough for my wife and I. Any other type of naming or labeling is NOT of God, but of man and to be rejected and called out for what it is.
If you do a quick history of the Amish order you will see their name is derived from their founder, Jacob Ammann. They were actually persecuted and often killed by the very men (reformers ) who got away from the pagan roman catholic faith for the same reasons. Again Jacob had much correct biblically but sadly over time they have fallen into the trap of practicing works based salvation, a ritual like worship / man lorded over bodies and various false traditions that were handed down by pagans, the Luther reformers and others that we must reject as lies. As biblical Berean's (Acts 17) we could never unite with or cling to a group that uses a man's name for its identity. Nor would we condone how they have installed many man made extra biblical rules to impose on their people. I have personal experience of trying to reached out to them often in our area and they are very determined to cling to their old roots, even when shown they are not biblical. Many of them believe if they leave the Amish ways they cannot be saved and this is a lie. While we are thrilled to see the many things they hold to that are based on biblical truth (like dress, head covering and separation from a sinful culture) that does not excuse the error's of following man made ways that Jesus warned of in Mark 7 or for having a false gospel of works that Paul says is accursed in Galatians 1.
One quick note:
Many people notice and think their modest dress and simple set apart life is quite strange.
It is very interesting to realize that is was not that long ago ( 100 years or so ) that every decent obedient Christian ladies wore both a head covering and a long flowing dress and true believers were NOT into the fallen ways of the culture around them ( media, entertainment, music etc ) per God's Holy Word. So ask yourself... why don't your wives, daughters or you follow it obediently today if you claim Christ? Why are you NOT dressing biblically modest or living separate from this nasty world around you? You see when you follow man's traditions and do not cling to Gods Word alone... you are deceived and not in the truth.
We right this blog to expose error and lift up the Lord's truth. The fact is it is easy to see how far the culture/modern denominational religion has fallen and they have left God's truth. We strive to remind groups and you of that, ask people to repent and come back to the FULL truth for God's glory.... "if" they claim salvation in Him!
Read about the errors of the denominational system HERE and HERE.
It is our desire to help both the Amish and any of the false denominations out of those sinful divisions/false practices and into the truth of God's Word and ways. Jesus said to worship in spirit and truth in John 4:24 and that cannot ever truly happen in any place or organization made or controlled by men. God's spirit is the One who lead's His true body not any man.
Repent and believe the gospel.
For His glory alone!
www.dontperish.com