THE AMISH PEOPLE

A HIDDEN REMNANT OF CHRIST?

In was inspired to explore who the Amish people are after an Instagram post by Allison Sadler, who posts under the handle of raising.lions.not.sheep_. She wrote a post recently, that as of August 16, 2025 has had 43.3K likes. She said "The Amish are living proof of what life could look like without the constant interference of pharmaceutical injections. This is a community that doesn't vaccinate their children, doesn't rush to inject them with liability-free shots at birth, and guess what? They're not suffering from massive outbreaks, modern plagues or epidemics of chronic illness. No hospitals flooded with dying children. No "public health crises. Just healthy kids raised on fresh food, clean air and faith - not fear. And here's what's even more jaw-dropping: autism is virtually nonexistent in the amish population. The very condition that now affects 1 in 31 children in mainstream America is barely even known in this unvaccinated, chemical free, pharma-free community. So what's the real difference between the average American child and an Amish child? It's not access to high-tech medicine or the number of checkups they get. It's the absence of pharmaceutical intervention from day one. The Amish aren't injecting their babies with neurotoxins like aluminium, polysorbate 80, formaldehyde and aborted fetal DNA. They're not sacrificing their kids to a system that treats them like profit margins and yet somehow, without any of it, they're thriving."

This essay explores the origin, beliefs, and lifestyle of the Amish people, comparing them to both modern Roman Christianity and ancient groups such as the Essenes and Gnostics. At the heart of this inquiry is a sacred question: Are the Amish a remnant people faithfully following Yeshua the Christ, preserved for a prophetic purpose in these end times?

In an age of increasing technological dependence, societal fragmentation, and spiritual confusion, the Amish stand as a paradox: a people untouched by the modern world, deeply rooted in ancient rhythms, and seemingly preserved by divine design. Are they merely a quaint cultural group clinging to outdated norms, or do they represent something deeper—perhaps a living remnant of a more faithful walk with God?

1. Who Are the Amish? A Brief Historical Overview

The Amish trace their roots to the Anabaptist movement of 16th-century Europe, part of the Radical Reformation that rejected the authority of both the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant reformers. They emerged as a distinct group under the leadership of Jakob Ammann in the late 1600s, emphasizing simplicity, humility, and strict adherence to scriptural commands—particularly the Sermon on the Mount.

Persecuted for their refusal to baptize infants, reject violence, and separate from the world system, many fled to North America in the 1700s. Today, the Amish live primarily in the United States and parts of Canada, preserving a way of life that resembles the rural 18th century, centered on community, agriculture, and obedience to Christ.

Core Beliefs and Way of Life

A. Separation from the World

At the core of Amish theology is Gelassenheit, a German word meaning submission, yieldedness, and surrender to God’s will. This concept informs every aspect of their lives. They take literally the biblical instruction to “be not conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2) and “come out from among them and be ye separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17).

Their rejection of modern technology, fashion, entertainment, and individualism is not asceticism for its own sake, but a disciplined commitment to avoid pride, distraction, and the corruption of Babylon's systems.

B. Nonviolence and Forgiveness

The Amish are famously pacifist, embodying Christ’s teaching to “turn the other cheek.” They refuse to bear arms, sue others, or seek revenge even in the face of violence. Their radical forgiveness in moments of national attention (such as the Nickel Mines school shooting in 2006) stunned the world and reflected a purity of Christian ethic lost in much of modern society.

C. Community Over Individualism

Salvation is personal, but not private in Amish understanding. The Ordnung, an unwritten code of conduct, governs their communities with mutual accountability. They live in tight-knit families, share labor, avoid debt, and make decisions communally. This echoes the early church in Acts 2:44–47, where “all who believed were together and had all things in common.”

The Amish and Yeshua the Christ

The Amish deeply revere Yeshua as Messiah and seek to walk in His footsteps, emphasizing obedience over dogma, humility over hierarchy, and discipleship over performance. They read the Scriptures daily, especially the New Testament, and model their lives after the life and teachings of Jesus especially His call to radical love, simplicity, and nonresistance.

However, some may ask: without open evangelism or “altar calls,” do the Amish know the true, personal, Spirit-filled relationship with Yeshua that modern charismatic believers speak of?

The answer is nuanced. While their faith may seem “works-based” to some, it is deeply rooted in faith that obeys, a principle Yeshua Himself preached. They live by example, not proclamation. In their quiet witness, the Amish may reflect the deeper message of the Gospel: “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7:16).

Are They the Remnant?

In biblical prophecy, the "remnant" refers to a small, faithful group preserved through trials to uphold the covenant of God (see Isaiah 10:20–22, Revelation 12:17). The Amish, though not ethnically Israelite, live as if set apart by divine design, an alternative society within Babylon, untouched by the technological seductions and moral chaos of the modern world.

Could they be a prophetic remnant, one that lives in alignment with natural law, family order, and Christ’s teaching?

They bear many signs:

• A preserved community in exile

• A refusal to worship the beast system of modernity

• A life lived in accordance with the teachings of Christ

• No allegiance to nation-state, empire, or worldly power

  
  

The remnant may not always speak in tongues or prophesy, but they embody the testimony of Jesus through action.

5. Comparison: Amish vs. Modern Christianity of Rome

Aspect	Amish	Modern Roman Christianity
Authority	Scripture and community Ordnung	Papal/clerical hierarchy
Lifestyle	Simplicity, agrarian, tech-free	Technological, consumerist
Worship	House gatherings, simple hymns	Grand cathedrals, liturgy
Sacraments	Baptism (adult), communion	Baptism (infant), Eucharist
Worldview	Separation from world systems	Integration with empire and politics
Power	Bottom-up, nonviolent	Top-down, historically militant
Christology	Focus on imitation of Christ	Emphasis on doctrine and sacraments

In this contrast, the Amish more closely resemble the early disciples than the modern institutions of Rome. Their refusal to bend to empire and modernity could be seen as an act of sacred defiance.

6. Ancient Echoes: Affinities with the Essenes and Gnostics

A. The Essenes

The Essenes were a Jewish sect living in desert communities during the Second Temple period. Like the Amish, they practiced:

• Communal living

• Ritual purity

• Separation from mainstream society

• Expectation of a coming Messiah

• Study of sacred texts

  
  

The Dead Sea Scrolls reveal that the Essenes rejected the corruption of the Temple and chose a wilderness path mirroring the Amish rejection of modern “Babylon.” There is no direct link between the groups, but spiritually, the Amish echo the Essene vision of sacred separation.

B. The Gnostics

The Gnostics sought hidden knowledge (gnosis) and viewed the material world as a prison created by a false god (the demiurge). While the Amish do not share this cosmology, they do perceive the modern world as spiritually dangerous. However, unlike Gnostics, they affirm the goodness of God’s creation and the incarnation of Christ in the flesh.

The similarity lies in their rejection of the world’s systems and their pursuit of inner spiritual integrity. The difference lies in their simplicity and obedience. The Amish live the mystery, not merely ponder it.

Conclusion: A People Prepared

The Amish are not perfect. Like any human group, they have struggles with legalism, excommunication, and generational differences. Yet they stand as a radical testimony against the collapse of civilization, the apostasy of the Church, and the deception of modernity.

They may not know they are prophetic but perhaps they are. Perhaps they are like Noah, building arks of simplicity and faithfulness in a time of digital flood. Or like John the Baptist, crying out in lifestyle, not words: Repent, for the Kingdom is near.

Whether they are the final remnant or one of many, the Amish remind us of what it looks like to walk quietly with God, to refuse the seductions of empire and to choose the narrow path of Christ.

A PRAYER AND REFLECTION INSPIRED BY THE AMISH PEOPLE

O Father of the Ancient Paths,

We thank You for the hidden ones

those who walk in silence but bear great light.

May the example of the Amish stir our hearts to deeper surrender, to holy simplicity, to radical discipleship.

Show us how to come out of Babylon, and walk the ancient, narrow way that leads to life.

In the name of Yeshua, our humble Messiah and Shepherd, we pray.

Amen.

Website detailing an Amish Wedding

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