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SW Saskatchewan | I can't speak directly of the Amish because my only contact is through a niece that lives in southern Ontario. Their faith puts restraints on their actions that are consistent with their beliefs but that may not be obvious to us that have not been raised in the same world view.
In western Canada we have another group of anabaptists, the Hutterian Brethren, who share many of the same beliefs, except they strongly hold to communal ownership and responsibilities. Are perhaps the most extreme of that family of beliefs in the early Church doctrine of ownership in common. The Amish are probably the most individualistic while retaining a strong sense of community( barn raising etc) and the various Mennonite denominations vary from those that merely have a "liberal" bent to "old colony" Mennonites that live in common villages and have their farms off the village. A very simplified perspective.
I have developed friendships with a number of Hutterites over the years, and the strongest understanding is their comment "we are human too" by which they mean that it is the colony supports that allow them to live without being drawn into the physical pleasures that North Americans find so addictive.
In keeping with Christ's statement that "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath", their reluctance to embrace modernity in their lifestyle is to recognize that advances are not necessarily bad, but what do they do to their spiritual selves. Thus, the most modern tractor should only instill the desire to do the best farming possible, but a fancy car can only create hubris and unworthy thoughts. The devil makes work for idle hands!
To most of us Christians, doctrine was forged in historical times, and we do not consider the Church the place to decide modern day questions. The Hutterites do not separate their everyday lives and concerns from the circle of influence of the Church.
For example, when I had been involved with marketing boards two situations came up that exemplified this.
First, the Colonies have large modern hog operations and the SPF pig was important in the original stocking herd of these operations. The Ministers of the various colonies had to decide if this practice was consistent with the Hutterite belief in the sanctity of life. The Minister of a colony at Rosetown argued that it was not and was able to convince the other Hutterites that such was the case. Eventually, all the Leuts adopted this decision.
Second example, as the intensive livestock operations got concentrated on the colonies, their became fewer and fewer non-hutterites available to manage the affairs of the boards and producer associations. Because of their reluctance to be drawn into the demands of the secular world, they resisted until it was impossible to stay outside. The solution adopted was for the board meetings to be held near a colony so at nights their representatives could return to a colony to recharge and avoid the temptations of "a night on the town".
Our strong belief in the separation of "Church and State" makes it difficult to understand those who have different opinions. The Muslim world does not make this distinction, neither do a number of Christian sects.
JMHO | |
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Storing windmill power
