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Authors: Donald B. Kraybill,Steven M. Nolt,David L. Weaver-Zercher

BOOK: The Amish Way
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Rules of a Godly Life
 
Beloved friend, if you desire to lead a holy and God-pleasing life and to attain eternal salvation after this time, then you must measure your whole life by the Word of God as the only standard of faith and conduct, and let all your thoughts, words, and deeds be in accord with the same, as commanded by God (Deuteronomy 5:32, 33).
That is what the king and prophet David did when he said, “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:59), as if to say, “I examine and ponder on all my doings—all my thoughts, words, and deeds to see if they are according to thy commands—so that if I have done wrong in one or the other, I can return to the right.”
Part One Concerning Your Thoughts
 
First of all, that which concerns your
thoughts
:
Take the following rules deeply to heart:
 
1. In the morning, awake with God and consider that this might be your final day.When you go to bed at night, you do not know if you will ever rise again, except to appear before the Judgment. For this reason, it is all the more expedient for you to pray every day, falling upon your knees both mornings and evenings, confessing your sins to God and asking His forgiveness, and thanking Him for blessings received.
2. Refrain from wicked, idle, and unclean thoughts. “Keep your heart with all diligence” (Proverbs 4:23). For whatever you allow your thoughts to be, your speech, your conduct, and your entire way of life will be the same.
3. Think often on the four last things: on death, of which there is nothing more certain; on the Judgment Day, of which there is nothing more terrible; on hell, for there is nothing more unbearable; and on heaven, for there is nothing more joyful. He who often thinks on these things will shun innumerable sins and be diligent in true godliness.
4. On the Sabbath Day take special note of the wonderful works of God—the creation and governing of the earth, and the work of redemption. To these meditations add the sacred practice of prayer, thoughtful attention to sermons, godly conversation, and such like. In this manner you will rightly observe the Sabbath and keep it holy as commanded so often in God’s Word. If you however do not have a conscience against profaning the Sabbath, you will hardly hesitate to violate all the other commandments of God as well.
5. In all things, before you begin something, be cautious and ponder what the outcome may be. In all that you do and undertake, think constantly whether you would want to be doing it if that very hour you were to be called by death to appear before God’s judgment. For this reason never allow yourself to be found in any situation in which you could not trust or hope for your salvation. Live every day as if you might die and appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
6. If anyone wrongs you, bear it patiently. For if you take the wrong to heart or become angry, you hurt no one but yourself and are only doing what your enemy would like for you to do, giving him the satisfaction of seeing how annoyed you are. But if you can be patient, God will in His good time judge rightly and bring your innocence to light.
7. Especially beware of discontentment or a spirit that is never satisfied. It is the grace of God that allows you to also have some suffering and trouble. God bestows on you various blessings so that you do not despair in want, but then He also metes out a portion of trouble and pain lest you become proud and presumptuous in too great a joy. No matter what misfortune strikes you, remember that because of your sins you deserve far worse.
8. If other people praise you for some virtue, humble yourself. But do not praise yourself, for that is the way of fools who seek vain glory. In all your dealings be honest—that will be reward enough and others will praise you.
9. Don’t be overly concerned what others do, and if it is none of your business, don’t meddle in it.
10. In suffering be patient, and silence your heart under the mighty hand of God with these meditations: first, that it is God’s hand that chastens you; second, that it is for your benefit; third, that He will ease the burden; fourth, He will give you strength to endure; and fifth, He will deliver you from affliction in due time.
11. Never consider any sin as unimportant or of no account. First of all, every sin however small and insignificant it may appear is nevertheless a transgression against the supreme majesty of God. Secondly, a small sin that is loved can condemn a man just as well as a gross sin. A small leak if not repaired can sink a ship in time.
Likewise, even the smallest sin if it is cherished and not repented of, can bring a man down to hell. Beware then not only of great sins but of small ones as well. Make a habit of overcoming the least of sins so that you can be master of the great ones, too. Especially shun willful sinning lest you provoke God to anger, for it is hard to obtain forgiveness for sins that are willfully committed.
12. “Rejoice not when your enemy falls” (Proverbs 24:17). What someone else experiences may well happen to you by tomorrow. And anyone who rejoices at the misfortunes of another will not remain unpunished (Proverbs 17:5).
13. Carry no envy or hatred against anyone. The Lord loved you while you were His enemy, and therefore He expects you to also love your enemy for His sake. It is but a small thing for us humans to forgive our debtors compared to what God the Almighty forgives and pardons us. Even though you may think your enemy is not worthy of your forgiveness, the Lord Christ is certainly worthy of your doing it for His sake.
14. Do not esteem godliness any less because it is held in contempt and scorned by the ungodly. On the other hand do not look more favorably upon sin just because it is so common, and the majority of the people live in ungodliness. Numbers are no proof that a matter is right. The way to hell is always full of wandering souls (Matthew 7:13).
If God should ask you on the Last Day, “Why did you profane the Sabbath? Why did you become drunk with intoxicating beverages? Why did you lie? Why did you live with hate and jealousy toward others”—would you then answer, “Lord, I did so because nearly everyone else did so.” That would be a wretched answer! God would then say to you, “Because you have sinned with the majority, you must also be cast into hell with the majority.”
15. If you are faced with an important decision in which you do not know just what is best to do or to answer, take at least one night’s time to think it over.You will not be sorry.
16. Never go to sleep without first reviewing how you have spent the day just past, what you have accomplished for good or evil, and you will readily perceive whether or not you are making good use of your time, which is irredeemable.
Part Two Concerning Your Words
 
1. Think that for every idle word you speak you must give account thereof in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36). “In the multitude of words, there wanteth not sin” (Proverbs 10:19). So try to avoid idle talk and let your speech be deliberate, of few words, and truthful. Consider beforehand if what you are about to say is worth saying. Practice saying much in few words. Never state anything as true and authentic if you do not know for certain that it is so, and rather remain silent than to say something which may be false or otherwise of no value.
For when it once becomes known that you have no conscience against lying, no one will believe you even when you are speaking the truth. If however you love the truth, your words will be believed above the oath of a liar.
2. If you desire to be cheerful among honest friends, take care that your joy be not contrary to Christian love, nor to purity and respectability. Refrain therefore from rude insults and mockery that respectable people would be ashamed to hear. First, because such lewd words are an open testimony of an impure heart. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). Secondly, smutty jokes and foul speech smooth the road to shameful conduct.
Indeed, you may say, “One has to have something to relate when in company with his friends to pass the time and to delight each other.”
That is a wretched excuse. First of all, such mirth is clearly forbidden in God’s Word. “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not fitting,” says the holy Apostle Paul—we must avoid them. Secondly, such lewd speech provokes the wrath of God (Ephesians 5:4, 6). Through suchlike evil talk and vain mirth the Holy Spirit is grieved (Ephesians 4:29, 30).
The tongue is the glory of man and the crown of all the members of the body. Shall a person then use it for obscenity? When the tongue is corrupt it defileth the whole body, filling it with unrighteousness (James 3:6). For this reason, loathe every kind of filthiness and let your speech be always pleasant and upbuilding, so that those who hear it may be bettered thereby. Use your tongue to admonish the sluggard, to instruct the ignorant, and to comfort the sorrowing. God will increase His gracious gifts to you accordingly (Mark 4:25).
3. Take special care to refrain from the vulgar, lightminded, grievous and shameful misuse of the holy name of God. It is certain proof of a frivolous, impious, and ungodly character to habitually profane the name of God with swearing. Yes, it is also evident that he who constantly swears seldom speaks the truth. For if he has no scruples against the misuse of God’s name, why should one suppose that he has a conscience against lying?
“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil” (Matthew 5:37). In order to better avoid profanity, avoid the companionship of those who curse, lest you also fall into the habit. Rebuke your friend therefore, if he willingly accepts it. If not, there is no gain in rebuking a scorner (Proverbs 9:8).
4. Be not too ready to believe everything you are told, and do not repeat everything you hear. Otherwise, you will quickly lose your friend and gain an enemy. If you thus hear a complaint against someone or other, be sure to investigate the circumstances and only then give your criticism or opinion.
5. Confide to no one your personal secrets unless you have beforehand thoroughly proved him. Here is a way to test him and learn to know him: confide to him some matter of small importance, and thus learn to know him without risking harm to yourself. For if he keeps the secret to himself, it is an indication that he is to be trusted with confidences. Nevertheless, don’t tell your friend everything, for if you should chance to fall out with him (which can easily happen), he will use his knowledge to your harm.
6. Do not speak evil of your friends. Rather, speak well of them in all that is praiseworthy. If they are at fault, keep it to yourself, for slander and scornful gossip are poison and a ruination to any friendship.
If you hear your neighbor’s faults being criticized, search first your own heart before you join in.Without doubt you will find that you have the same, if not greater, shortcomings.Thus you will be moved to either better yourself or not speak evil of your neighbor, or belittle him.
7. When you are in need of good advice, do not seek first someone prominent who is highly esteemed, but go instead to someone who has had experience in the matter in which you seek advice. Otherwise if some esteemed person in authority gives you advice and you do not follow it because you do not think it is good advice, you may anger him and thereby make him your enemy.
8. If someone with good intentions has given you advice which failed, do not blame him. For even good advice often fails, and there is no one on earth who can tell what the future holds. No person is wise in everything, or has enough foresight. Nor should you scoff at the advice of lesser men if they have your welfare at heart.
9. Do not make fun of another’s weaknesses, but think of your own shortcomings (Galatians 6). We all have our faults and there is no one of whom it is not said, “Oh, if only this were not!” Either we are, or have been, or can become what another is. For this reason, have patience and sympathy with your neighbor’s weakness and frailty. And yet, do not be a hypocrite by condoning him in his sin, or neglecting brotherly reproof and admonition.
But if you do wish to rebuke him, be careful to bring your reproof at a suitable time. For to rebuke others at the wrong time will do more harm than good, especially if the rebuke is too sharp and not tempered with meekness. A reproof is like a salad, in which one should use more oil than vinegar.

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