In Praise Of The Amish
Televangelists like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson preach a Gospel of division and exclusion. Like their Muslim counterparts they divide the world into saints and sinners.
Televangelists have so demonized homosexuals, feminists and pagans that fundamentalists perceive non-Christians as less than human beings. And if a Matthew Shepherd is murdered simply because he is gay, well what do you expect when a sodomite flaunts his evil lifestyle?
The Christianity practiced by most evangelicals is foreign to the life and example of Jesus Christ, and I’m sure that the humble man from Galilee wouldn’t recognize these self-righteous folks as his followers.
To find real Christians you have to bypass the multimillion dollar cathedrals built for the glory of men.  We recently witnessed an example of true Christianity in a rural Pennsylvania Amish community.
A madman walked into a one room Amish schoolhouse, tied up 10 little girls, and then shot them execution style, and finally took his own life. Five of the girls died and the others are in serious or critical condition.
Thousands of news stories and editorials have been written about this unspeakable atrocity, but at the end of the day what this man did is unimaginable and unexplainable.
Not too far down the road from that humble schoolhouse, the crazed killer was laid to rest. Among the mourners were several grieving Amish who had lost their children. Roberts’ widow and children were comforted by these Christ-like Amish and assured that they were still loved and accepted by the community.
This example of forgiveness is incredible and unexplainable; it’s a testament to the Christian belief that we can only overcome evil with good.
A few minutes witnessing the Amish go about their daily business is more edifying and spiritually uplifting than countless hours spent watching the histrionics of a Jerry Falwell.
I write a weekly column for a small town newspaper in Virginia, and I also write for several Web sites. Please leave a comment or send me an email at: rreyes4966@aol.com | More from Robert Paul Reyes
Stumble It!
October 12th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
Almost right Rob.
I, as well, don’t have much use for the televangelists and the multimillion dollar cathedrals.
However, you are exaggerating and speaking from ignorance and prejudice.
The typical evangelical Christian will be able to forgive the perpetrator of a crime from a similar position as the Amish folk you refer to.
They would have to struggle to be able to do it, but they would. That’s what it’s all about. Struggling to live up to the standard He set.
“This example of forgiveness is incredible and unexplainable”
That inability to understand, my friend, is one of the burdens you bear.
Other than that, well said Rob. (seriously)
Yes, the Amish and Mennonites can be rather a fine example.
I hope to never have the opportunity to find out if I am as strong as they are. (Knock on wood)
October 13th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
Hey RPR-
just found out that October is Hispanic Heritage Month(and FYI, March is Women’s History Month)as designated by the Federal Government. Each month has some group designated for recognition and celebration. There is no such month as Men’s History Month and there is no such month for my heritage. Heck, with so many members of Congress as well as the White House doing political gymnastics to allow lawbreakers to enter the U.S. illegally (and so many U.S. employers willing to hire them) and to reward this behavior with “a comprehensive approach to immigration reform”, and with the special recognition to Hispanics in October it sure looks to me like Hispanics have lots of friends here in the U.S.. At least powerful ones. Wish I could break the law and get the government to not enforce it. I know it’s not germaine to this column but I thought you’d like to hear about Hispanic Heritage Month.
October 13th, 2006 at 3:10 pm
Televangelists have so demonized homosexuals, feminists and pagans that fundamentalists perceive non-Christians as less than human beings.
Reyes you’re drunk, aren’t you? For your sake I hope so. Real Christians hate the sin, not the sinner.
October 13th, 2006 at 4:02 pm
Squiggy, from your mean-spirited comments I get the feeling that it’s me that you hate, and not my “sins”. I get quite a few letters from Christians calling me every name in the book. But I’m sure that qualifies as “righteous indgination” and not hate.
October 13th, 2006 at 5:35 pm
Televangelists like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson preach a Gospel of division and exclusion. Like their Muslim counterparts they divide the world into saints and sinners.
And leftists preaching a gospel of “diversity” and bashing white Christian males is more inclusive?
This example of forgiveness is incredible and unexplainable; it’s a testament to the Christian belief that we can only overcome evil with good.
Speak for yourself. The rest of the time, leftists bash such Christians as primitive and simple minded. Maybe if marxists could keep the number of murders by socialism per century under 100 million, they could say the same.
October 13th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
Squiggy said:
“Real Christians hate the sin, not the sinner.”
Rob responds:
“I get the feeling that it’s me that you hate, and not my “sinsâ€.”
Squigg, you don’t understand. Rob lives in Old George’s world. Evil is not “real”, therefore Rob cannot have sin.