Outstretched Arms

Over the Thanksgiving weekend we had the opportunity to visit an Amish settlement. The first signs of our proximity to the Amish settlements were the traffic signs on the highways warning us to drive carefully because there may be horse buggies on the road. As the Amish do not drive motorized cars, even the local Walmart has a separate parking area for horse buggies. While asking for directions to the Amish settlements I was told by one of the girls in one of the local country inns that we were not to take any photographs of the Amish. The Amish do not take photographs of themselves as they are convinced that a photograph is the image of a man or women that may be idolized by them or others (Deuteronomy 4:15-31). The men have long beards, unusual hairstyles, and specially prescribed clothing. The women cover their heads with white prayer caps at all times. The Amish have only an eighth grade education and then go into farming or find a craft that can earn them a living serving the community. 

We visited a cheese factory where the cashier and the some of the staff were Amish. Later we visited a furniture store, run by the Amish, that had beautiful furniture and fittings (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). There were many references to Christ carved into their furniture and fixtures. For lunch, we ate at a restaurant and were served by an Amish lady. The countryside was full of lush green meadows and farmlands. The Amish through dedication, prudence, and perseverance, have excelled in the age old profession of farming. Their farmlands are some of the best, most productive, and highly priced in the country.

They value simplicity and self denial over comfort, convenience, and leisure. Their way of life deliberately separates them from the world, yet they maintain self sufficient lives. St. Paul says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate (1 Corinthians 6:14-18).” Can they work for a boss who does not have the same values as they do? What does the Christian do when a person of another faith gets one of their own priests to bless the business in the name of another god?

When tragedy struck the Amish settlement in Pennsylvania their response was quick and effective. A killer walked into the Amish community school and shot six of their children.The Amish forgave the man who shot six of their children, and embraced his wife and children in their time of sorrow and tragedy. Moments before the killer committed these heinous crimes, he spoke extremely apologetically to his wife and said that he was overcome with hatred and anger toward God and mankind. The memories of a still born baby girl, and some deeds done through incest in his younger days, haunted him greatly throughout the last years of his life. The spiritual emptiness inside of him was so unbearable that he felt forced to commit these crimes. What makes a man so angry with life and toward God that he is driven to murder innocent children in broad daylight?

The Amish are a community of people who live humble lives of peace, order, and tranquility. Their faith and family are their cherished possessions. Their communities are so peaceful that they do not have police stations in their neighborhoods. Their faith lays great emphasis on practice of their beliefs. They clearly said that in a crisis like the one described above, they will not resort to violence. The Amish community live in fear of God’s judgment and wrath, for Jesus said, “That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (Fool), shall be in danger of the council (court): but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire (Matthew 5:22).”

What they hope is that the world at large will have a glimpse of the love of Christ in their peaceful and loving response. It is said that for the funeral of the killer there were more Amish than civilians. The families of the girls that were murdered invited the widow of the killer for their own children’s funeral. The money that was given for the assistance of the Amish families was shared with the widow of the killer. The Amish did not appear on television condemning anyone. The schoolroom that was the site of the murder was razed to the ground and a field has been set in its place.

Through their actions of forgiveness and reconciliation the Amish made peace with the killer, his family, the community, and the world at large. Their Christian witness stands out in a time when there is so much of unrest all over the world. The Amish look to the life (Philippians 2:5-8) and witness of their only advocate between God and humans, who is none other than Jesus (1 Timothy. 2:5, 1 John 2:1). By remembering the forgiveness that was so generously given to them at the cross, they were able to preserve their peace with God and the world at large. Although not quite understanding why the innocent had to die, they follow the gospel message of Christ to the world leaving the judgment in God’s hands (Deuteronomy 29:29). Here we see hearts full of love toward God and their fellow beings. The Amish strongly believe that they should embrace their enemies with outstretched arms of love. (Matthew 5:44).

The People’s New Testament Commentary describes the language of salvation in three dimensions (Romans 5:1-10). The first dimension is the past where we see Christ’s death and resurrection on the cross. The second dimension is the present where we experience this forgiveness and reconciliation to God through Christ. The third dimension is the future when we will all be saved through Christ from the wrath of God. The killer of the Amish children felt alienated from God. He was living in hostility toward God. He had no peace in his life. The Amish follow the path of reconciliation through suffering as shown by Christ, where they are able to preserve their state of Shalom (Colossians 1:20).

Paul goes on to say that life does not make any distinction between sinner and saint. We all have to learn to face our share of stress and adversities in life. He exhorts us to remember that Christ died for us even while we were in our state of sinfulness. He shows us that the purpose for our lives is to find this peace and joy that has been so freely given to us by the grace of God in Christ. If the Amish had stressed on their own emotions then they would have exalted their own selves and not Christ (Exodus 20:4). The Amish revealed the image of Christ in their lives by showing compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.

This ministry of reconciliation has been given to all of us as Christians to go out into the world and be reconciled with God and humans (2 Corinthians 5:18). To a chosen few are given the way of the cross through great suffering and hardships (Ephesians 2:16).