Do you think that Amish are Christians?

[Nine_Two]

I’m wondering if the OP is ever going to come back and give his reasons for asking this question?

 

[aspirant]

I agree with pretty much everyone else: the Amish are Christians, practicing valid baptism and believing essential Christian doctrines.

 

[crazzeto]

amishnews.com/amisharticles/religioustraditions.htm#Part%20Three:%20Amish%20Baptism

They do, indeed, have a Trinitarian Baptism. They are Christian. They certainly practice it.

Well there you are, they are Christian.

 

[seekerz]

Yes. You will know them by their fruit.

Peace.

Exactly my thought on seeing the post title. Their reaction to the school shootings some time ago just cemented in me my respect for those people. In an extreme situation where giving in to anger and fear would have been only human, they remained true to their values.

Doesn’t matter what you wear, what gadgets you own or how you get from place to place…when you get right down to it, it’s how you walk the walk!

Lots to learn from them in my opinion.

 

[1ke]

You do realize, that catholics and Lutherans do excommunicate members.

Excommunication and shunning are entirely different.

The purpose of excommunication is to impress upon the offender the serious nature of their transgression and to encourage repentance and resumption of the Sacramental life. The excommunicated person is expected to attend Mass, their obligations under Canon Law remain.

The family of an excommunicated person is not required to cease communication with them,refuse to talk to them, shelter them, or assist them. An excommunicated person is not kicked out of the community.

 

[Publisher]

Excommunication and shunning are entirely different.

The purpose of excommunication is to impress upon the offender the serious nature of their transgression and to encourage repentance and resumption of the Sacramental life. The excommunicated person is expected to attend Mass, their obligations under Canon Law remain.

The family of an excommunicated person is not required to cease communication with them,refuse to talk to them, shelter them, or assist them. An excommunicated person is not kicked out of the community.

If an Amish breaks the “Ordnung” of the community repeatedly, they are “excommunicated” which involves “shunning”…the severity of the “shunning” varies from community to community…it is up to the bishop. In the more conservative Amish communities the non-offending spouse may be required to “shun” their spouse…the severity is meant to drive home the serious breach that the “sin” has made in the believers life…to the point they have been cut off from the community. If an Amish member is “excommunicated” they are “shunned” in some form or another.

Some groups only ‘shun’ for a year if the offending member joins another Anabaptist tradition. Excommunication is employed when the “Ordnung” (order) is broken repeatedly…even if it’s something as benign as joining another Anabaptist tradition…shunning is very much part of excommunication among the Amish.

I’ve only known a few Amish people…I was friends with their grandchildren who were Mennonites. My friends father was raised Amish and fell in love with a Mennonite girl and was excommunicated and shunned for leaving the Amish community…he had been baptized into the Amish church…which is a lifetime commitment…and leaving is a serious infraction to the “Ordnung”. The father was reconciled to his parents…but the community he once belonged to has a very long memory.

 

[1ke]

If an Amish breaks the “Ordnung” of the community repeatedly, they are “excommunicated” which involves “shunning”…the severity of the “shunning” varies from community to community…it is up to the bishop. In the more conservative Amish communities the non-offending spouse may be required to “shun” their spouse…the severity is meant to drive home the serious breach that the “sin” has made in the believers life…to the point they have been cut off from the community. If an Amish member is “excommunicated” they are “shunned” in some form or another.

Some groups only ‘shun’ for a year if the offending member joins another Anabaptist tradition. Excommunication is employed when the “Ordnung” (order) is broken repeatedly…even if it’s something as benign as joining another Anabaptist tradition…shunning is very much part of excommunication among the Amish.

I’ve only known a few Amish people…I was friends with their grandchildren who were Mennonites. My friends father was raised Amish and fell in love with a Mennonite girl and was excommunicated and shunned for leaving the Amish community…he had been baptized into the Amish church…which is a lifetime commitment…and leaving is a serious infraction to the “Ordnung”. The father was reconciled to his parents…but the community he once belonged to has a very long memory.

We have a large Amish community in our area and we have gotten to know them well.

 

[Publisher]

We have a large Amish community in our area and we have gotten to know them well.

My friends last name was “Troyer”…both their names was “Troyer” before they married, so his wife used to joke that she didn’t even get to change her name when they got married. The grandparents lived in Indiana in a Amish community…I only met them once when they came out for a visit…they rode the train.

I’ve attended Yearly Meeting where some “Old Order Mennonites” were present to discuss “interfaith” working concerning peace.