Growing Up Mennonite - Page 18

Margies3 · #**171** 11-07-2007, 12:38 PM

I read those books too and wondered about the accuracy. I had never heard that the Amish taught it was wrong to read Scripture for themselves, so I found that a little unbelievable when I read those books.

On the flip side, I do have a question for you, Steven. I've been told that the Amish don't believe that they can know for sure that they will make it to heaven one day. That they "hope" so, but are not assured.

Is that true?

And also, I've been told that the opposite is true for Mennonite people. They DO believe they know can where they will spend eternity. Correct????

It's nice to have someone who knows the answers to our questions with authority. Thanks for being so open with us.

Sherri · #**172** 11-07-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margies3

I read those books too and wondered about the accuracy. I had never heard that the Amish taught it was wrong to read Scripture for themselves, so I found that a little unbelievable when I read those books.

On the flip side, I do have a question for you, Steven. I've been told that the Amish don't believe that they can know for sure that they will make it to heaven one day. That they "hope" so, but are not assured.

Is that true?

And also, I've been told that the opposite is true for Mennonite people. They DO believe they know can where they will spend eternity. Correct????

It's nice to have someone who knows the answers to our questions with authority. Thanks for being so open with us.

This is what I've always understood too......that the Amish think it is prideful to KNOW that you are saved.

Hoovie · #**173** 11-07-2007, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margies3

I read those books too and wondered about the accuracy. I had never heard that the Amish taught it was wrong to read Scripture for themselves, so I found that a little unbelievable when I read those books.

On the flip side, I do have a question for you, Steven. I've been told that the Amish don't believe that they can know for sure that they will make it to heaven one day. That they "hope" so, but are not assured.

Is that true?

And also, I've been told that the opposite is true for Mennonite people. They DO believe they know can where they will spend eternity. Correct????

It's nice to have someone who knows the answers to our questions with authority. Thanks for being so open with us.

True, to some extent, for many Amish and Old Order Mennonites. (and no I don't claim to be any authority)

Many of them would view saying "I am saved" similar to saying "I am humble" and though they know in whom they have believed, they are more comfortable in speaking of "the hope we have in Christ".

Many Amish and OOM would identify with this portion of the statement of salvation taken from the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod:

"Your having faith and being saved is not your own doing (Eph. 2:8,9), it is a gift of God. You did not "accept Jesus into your life," God accepted you... ...Saying that it was you by your own decision who accepted Christ goes against Scripture which in many places gives God the glory for your salvation.

Lutherans put the emphasis on God being the one who saves, and not so much on the exact time. Relying only on the exact time tends to point more to our action..."

I only use this exerpt to shown other, mainstream Christians feel similarly to the Amish and OOM in this.

It is true, and quite interesting, that the further the plain people remove themselves from the Old Order lifestyle the more comfortable they are about proclamations of being "Born Again" and stating a particular point in time in which they were "Saved". This is how some (wrongfully) draw conclusions that the Amish do not believe in a personal relationship with the Lord while their more liberal Mennonite counterparts do.

ILG · #**174** 11-08-2007, 12:37 PM

Quote:

My family did not say "I love you" a lot - except on rare occaision or in a card. But we certainly did love each other and for the most part showed it by the deeds and commitments that were made.

Imagine how strange it was/is for me to see families with huge displays of emotion, and constant verbal affirmations of their "love" who then view marriage as a dispensable institution. Families also, for a job, will forsake the families of their heritage and permanantly move across country often leaving parents in a nursing home without word from their own flesh and blood.

I know, I know! We don't have to choose these extremes and that is what I am trying to practice - balance.

But you bring up some very valid points! It is things like these examples you bring up that draw me to the plain in the first place! What is more important; verbal affirmation or commitment? (Both is fine! But not ONLY verbal affirmation!) Also, there must be such security for the aged in the plain churches! What a wonderful heritage and tradition! (For those who don't know, the Amish never put the elderly in nursing homes.) The very tradition that binds people to odd customs and sometimes legalistic ways also provides some very good things. The question is how to obtain one without the other?? Maybe in the end, the lesson is we can only choose for ourselves.

ILG · #**175** 11-08-2007, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Lewis should cite an authority on this... Yes I would say it's untrue. In my old order family we all had our own Bibles - including the children. I would venture to say there is not one Old Order Mennonite or Amish home that does not have the Holy Bible available in German and English both.

They are not revivalist and do not promote individual bible studies over the corporate teaching, but this is true of many older denominations including Lutheran.

As to the newer thinkers... you may have a point there.

I have read accounts from insider Amish who said that having an English Bible was frowned upon and studying it (for private interpretation) was also frowned upon. They were allowed German Bibles.

The first Beverly Lewis book I read, I felt it was somewhat biased....she is the first fiction author I read after reading many authentic books. Beverly Lewis has Amish relatives (I think her mother used to be Amish? Or maybe her Grandmother?)

Hoovie · #**176** 04-04-2008, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Growing Up Mennonite

My story this week on 90&9

http://www.ninetyandnine.com/Archive.../testimony.htm

First photo credit to AFF's Margie, second photo credit to an unknown newspaper reporter who convinced my family to pose at the Turnpike sign in 1965.

I enjoyed sharing my story at UGST Chapel service yesterday.

Hoovie · #**177** 04-04-2008, 05:50 PM

Here is an exerpt from the 90&9 story

"It was while I was Mennonite, at age 16, that I first remember getting transparent and serious with God concerning my salvation.
I was given some cassette tapes by someone who knew I was hiding a cassette player. They were tapes from “Because of the Times,” with speakers like G. A. and Vesta Mangun, and Jeff Arnold. I listened to some of the sermons, but what I found most interesting was the way they all prayed together—out loud.

While listening to them pray, I felt the urging of the Holy Spirit to pray with them, and I cried and repented of my sins.
While I continued to rebel against the Mennonite way of life and soon left our home and the church, I believe it was this experience with God that kept me from going too far."

I want to add to this...

I felt overwhelmed by what was happening that night - I placed my hands over the speaker and unplugged the tape player - so tangible was the Spirit!

I noted that the drawing force was not emanating from the tape player and was convinced that God Himself was communicating directly with my heart. I broke down and repented before God and he changed my life!

Hoovie · #**178** 05-10-2008, 07:25 PM

Today Kristin and I invited my mother and all my siblings and families to our home. We fed 75 people. Most of them are still Old Order Mennonite - so I thought I would post it on this thread.

I fixed smoked pulled pork (30 lbs) and also had 12 chickens catered. We also had creamed corn, potato salad, baked beans, chips, cheese slices, cake and ice cream.

We had alot of fun including yard games and Rook.

DanielR · #**179** 05-10-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

We had alot of fun including yard games and Rook.

That's great Stephen, it's always good to get together with family (for most families anyway)

Only thing is I don't know what Rook is, so if you don't mind enlightening me?

Margies3 · #**180** 05-10-2008, 08:24 PM

Steve,

that sounds like a great time!! We love getting together with family. I can't imagine how it will be in the next generation in most families tho. Ours is a large family like yours. But look at all the families today who are only having 2 kids (like ours). The family gatherings are getting smaller and smaller. That's kinda sad, doncha think?