The Holy Bible is our TRUE Guidance, by M. A. H.

November 1, 2017

Please do not send the “Amish Voice” to this address. We have the Holy Bible for our TRUE guidance. We can go to church and hear the Word preached by servants ordained by God. Why don’t you send these things to unbelievers? Why the name “Amish Voice”?

I am under the assumption (I may be wrong) that the folks doing this are not Old Order Amish and use modern conveniences. Why are people led away from denying themselves these things?

It happens with people that say, “Oh, yes, we can serve God and have worldly things as long as our heart is right.”

These conference calls that have taken over the interest and hearts of so many Plain people, when their time should be spent with their children or visiting the sick, etc. It is just Satan’s ways to get them away from God and closer to the internet with its evil. Now you are hiding these conference calls with supposed Bible study.

Let us pray to keep families at home studying the Bible without a telephone and going to church with prepared hearts to listen to Jesus’ instructions through ordained ones—not self-ordained people who have not kept to their parents’ and church’s instructions.

—  M. A. H.

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Jonas Yoder responds:

Thank you for your response and concern about the Amish Voice. We appreciate your input about our publication as we strive hard to keep it biblical and relevant to the times we are in.

It is a wonderful privilege that we have God’s Word readily available in our homes to read every day. We also believe that it is our ultimate guide in life, along with the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us if we are born again.

One reason we are burdened to publish and send out the Amish Voice is because of a realization that many people who do go to church (this is not limited to the Amish or Mennonite people) are simply going through the religious motions and have never developed a spiritual connection with God through the new birth, and because of that will live their life of religion and then die and go to hell. We believe it is very important to constantly challenge and admonish believers and non-believers alike. God desires relationship instead of religion. Matt 23:27

While unbelievers definitely need these kinds of materials, we believe that Christians need to be challenged in all areas of life as well. In other words, if it's good for the unbeliever it's also good for the believer. 2 Tim 2:15

The reason for the name “Amish Voice” is because the contents are geared to address spiritual needs that are oftentimes relevant to the Amish culture.

The articles published in the Amish Voice are written by people from various walks of life who all use certain forms of modern conveniences. The fact is, all of us living in a modern world, use modern conveniences, including Old Order Amish. I am assuming you are referring to Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. While many people think of modern conveniences as of the world the Bible never defines it that way, but rather, it calls things such as cursing, stealing, drunkenness, sexual immorality, taking the Lord’s name in vain etc. as of the world. Ironically, all the above listed are current problems in the Old Order churches. Also it tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, which in its context is calling worldliness a condition of the mind rather than material things.

True spirituality is not defined in what a person has or doesn't have. In essence the Plain churches of today, by application, back up that statement in that every community is different in what they allow themselves to have and yet across the whole spectrum of communities allow practically every modern convenience you would find in the average American home. All the while, many times condescendingly looking at those who have more than they do, as too worldly; and those who have less, as unnecessarily strict. Bottom line is, God looks at the heart rather than what we allow ourselves.

It happens with people that say, “Oh, yes, we can serve God and have worldly things as long as our heart is right.”

The heart or the spirit of man absolutely has to be right with God in order for anything to be right. Behavior modification or disallowing oneself certain things never produce righteousness. In fact the only righteousness that produces favor with God is the imputed righteousness of Jesus. Read Romans 4, also 2 Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

I would encourage you to join in on the conference calls, every first Sunday night of the month at 8 pm EST; whenever it does not conflict with things such as time well spent with your family or visiting the sick. We all find time to do what is important to us. The motive of the conference calls is never hidden, as we plainly advertise the purpose and the subject of the calls in the Amish Voice publication. All our previous calls have been recorded along with the subject of each one plainly stated for anyone to listen to — and yes, they are Bible studies. We welcome you to join in the discussion on the live conference calls.

Thank you for your input and concern. Prayer for our families is always needful and very vital. We believe God has called all believers to communicate His will and Word by whatever means necessary because of the value of a soul.

Every living soul is an eternal being and it is our God-given duty to share the hope of the gospel by any means necessary. Matt 28:19-20. After all, it makes an eternal difference to the one who receives the Word of God and believes the Gospel. John 3:16

— Jonas Yoder

 

 

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