Amish Beliefs
View Table of All Denominations' BeliefsHow does one get saved?
Sola fide: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection alone to save you.
Who gets saved?
Anyone who chooses by his own free will to believe and accept God's gift of grace will be saved.
Can one lose his salvation?
Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy.
Who gets baptized and why?
Saved people get baptized as a public demonstration of their new lives.
How should baptism be done?
Baptism should be by sprinkling water on the head.
When does one receive the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation.
What is the trinity?
The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.
What is the human nature?
Total depravity: Human nature is corrupt, naturally inclined to evil, and incapable of choosing God on his own.
Are we guilty of Adam's original sin?
No, we are not guilty of Adam's sin, but we did inherit the consequences and a corrupt human nature from him, causing us all to sin.
Are Christians required to keep the Old Testament ceremonial laws?
No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus.
Can Christians become sinless in this earthly life?
Yes, Christian perfection is possible.
Do the elements of communion become the body and blood of Christ?
No, the elements merely symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ.
Can one be baptized of behalf of someone who has died?
No, the dead cannot be baptized.
What happens if a saved person dies without being perfect?
Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies.
Did Mary ever sin?
Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus.
How many church ordinances/sacraments are there?
The church has three ordinances: Baptism, Holy Communion, and Footwashing.
Sources
- https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Dordrecht_Confession_of_Faith_(Mennonite,_1632)
- https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Ordinances#:~:text=in%20addition%20to%20the%20two%20generally%20accepted%20ordinances%2C%20most%20dutch%20anabaptists%20(not%20swiss)%20and%20mennonites%2C%20and%20the%20amish%20as%20well%20as%20the%20mennonite%20church%20(mc)%20and%20related%20groups%2C%20have%20practiced%20and%20retained%20footwashing%20as%20another%20ordinance%2C%20performed%20either%20before%20or%20after%20the%20lord's%20supper.
To whom do Christians need to confess their sins?
Confession should be made directly to God unless the church might discipline for such sin, in which case it must be confessed to the bishop.
How should a church be structured?
Congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members.
What day of the week should Christians worship?
Christians worship on Sunday.
How many books are in the Bible?
There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books.
What is marriage?
Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.
Is sex permissible outside marriage?
No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.
When is divorce permissible?
Divorce is never permissible.
May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive?
Divorce is never permissible.
When does a fetus become human?
Humanity begins at conception.
Is contraception permissible?
No, contraceptives are not permissible.
Are blood transfusions permissible?
Yes, blood transfusions are permissible.
Should women cover their heads?
Yes, women should cover their heads to symbolize submission whenever in public.
Should Christians drink alcohol?
Most believe no, alcohol should be totally avoided.
Should Christians fight in wars?
No, Christians should never fight.
Do icons glorify God?
No, icons and images of people violate the Second Commandment against graven images.
Where does a Christian's soul go after death?
Christians immediately go to heaven when they die.