Recently, I read a story about an Amish newspaper that received hundreds of letters asking how to become Amish. The article explained that most people wanted a change of pace or were feeling stressed by their hectic lifestyle. The answer, they thought, was to become Amish.
The newspaper conjectured that most likely, they wouldn’t last a day in the Amish lifestyle. One cold winter day in a buggy would send them hurrying to get home, happy to turn on their car’s heater.
One Amish writer responded to the article in a very thought provoking way:
Become Amish?
“If you admire our faith, strengthen yours. If you admire our sense of commitment, deepen yours. If you admire our community spirit, build your own. If you admire the simple life, cut back. If you admire deep character and enduring values, live them yourself.”
Have you ever considered becoming Amish? What are your thoughts on this advice? Share in the comment section below for the chance to win a copy of Amish Values for your Family.
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I have certainly commented many times that I wish my life was simpler but I don’t think I could love as simply as the Amish. I enjoy being able to drive my car; I appreciate the convenience of plumbing and electricity and I absolutely love the ability to read your blog through online capabilities. What I can do is learn to say no; devote more time to Bible study and worship and realize that I don’t have to be a homemaker goddess. Thanks for making me think and thank you for this giveaway!
Blessings,
Connie
My best friend is a delightful, caring, loving Amish lady from Leola, PA and we have been friends for 32 years. We have shared joy and pain and she is the sister I never had. when we were younger we always travelled by horse and buggy when I visited and it was such a joy to me. The peace and serenity I experience in that home is so different from our lifestyle as “englishers”. And, a ride in the snow in a horse drawn sleigh is an experience to be remembered all your life! We have aged a little and now mostly travel by car and I visit about every six weeks for at least three days each trip. I thank God each and every day for the gift of the friendship of these friends! And, I have learned that even though we live different lives, we are not all that different. The Amish have the same problems we all have, the same struggles, the same questions about life. They just have more answers than we do I think.
I love reading books about the Amish. I don’t think I would want to become Amish because I question to much. I do appreciate their sense of belonging and community. I admire their strong work ethic. I think we can enjoy modern conveniences but slow down and make a concentrated effort to connect with others.
I like to read about the Amish but I would not want to become Amish. It would work I question to many things. I do admire their work ethic and strong community and family ties. I do think we would be better off if we incorporated some of their values. However, I don’t think we need to give up all modern conveniences to do that.
No, I have never had the urge or any thoughts about becoming Amish. To be quite honest; I have wondered why there has been such a huge number of books written about the Amish. It is understandable that people are interested in the slower life; that I do get. But the thing I don’t get is about what they actually believe. So I did a little research on my own through Google. It seems their doctrine is contrary to what I believe and have believed to be the truth for many years. Also, I read that some of the groups do not believe that individuals should not read/study the Bible on their own because they might not interpret the Bible correctly on their own. That is totally unlike what I believe plus it is just plain sad. What I do like is their food as they cook the old way and their food is delicious! They also have great cookbooks.
Quite a number of years ago, my uncle took my husband and me to an Amish restaurant. The food was to die for sooooo good! I would give it a top rating of excellent.
I agree with Faith. While I admire their lifestyle and slower ways, I would not consider being Amish because their bishops set the standard for living. This is even if it’s contrary to the Word of God, such as not allowing individual study of the Bible. That is a hard-won freedom that we were given by the Reformation and I feel like it would be another path of following man’s traditions instead of the Bible itself. Also, I’m reminded that God looks at the heart. However, they do have a great sense of community, home cooking and not allowing modern things like technology to get in the way of serving God and that is something from which we all could learn.
I’ve always been interested in the Amish community. I love their strong family and community ties. Although they work hard, they seem happy and satisfied with their lives. I would love to be able to experience their way of living at least temporarily. I don’t know if I could last long but what an experience.
No, we don’t need to become Amish! We all have a choice to simplify our lives and choice to live by God’s word.
I have thought about becoming Amish many, many times. I love their sense of community, family, and faith. I know that it is not something that we could reasonably do though. My husband has to work at the chemical plant. My daughter works several miles away. We can however, instill some of the values and lessons of the Amish into our everyday lives. We can turn off the cell phone, computer, etc. We can cut off the television and video games. We have gardens, chickens, cows, etc. We hunt and fish. I believe it is more than that though. We need more simpleness, more calmness in our lives. We need to not text and drive. We need to spend dinner time with our family at the table.
I think we would all be better off if we took a step back in time a few years. Throw away some of the gadgets and take life a little slower pace.
The Amish writer wrote some very profound words. Can’t top that! Very wise!
I LOVE this response:
Become Amish?
“If you admire our faith, strengthen yours. If you admire our sense of commitment, deepen yours. If you admire our community spirit, build your own. If you admire the simple life, cut back. If you admire deep character and enduring values, live them yourself.”
Sometimes slight alterations in your own behavior/belief system is just enough to put you on a route toward a closer walk with Christ. It’s not necessary to make drastic changes that might throw you into a tailspin.
Thank you so much for highlighting the special features of Amish life – the pleasant as well as the difficult – to enable folks to see the pleasant and difficult in their own lives.
I learn so much about myself when I read Amish stories.
I love that the Amish have strong faith, family bonding. They live simple, We could choose to live simple too, as well having family bonding if just take a deep breath and slow down. I hope to win this book , so I can read it, and share it with many others to read it as well..
I complete understand why people want to simplify their lives, and why they look at the Amish way of life as an example of that. But as many of us have learned from our beloved Amish fiction, and some of us have been fortunate enough to learn from first-hand experience, the Amish life is far more than a simplified life. Theirs is a life intricately tied to faith and the kind of work ethic one learns from birth, and a lifetime spent living the examples set by parents, siblings, and extended family. I respect and admire the Amish for choosing to live as they do, and I look for ways to simplify in my own life. But the difference between simplifying my life and becoming Amish is like the difference between stepping into the bathtub versus diving into the ocean.
We lived near the old order mennonites when in TN and other christians that lived plain. I learned alot then. Canning meats was a big one. I grew up canning garden produce but never learned about canning meat. We did with less those years. Today I heat with wood and am conservative on many things. Its not about going Amish so much as it is just simplifying ones life.
Hugs
Linda Marie Finn
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I agree with the advice. There is a lot we can do to simplify our lives where we are. I used to have a friend that always made me feel so comfortable in her home. I would always relax as soon as I stepped inside the door. It wasn’t the house just her.
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