All of us watched in horror as the news came screaming across the wires. 10 little, Amish girls shot execution style in the head inside their one room school house in Pennsylvania. If you are anything like me, you felt shock and deep sadness, followed by an intense anger at our messed up society. How on earth could someone commit a crime like this? Last week we watched the same thing happen here in Colorado at Platte Canyon High School. Young girls assaulted and one dead after some sicko took them hostage. I am a loyal MSNBC watcher, and today's news out of the small, Amish village in Pennsylvania was stunning. The very people whose children were murdered in cold blood were on national television forgiving the man who committed these atrocities! There was even word that the families of those murdered went to the shooters home on the night of the shootings to tell the shooters wife and family that they hold no ill feelings towards them or their late family member. Reporters were caught off guard and somewhat speechless as they interviewed these quiet, Amish people about the topic of forgiveness.
What can we learn from this unique group of people in their time of grief? A whole LOT! I am humbled by their faith.
From the Amish Website:
Question: Do the Amish consider themselves born again Christians? How would they describe their relationship to God? Do they study the Bible or use additional prayer books?
Answer: Yes, the Amish are of the Christian faith and would be born again by accepting Christ as their Savior. Their relationship to God is the same as any other Christian would relate. The Bible is the main study book. The Amish do use a prayer book in church services and some would also use this in the home.
Although they may have differing beliefs and interpretations of scripture, they seem to agree with us on the absolutes of the Christian faith. From the small amount of research I have done on this faith group, we all have some things that we could learn from these amazing followers of Christ.
Forgiveness is one of the most difficult concepts known to man. How do you truly forgive someone for hurting you? According to this community of Amish citizens in Pennsylvania, "If you have Christ in your heart, it is easy to forgive others as Christ has forgiven you."
I find myself convicted in many areas of my life where forgiveness is desperately needed. I recently read on the topic of forgiveness and pray that this quote will ring true in your heart as it has in mine...
"We hesitate to forgive when we are offended because we are sure that the other person is wrong. Forgiveness has nothing to do with who is right or wrong. Nor does it mean that we condone what that person did. It simply means that we will not let another person's sin ruin us. Forgiveness prevents someone else's action from producing hurts, wrong attitudes or sickness in us." -Pastor Ted Haggard from the book "Primary Purpose."
My hope and prayer is that those of us who follow Christ and want to be leaders in His church will really search our hearts and strive to live lives of forgiveness. This little, Amish community has given a HUGE testimony of who God is and how He can change our hearts to the entire world. I am grateful for their hearts and their words.
Please keep this community and the community from Bailey, Colorado in your thoughts and prayers as they begin the long process of healing.
For more information on the shootings at the school house in Amish Country, visit MSNBC.
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