Forgiveness!

Every day the news breaks some new disaster: nuclear bomb tests, war, shootings.

Different day different disaster, and so frequent that we can't remember what moved us last year.

Often we become spectators of a global 'Colosseum', where we are left feeling helpless and unable to bring about any change to the events that unfold before us.

But something special happened last week...

In the midst of the drama and sadness of the shootings at the Amish school, a gentle man spoke to the world with a message of forgiveness.

There was something very powerful in his quiet manner. He acknowledged the grief and sadness that was etched on his face, yet he spoke of forgiveness. In the ensuing days as the young girls were buried the news carried pictures of the horse drawn carriages of the families. Even this news coverage was held to a different dignity. There were no pictures of weeping and mourning, no outspokenness — just a community in grief burying their beloved daughters and forgiving the murderer.

This disaster was such an outrage particularly because it did disrupt such peaceable people. Yet they have been able to show the world the face of God in their response. It was such a strong sign that I was reminded of how radical it is to be Christian and how we can be such a sign of contradiction in the world.

Understanding that I have a limited understanding of who the Amish are, I undertook a little research. According to Wikipedia:

The Amish are an Anabaptist Christian denomination found primarily in the United States and Ontario, Canada, that are known for restrictions on the use of modern devices such as automobiles and telephones. The Amish separate themselves from mainstream society for religious reasons: they do not join the military, draw no Social Security (and are exempted by law from paying Social Security taxes), nor accept any form of financial assistance from the government, and many avoid insurance. Most speak a German dialect known as Pennsylvania Dutch (or Pennsylvania German), which the Amish call Deitsch. The Amish are divided into dozens of separate fellowships, which are each broken down in turn into districts or congregations. Each district is fully independent and has its own Ordnung, or set of unwritten rules. This article primarily discusses the conservative Old Order Amish fellowships that observe strict regulations on dress, behavior, and the use of technology. There are many New Order Amish and Beachy Amish groups that use electricity and automobiles, but still consider themselves Amish.

The history of the Amish is rooted, as indicated above, in the 16th century Anabaptists. Central to Amish practices is the high value they put on humility Demut or 'humility' and Gelassenheit or 'submission/letting be' and their revulsion for pride, Hochmut. According to Wikipedia there are three biblical verses that the Amish cite as encapsulating their way of life:

• "Be not yoked with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" [II Corinthians 6:14]
• "Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord." [II Corinthians 6:17]
• "And be ye 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]

In understanding a little of who they are is not to suggest we should all convert to being Amish, however, their example calls on us to remember our faith, our way of forgiveness and how we might be such a sign of contradiction in the world. There is another way. The image that Luke gives us of the crucifixion is of the compassion of Jesus in the height of his own pain, listening to the request of another being crucified 'remember me when you come into your kingdom.' [23:42]. Jesus offers forgiveness in his reply, 'Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.' [23:43].

In the harshness of this world when often the response is hatred, revenge, litigation and violence it is a beautiful sign of God among us to contemplate that gentle man speaking of forgiveness in the midst of his pain.

Rosemary Canavan lives in Adelaide. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts major in Psychology and two Bachelors degrees in Theology, the most recent an Honours degree in New Testament studies. She has two adult children.

Photo Credits: Amish carriage image from: mobius.cs.uiuc.edu/rhk/pics/amish.
Two Amish men image from: xark.typepad.com/my_weblog/images/amish.jpg

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Rosemary can be contacted at: rosemary@catholica.com.au

©2006 Rosemary Canavan

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