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Amish Deception
| October 20, 2017Jakob Amman, born Feb 12, 1644, started a move called Amish. He started out good, but began to lord over the people and exalt himself. When he did that, the Holy Spirit was no longer welcome and had to leave. 300 years later I was born into this deception called Amish. Today there are many different kind of Amish that do not fellowship with each other, because of one man turning away from the Name of Jesus and going into his own name and his own righteousness. Many innocent people have been born into this deep, deep rooted deception as I was in 1944.
Keep the Tradition of the Church
| September 21, 2017Question: When someone leaves the Amish 2 Thessalonians 3:6 is used to tell them that they are making a wrong decision by leaving. How do you explain this?
Living in the Stronghold of Deception (Part 3 of 8)
| September 1, 2017If we don’t allow the cross to work in our lives, the foreskin of our heart remains. This causes us not to see or understand God’s ways. We then keep eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and we stay in our worldly wisdom. Let me explain.
Under the Abrahamic covenant, every male child had to be circumcised on the eighth day. Why the eighth day? Eight represents new beginning. This represents the new covenant, which is the circumcision of the heart. Genesis 17:14 says, The uncircumcised man child whose flesh of the foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
Let Us Keep Our Eyes Fixed on Jesus
| September 1, 2017Yes, we do need that saving faith and understanding that we are washed in the blood and have our sins forgiven through our Lord Jesus Christ—to have our hearts renewed in Him daily and to feel the joy of the Holy Spirit!
Faith and works go together—like a rowboat needs oars to paddle downstream. Our plain way of living will not and cannot earn us brownie points to heaven, but it does keep me close to God! The confusion of the world is mind-boggling. How can the internet, TV, and cell phones be part of a peaceful life in all godliness (I Timothy 2:2)? What a wonderful world this would be if people would spend half as much time with their Bibles as with their cell phones.
I Cannot Walk Together Unless We Be Agreed, By Kentucky
| September 1, 2017Dear Friends, we have been receiving your little publication, The Amish Voice, for about a year. With a sad heart, we have taken note of the scornful title and misleading articles that are published. I have resisted the urging of my dear wife to send this notice much earlier, but it has gotten to the point that I can no longer disregard this misleading material coming into our home, and I feel sure that I will be successful in finding other materials to use to start a fire. So I request the removal of my name from your mailing list once and for all.
The Old and New Covenant
| September 1, 2017What is the source of our justification?
Romans 8:6 says: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
We can know whether we are living in the Old or the New Covenant by whether we are walking in life and peace. In the Old Covenant, the continual focus was; Do this, don’t do that, and you will be accepted by God. This is called the “spirit of bondage” leading to fear (Romans 8:15). Fear, insecurity, condemnation, and discouragement are the fruits of trying to find acceptance with God with our own performance. No matter how sincere or diligent we are, this mindset will always lead to death. Our good will never out-weigh our bad. Any righteous works we do to make ourselves acceptable to God will always be repulsive to Him (Isaiah 64:6).
Wisdom and Fear
| September 1, 2017We like to think of ourselves as wise. We like to think that we follow what is good and right. However, if we try to determine right and wrong based upon our feelings or our society, then we are foolish in God’s eyes.
God has told us what true wisdom is. It is to fear Him (to reverence, respect Him; to submit to Him, realizing that He is in charge and His ways and Word are right). To understand is to know Him. Many people know about Him, yet do not know Him. To know Him, though, is to love Him — to love what He loves and to hate what He hates.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding (Proverbs 9:10). The fear of the Lord is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13).
Church Rules or No Church Rules
| September 1, 2017Is it God’s will for churches to create rules and standards? I wonder if I am incredibly brave for asking this question. Maybe I am incredibly crazy. Or perhaps, I am a little bit of both.
I have actually thought a lot about questions regarding the church and making rules. I finally felt that I should take an honest look and try my best to find the answer. Many of you have encouraged me and blessed me for searching. May we continue to be gracious toward each other, even if our opinions differ!
A Message for the Amish
| August 1, 2017The following article was written by a Miskito Indian, living in the deepest jungles of Nicaragua. She shared how the Lord gave her a clear message in the middle of the night.
Even though she has never met a single Amish person in her life, she said, “the Lord made it very clear to me—print and mail it out to Amish people.”
Eli and Leah Lee, former Amish missionaries in Nicaragua, hand delivered the article to our ministry and asked if we would include it in the Amish Voice.
Living in the Stronghold of Deception (Part 2 of 8)
| July 1, 2017Genesis 3:6: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
At that time, the wisdom of this world entered the hearts of mankind. They became self-conscious. They wanted to fix their condition by the wisdom of this world, by sewing fig leaves together and making themselves aprons. To this day, we want to save ourselves by the wisdom of self or of this world. It doesn’t matter in what form this wisdom comes, as long as it is not in God’s wisdom. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin [wisdom of this world], that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe (Galatians 3:22).
A Robe of Righteousness
| July 1, 2017Jesus told this parable:
When thou art bidden [invited] of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; and he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. (Luke 14:8-10)
If We Walk in the Light
| July 1, 2017If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Those are powerful words found in 1 John 1:7. It is a verse that tells us a lot about God.
First, God wants us to walk in the light. What light? Him. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). God is always light. The path we walk on is always lit if we walk with Him. If we walk with God, we will have fellowship with Him. Always remember, when we are walking with God, that He does not need us; rather, He wants us. He wants our fellowship, and our companionship. Amazing, isn't it?
The Joy of the Lord
| July 1, 2017And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (1 John 1:4)
Do you experience joy in your everyday life?
As believers, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are commanded by the Word of God to rejoice and be joyful. First, let us understand that this joy the Bible describes is not experienced by everyone. It can only be experienced by believers.
The Rebel's Voice, By Pennsylvania
| June 28, 2017We are sad that a man who was taught the truth about the Scriptures can be so deceiving. Instead of The Amish Voice, it is the voice of Satan. It is made up of half-truths and simple lies. Yes, there are some accurate Bible verses, but on the whole, it is very misleading.
It is our fear that at the judgement you will need to answer for all the misleading you are doing and the souls lost. The title should be The Rebel’s Voice.
Born Again and Living in an Amish Church, By Pennsylvania
| June 28, 2017Thank you for all your great articles in The Amish Voice. I am a born-again Christian, living in an Amish church. And I fully agree, it’s time the church understands that we are saved by faith.
Living in Hope, By New York
| June 28, 2017Greetings in the name of Jesus. I have for a while had questions about getting your little magazine called The Amish Voice. The story by Emanuel Schrock and now the last issue had one from Moses Schrock, both have a ring of gevis der seligkeit (knowing you are saved). That is contrary to what we were taught, and we believe that the Bible supports that teaching of living in der Hoffrung (in hope). Nix fur ungute.
The Love of God
| May 1, 2017We can feel it in a soft breeze.
We can see it in colored leaves.
We can receive it through a friend.
It will be with us in the end:
It’s the love of God.
Emotional Wounds
| May 1, 2017Emotional wounds are just as painful and real as physical wounds. Both wounds require time to heal. Neither one can be hidden or ignored. If I'm dealing with a physical wound on my hand, I fear that people will try to shake my hurting hand; so I pull back, stay away from crowds and hide in the shadows. If I'm dealing with an emotional wound in my heart, I will fear that someone will come too close, rub against my pain and hurt me all over again. For that reason, I'll build a wall around my emotional wound and live in a prison cell without bars. I feed my wound through all kinds of addictions; I’ll protect those same wounds by losing my temper and staying in control of everyone's life around me.
Living in the Stronghold of Deception (Part 1 of 8)
| May 1, 2017When God moves an individual or a group of people to do what He has called them to do, God Himself is the author of it, and these people are led by the Holy Spirit. This threatens Satan’s kingdom. It stirs up the demonic world of spiritual wickedness in high places. If we think we can battle this spiritual wickedness with our own carnal power, we will be utterly defeated, and the work of God will cease. I am not being negative; I am being truthful. I have seen it happen.
I Just Want to Thank You
| May 1, 2017Thank you Jesus for forgiving me. Thank you for your redemptive work on Calvary Cross. Thank you for loving me when I couldn’t love myself. Thank you for defeating me in my rebellion, conquering me in my sin, winning my heart, and capturing my mind. Thank you for being my hope, and my best friend. Thank you for welcoming me into your presence, working on me, reshaping me, molding me. Thank you for providing for my family, shielding and guiding me and all your people.
Two Men: One Religious, One Humble
| May 1, 2017During one of Jesus’ sermons here on earth, He began to tell a parable. In His story, He was specifically targeting a group of people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others (Luke 18:9).
His parable began by introducing two men who entered the temple to pray. Both of these men seemed to be good. The prayers of the two men, however, were very different.
A Partial Gospel, By Indiana
| April 25, 2017Dear Amish Voice,
It was with interest (and disgust) that I read Moses Schrock’s article on forgiveness in the January Amish Voice. A partial gospel is a lie. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6). Anything apart from the truth is also apart from Jesus.
As we read through the gospel, we notice Jesus did not spend much time or words with theology, but rather he called us to a life! Separated from the world, consecrated unto God our Father.
Bloom Where You Were Planted, By Ohio
| April 25, 2017Dear Amish Voice, we cannot agree with all your writings. The Christian life is not just an easy downhill ride. Consider 1 Peter 4:18. Also 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. I am not saying only Amish will be saved, but this is where we (and some of you) were planted. Read 1 John 2:15 and 19 and Proverbs 22:28. I do not have all the answers, but want to try to bloom where I was planted by the grace of God.
Salvation Crystal Clear, By Pennsylvania
| April 25, 2017I’m a sixty-six year old Amish man; we have ten children and forty some grandchildren. I really appreciated your story titled “Salvation Crystal Clear.”
The Amish Voice just came the other day, and I was just so blessed by the article. I can say that 100% agreed with it. You know, it used to be that I didn’t believe that way. Like I said, I’m an Amish man, and I’m okay in the church right now, but that about faith and works has been so distorted over the years.
— Pennsylvania
What Are You Trying to Prove, by Minnesota
| April 25, 2017To the Amish Voice,
Greetings in the Precious Name of our Lord Jesus, the Christ, the only Name given by which man must be saved (Acts 4:12).
As I read your paper, to me it seems it could be misleading. I’m not sure what you are all trying to prove. Now, the scriptures you quote are right, but let’s be careful and not neglect some [others]. I like to think of Eph. 2 as the grace chapter, but take a good look at verse 10, James 2:14-20.
Be Not Conformed to this World
| March 14, 2017Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2). Growing up Amish, I heard the first part of this verse preached a lot, but invariably the teaching would stop at the end of the sixth word. There is no period there, but a colon. Now, I am not an expert in sentence structure or grammar, but I do know there is a big difference between a period and a colon. The period means end of subject. A colon links what was just stated with what is coming. What comes after the colon is usually important.
A Willing Servant
| March 1, 2017Thank you, Jesus, for forgiving me. Thank you for your redemptive work on Calvary’s cross. Thank you for loving me when I couldn’t love myself. Thank you for defeating me in my rebellion, conquering me in my sin, winning my heart, and capturing my mind. Thank you for being my hope and my best friend. Thank you for welcoming me into your presence, working on me, reshaping me, and molding me. Thank you for providing for my family, shielding and guiding me and all your people.
I Am an Amish Man
| March 1, 2017I am an Amish man; we have much history,
In Switzerland, France, Holland and Germany,
Religious freedoms were denied in those nations,
So some fled to America to escape the situation.
The 6,000 Year Old Race
| March 1, 2017This morning, the Lord has been speaking to my heart.
Joe, all those who have been born of the Spirit are in a race, a race that began 6,000 years ago in the Garden of Eden.
In this race, your top goal is to pass the Message of Faith on to the next generation. Do not get distracted by the world and all of its temporary possessions. Do not get distracted by the runners next to you. Keep your eyes on the goal!
What is your Life?
| March 1, 2017Through His Spirit, God wrote: For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away (James 4:14).
When I was young, I thought fifty years of age was old – very old; I thought it would take a long time to get there. But as I write, I must tell you, I am just seven days away from turning fifty. It all happened so quickly!