Amish Response
Give me your reaction to the Amish response to their tragedy.
posted by M Clark at 10/10/2006 09:36:00 AM
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
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5 Comments:
I praised God for their response and for the way they were portrait in the media.
Their response was in a so calm and godly way, I think.
I was thankful that the Amish this time weren't shown as the crazy people living a simple life without electricity, but with crazy rules. This time they were shown as a respected different group living out their faith very boldly, without even big words.
I was thankful for the good attention that came through. I watched CNN one night and on Larry King was a (Presbyterian?) minister who had counseld the Amish and got together with them. He made very bold statements for Christ on his own behalf and on behalf of the Amish.
O - and not to forget the friends of the killer's wife who had a Moms in touch prayer meeting right when the shooting took place. Two of these women were also on CNN and gave such bold statements for Christ. Larry King asked them if their faith wasn't shaken. They said that they of course don't understand what was going on in this killer and that they grieve with the Amish, but that this doesn't shake their actual faith at all.
If there's a very bad situation and God brings good out of it - this was surely one!
As a regular local evening news viewer, 2 emerging themes became clearly apparent to me, in spite of ever present media spin.
The first: forgiveness
A reporter could not contain her amazement, that on the very night of the shootings, the Amish went to the home of the man's relatives and told them they forgave him. The Amish also attended the man's funeral, and are currently sharing food and other proceeds from collection centers with the man's family.
The second: community
An Amish man, who agreed to speak on camera, informed a reporter, that the Amish community would remain with the grieving Amish families, and would not leave them alone in their grief. This struck me as incredible strength and committment on the part of the Amish community, and an important example for us as we explore the Vision of Tenth.
I couldn't help but contrast these qualities with the usual reports we see on TV when tragedy strikes.
( while the Amish story was at the front of the news, the murder rate in Philadelphia had risen to 309 )
I have been praying that God would be glorified in the midst of this heartache and that others would see the loving results of faith in Christ.
What a wonderful testimony to the love of our Savior! In the midst of such a horrific event in their lives, the Amish responded with love and forgiveness. They not only showed forgiveness with their words, but through their actions of visiting the shooter's family and grieving with them, as well as reminding the country that while they appreciated the prayers and support offered for them, the family of the shooter needed prayers and support as well. What great strength it took for them to embrace the family of the man who turned their world upside-down and they gave full credit for their strength to their Savior.
Soli Deo Gloria! I pray that many will come to Christ because of the testimony of the Amish in the face of tragedy.
I had mostly impacted by the forgiveness shown, but the display of community at work certainly is a model for us at Tenth as well.
One of the main thing that came out to me (as others here seem to be saying) was the theme of Forgiveness. I have seldom if ever heard it so much discussed in the media or so consistantly exemplified by a set of vicitms. So often you hear talk of I want justice, I want answers etc. Here was grieve coupled with calm faith and acted on with forgiveness. So often I think we talk about forgiveness and say it is part of our creed but don't give it "feet" when the time comes. It was providentially interesting that the Sept. 30 copy of World magazine came into my hands that week. In it Andree Seu had an editoral on forgiveness called "The Thing We Don't Do". I am left by it all feeling challenged to grow in true and ready forgiveness.
The theme and value of community or fellowship also emmerged to me. While I don't share the Amish view that we should retreat from the world because of its evil. Rather that we are to be in the world but not of it. Anyway the point shown here is the value of community and shared belief in keeping us strong and focused on God and his ways as we go through crisis. Paul and I have often wondered how people with out the Lord and a church family get through a crisis in one piece. This too should challenge us.
(I guess Sparky basically said the same thing but more susinctly and elegantly.)
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