A new article is out and it again shows that the Amish population is exploding:
A new report from the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania lays out a stark picture of an Amish population boom. The Amish population — a religious group that limits its member’s access to conveniences like telephones and electric lights — is growing at an estimated 5% a year and now stands at 249,500.
A new Amish settlement is being created at a rate of once every three weeks, the study found. Sixteen were established over the past year alone. A new community is typically small, with a few families that together form a church congregation that meets for services in their own homes.
What, if anything, should the church at large learn from this? With large families, no buildings or programs, high commitment levels and simple lives, the Amish are operating in a very different way than other Christian groups and unlike most Evangelical churches are not losing their children. What gives?
5 comments:
While I don't think it necessary to have the severity of restrictions the Amish impose on themselves, I do think the modern church could learn a few things. While I don't find material goods in and of themselves offensive or wrong, certainly the love of material goods is an issue the church deals with, and quite ineffectively, I might add. I also think we can learn from their sense of community, their support of one for another, and their willingness to live in a counter-cultural manner.
Mark
Mark,
I would agree. On the other hand, I have spent some time getting to know some Hutterian Brethren (who are not as severe on the restrictions) and there is a reason for what they do among the Amish and Hutterites and other "plain" people. It is an easier and perhaps more sure path to avoid worldy entanglements by cutting yourself off but the big downside is it also makes an effective witness very difficult.
I think that there are some things we can learn from the Amish. In many ways our modern evangelical churches are reflecting the cultural, rather than being the antithesis of the culture. Where do you find age segregation, beside the modern school system? In our churches, of course. Even at my rather conservative Christian Reformed church, the prevailing attitude seems to be, "A program for everyone and everyone in a program." Around every corner is a new opportunity for families to NOT spend time worshiping together. I doubt very much that children and parents are separated at the door when entering an Amish church. Amish children have no doubt that the church is definitely something that they will be growing into and leading some day. When the fun and entertaining programs finally end for our college age kids, they're left scratching their heads and saying, "Now what?"
Also, I haven't seen anything in my church that is encouraging to large families. With 6 kids, and a seventh on the way, we are basically regarded as kooks in our church. People are polite about it...they're happy for us, but are quick to point out that "they could never do it." Affluence and ease are the things that are really worshiped. There's always great weeping and gnashing of teeth on Facebook among the mothers from my church whenever a snow day demands that they spend an entire day with their children. Imagine! A whole day your own kids! The horror! All are quick to point out that they're pro-life...they march in all the right rallies...but would still describe a period that arrives a few days late as a "close call." Wait, is it a blessing or a hand grenade? Which is it?
Have you seen Demographic Winter? There are some interesting trends in population decline that the church needs to think about. Also, I'd highly recommend the talk by Voddie Baucham titled "The Centrality of the Home" Here's a link. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=5209234630
Good point, Arthur.
Happened on this column today after having written on the Amish myself just a few days ago.
http://christianity201.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/looking-at-the-amish/
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