A few questions for the mennonites

[Aner]

A horse is created by, and given unto mankind by ALmighty God.

Hemp was likewise given unto mankind to be used by man. I trust the Anabaptists are fully using what God has given to them?

BTW - thanks for the "logic" above. I will follow up shortly.

 

[Aner]

A horse is created by, and given unto mankind by ALmighty God. So is lumber.

Ok - onto the "logic"

So - a carriage consists ONLY of lumber...??? Perhaps also metal??? Requiring the same fire that lightening consists of...???? Requiring perhaps streets???

Whereas our Beloved has reminded us that He saw satan coming to earth a lightning from the sky. ELECTRICITY!

So - lightening is NOT made by God??? Pray tell, who actually was the one who made it....??? Who effected the laws that result in it???? Electricity - such as comes off your body - is NOT made by God???

But worse, with all due respect, than this is the complete failure to grasp the obvious exegesis of this text. Jesus was not comparing Satan to either lightening nor the content of the lightening - electricity (which exists in YOUR body). Jesus was using the manner in which lightening fell from the sky - the rapid total descent from the heavens to the earth - AS AN ANALOGY (METAPHOR). It is the ACTION of falling that is relevant - NOT the CONTENT of what fell. Do you know see this since it has been made clear (admittedly, with all due respect, this is painfully obvious and the most simply of exegesis - I had high hopes that that anabaptists were rigorous students of the scripture - but now I am beginning to wonder...)

The further mankind extends himself into this technological age, the further he distances himself from the Creator ALmighty.

Again, with all due respect, this is just plain silly. The only experience that distances man from the Creator is SIN!!! Conversely, closeness to the Creator is achieved in only ONE WAY - the MAN CHRIST JESUS!! I am beginning to hear a completely new gospel - one in which technology/electricity is eschewed - is the means of getting close to God....

Best,
Aner

 

[Blank123]

A horse is created by, and given unto mankind by ALmighty God. So is lumber.
Whereas our Beloved has reminded us that He saw satan coming to earth a lightning from the sky. ELECTRICITY!

The further mankind extends himself into this technological age, the further he distances himself from the Creator ALmighty.

The time is fast upon us where this technology will be disabled(struck by the hand of God), but will be restored by lucifer himself, and the whole of the earth transformed into a technological eden. Mankind glorifying the coming wizard and eventually worshiping him as god.

all this coming from a man typing on a computer and using the internet.

 

[Almighty's humble servant]

all this coming from a man typing on a computer and using the internet.

I, for one, will not miss this heresy when it is gone.

 

[Blank123]

I, for one, will not miss this heresy when it is gone.

so um why are you using the computer and internet if its heresy?

 

[WayneinMaine]

Not sure why "technology" is considered "liberal" and non-technology is "conservative"

The fact is that to those who pre-date the domestication of the horse - a buggy is a massive technological advancement.

Therefore, "Conservative" isn't the word - "Silly" is (that is the least negative word I could use to describe what literally is a form of hypocrisy particularly if there is self-righteousness attached.

We could simply eat our meat raw... but instead we have the "technology" of fire, etc.

Conservative is an appropriate word, but it doesn't really describe why some Old Order groups tend toward primitive technology.

Conservative is appropriate because it means to resist change. Old Order groups are resistant to change, though they do change and they do adopt new technology after the impact on the church and families in the group has been assessed. Old Order Amish and Team Mennonites live lives that suit their greater values without automobiles (and often - without electricity). They can see what automobiles have done to other close knit communities, and they can see what electricity brings into a family. These do not serve the spiritual values of the brotherhood, and so they are done without.

 

[Pythons]

Do the Mennonite and Amish tradition accept the 1st few Christian Councils as valid?
...Do they hold to those creeds whereas the Trinity is concerned?

Years ago I took the Train to go visit my Sister in Montana & my wife and I ended up sitting next to a young couple ( I assumed they were Amish ) by the way they were dressed - the young couple was headed to visit another community of like minded people. They seemed very nice.

 

[AndOne]

Do the Mennonite and Amish tradition accept the 1st few Christian Councils as valid?
...Do they hold to those creeds whereas the Trinity is concerned?

Years ago I took the Train to go visit my Sister in Montana & my wife and I ended up sitting next to a young couple ( I assumed they were Amish ) by the way they were dressed - the young couple was headed to visit another community of like minded people. They seemed very nice.

I'm unsure about the councils - but they are trinitarian...

 

[Studeclunker]

Conservative is an appropriate word, but it doesn't really describe why some Old Order groups tend toward primitive technology.

Conservative is appropriate because it means to resist change. Old Order groups are resistant to change, though they do change and they do adopt new technology after the impact on the church and families in the group has been assessed. Old Order Amish and Team Mennonites live lives that suit their greater values without automobiles (and often - without electricity). They can see what automobiles have done to other close knit communities, and they can see what electricity brings into a family. These do not serve the spiritual values of the brotherhood, and so they are done without.

Your answer here is both excellent and very close to what an old Amishman told me.

As a horse trainer, I used to do business with the Amish in Lancaster County, PA and with several families in Ohio. From time to time, I'd ask a question of them and sometimes get an answer. More often not.

However to the above, he told me that automobiles were discouraged and later banned as they were perceved a symbol of one's pride. Notice that the buggies of each order of the Amish are all the same. It would be difficult for them to do likewise with automobiles (there was a time when there were over six hundred manufacturers of such, three hundred in the U.S. alone). Thus, to descourage pride, and encourage equality, they forbade automobiles. Also, much mechanical equipment, such as tractors and electrical tools, took away from men's work. Thus valuing men (and women) over modernity, they also enchewed these things as well. At least, that's the way he explained it to me. It's very interesting to note, however, that the average Amish farm is still the model of efficency. Perhaps not of production like their English (all of us) neighbors, but close. Also, now that Organically grown produce has grown in popularity, many Amish and Mennonites are in the position to take advantage of it as they've not taken up with all the chemicals and pesticides that their Englisher neighbors have used.

As a Lutheran, I can't agree with a great deal that the Amish practice and teach. However, they live their faith in a way that all of us Englisher Christians could use as an example. In otherwords, they practice what they preach. Something the majority of (reputed) Christians don't do.

As to the Mennonites, I know very little. Hence my lurking around here for quite some time.

The only difference that I am aware of is that the Mennonites are followers of Menno Simons and the Amish are followers of Jacob Ammann. Simons took a more traditional, less... utopian, if that's the word, view of religion. Ammann insisted that all aspects of one's life must be conformed to the word of God. Hence, the hard line taken with dress, living standards, and behaviour. Also, non-resistance, or pacifism was stressed by both.

If anyone is interested in a very good treatise on the modern Amish culture and life, Bernd G. Langin wrote Plain and Amish (An Alternative to Modern Pessimism). I don't know of a good book for the Mennonites. Perhaps someone in this congregation can suggest it? I'll be lurking around waiting for an answer.

 

[Basil the Great]

Your answer here is both excellent and very close to what an old Amishman told me.

As a horse trainer, I used to do business with the Amish in Lancaster County, PA and with several families in Ohio. From time to time, I'd ask a question of them and sometimes get an answer. More often not.

However to the above, he told me that automobiles were discouraged and later banned as they were perceved a symbol of one's pride. Notice that the buggies of each order of the Amish are all the same. It would be difficult for them to do likewise with automobiles (there was a time when there were over six hundred manufacturers of such, three hundred in the U.S. alone). Thus, to descourage pride, and encourage equality, they forbade automobiles. Also, much mechanical equipment, such as tractors and electrical tools, took away from men's work. Thus valuing men (and women) over modernity, they also enchewed these things as well. At least, that's the way he explained it to me. It's very interesting to note, however, that the average Amish farm is still the model of efficency. Perhaps not of production like their English (all of us) neighbors, but close. Also, now that Organically grown produce has grown in popularity, many Amish and Mennonites are in the position to take advantage of it as they've not taken up with all the chemicals and pesticides that their Englisher neighbors have used.

As a Lutheran, I can't agree with a great deal that the Amish practice and teach. However, they live their faith in a way that all of us Englisher Christians could use as an example. In otherwords, they practice what they preach. Something the majority of (reputed) Christians don't do.

As to the Mennonites, I know very little. Hence my lurking around here for quite some time.

The only difference that I am aware of is that the Mennonites are followers of Menno Simons and the Amish are followers of Jacob Ammann. Simons took a more traditional, less... utopian, if that's the word, view of religion. Ammann insisted that all aspects of one's life must be conformed to the word of God. Hence, the hard line taken with dress, living standards, and behaviour. Also, non-resistance, or pacifism was stressed by both.

If anyone is interested in a very good treatise on the modern Amish culture and life, Bernd G. Langin wrote Plain and Amish (An Alternative to Modern Pessimism). I don't know of a good book for the Mennonites. Perhaps someone in this congregation can suggest it? I'll be lurking around waiting for an answer.

Yes, most of us can learn a lot from the dedication of the Amish. I dare say that few of us would be willing to live for our faith like they do.

 

[realtruth101]

I think the Mennonites and the Amish are the only Americans that are actually prepared for tribulations, they are a self sustaining community, I'm actually considering relocating my family to Belize where the Mennonites control and produce 95% of all food to the country and live peaceful quiet lives as the Apostle Paul wished, I see your from Kentucky too, I'm in Union just south of Cincinnati