Every once in a while one of our neighbors would stop in to visit with us. He was an older man, a pastor of a small backwoods church. He was very passionate about what he believed and it seemed no matter what the conversation was about he always wound up preaching to us.
Daddy and Mom would listen politely as he stressed the importance of becoming born again, that unless we were "saved" we had no hope of getting to heaven. We needed to repent, to call on Jesus. That it didn't matter what type of clothes we wore or how plain our buggy was if Jesus had not become our personal Saviour we were lost. He would talk for hours at a time, though always friendly there was something about what he was saying that made me a little uncomfortable and I had to wonder if just maybe what he was saying applied to us.
After he left Mom and Daddy would chuckle at how he was trying to get us to have a "new belief" that we didn't have to worry about what he was saying and only worldly people believed on being saved. God had chosen for us to be Amish and as long as we stayed faithful to that we would one day be in heaven too.
Laying in bed at night I would think about everything, but then pushed it to the back of my mind. There was no need to change anything since I was a member of the Amish church. There were so much more fun things to think about, like making wedding plans and dreaming of our new home. With that I disregarded everything we heard from the pastor and spent my time dreaming of being married to LV.
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I'm curious as to what faith or affiliation your neighbor claimed or was he a God-called minister?
ReplyDeleteI believe the way that minister does. It's kind of funny how the Amish believe Christians who claim salvation through Jesus Christ are worldly. Christians are just the opposite. If you don't believe in His salvation plan then you are considered worldly.
ReplyDeleteAs I've been following your memories, I've sometimes wondered about the Amish belief, and whether salvation by grace was part of it. This has answered my question. I too am curious regarding the affiliation of this backwoods pastor.
ReplyDeleteThe minister's message was great--and Biblical, but perhaps his methods could have been a little different--more relational/listening/giving a question here & there for you to think about etc.....but, it sounds like he was simply urging you all to do what Jesus said to Nicodemus (and us all)--to be born again (of the spirit) (John 3:3-7).
ReplyDeleteWow! Are Amish Calvinistic, then, believing that you are called to be the elect without any faith on your part, and that you don't need to be born again?
ReplyDeleteI don't know enough about Amish people, customs or beliefs to comment one way or t'other. I do know I enjoy reading your blog though. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI was very blessed that I found an Old Order Amish church in Michigan that DOES believe in Salvation through Grace. Our bishop often preaches that and I am so glad for that because I would not join a church that doesn't preach that. When I first began attending church there I assumed that all Amish churches believed that way too and have since found out that this belief is the HUGE minority! It's so sad :( I am glad you've found the truth Mary Ann and I am blessed that I've found an Amish church that preaches Salvation too. I'm glad that man preached that to your family and that you were starting to hear it and accept it as the truth. God is so good!
ReplyDeleteKate
So it's taught in the Amish church that being Amish is enough because you are doing God's will? Is that the majority of Amish churches, or just your community?
ReplyDeletePraise God for that backwood's pastor! :D
Jules- I was thinking the same thing! haha!
One of the most amaing things i ever heard an Amish bishop say is that a horse and buggy will not take you to heaven, you must be born again. Most of the New Order Amish believe in a relationship with the Lord.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what Amish is.. I'm from India, and born a Christian(not Born again) we do have the Catholic church, Assemblies of God, the protestant Denominations that calls itself the CSI(Church of south India)and CNI(Church of North India) and ofcourse many more of which I don't know. This is just to highlight the amount of differences in the ways people seeking Jesus takes. The Indian catholic definately is different from the American Catholics. for that you'll need to come to India to believe what I say. so the'll be more differences the whole world with everyone thinking they do the right thing and tease the others who they think is different.
ReplyDeleteAnyway if anyone remembers the 'Good Samaritan' parable, Jesus said not the priest, not the one who thinks he's a believer, not the one who gives to the church or attends the church religiously without helping the needy.. but the one who has time and love for the one in need is the one who will be with him in heaven.
-Vijay
Praise Him for searching our hearts and giving us the wisdom to seek the answers we need ... and the people who share the message of His Word!
ReplyDeleteWith the grace he gives, we need to share carefully with our friends, family and neighbors and pray for them, too.