Monday Morning Insights

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    What the Amish Can Teach Us About Innovation

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    As you may know, the Amish have strict rules about what they can and can't do.  They follow a strict rule of Gelassenheit (which means they yield to God's will as manifested in the community's leadership).  This means, for instance, that in most Amish communities, electricity in homes and businesses is expressly forbidden (although in some communities electrical inverters are allowed so that shops can operate standard 110-volt AC machines like cash registers and typewriters with 12 volt batteries.  (Why electricity is fobidden and electrial inverters and batteries are allowed is still a mystery to me).

    But how does this have anything to do with innovation?  And how can the Amish teach us a valuable lesson we can use in our churches?

    According to the article, the Amish's self-imposed limitations, such as no electricity or no education over the 8th grade (to reduce pride and competitiveness) in and of itself promote innovation.  If you limit yourself from some resources, you find 'unique and innovative ways' to make up for what you don't have.

    A couple of quick examples:  Amish metalworkers are at the forefront of the revival of horse-drawn agriculture in the U.S.  (The number of horses on U.S. farms increased by 20 percent between 1997 and 2002).  Amish inventions are of special interest in developing countries, where draft-animal farming is still common.  Since they can't use electricity, the Amish are also leaders in hydraulic and compressed-air technology.  That results in devices that are often more energy efficient than their electric counterparts.  Innovation is alive and well... even in the Amish community!

    How does this relate to the church and where you're at today?  A couple things I think...

    First of all, don't wait for all the resources you think you need to be effective.  Start working with what you have.  If you don't have money; try to find things that don't demand money.  If you don't have the perfect facilities, work now to make your current facilities work (or find another alternative). Like the Amish, find a work-around.  You might even find a more 'energy efficient' way to doing ministry!

    And secondly,  if you do have resources at your disposal, they may be holding you back from finding some other valuable ways of doing ministry.  Don't let your resources hold you back!  You may be missing something very special.

    Hopefully, today you can say that you've learned something 'innovative' from the Amish!  smile

    FOR YOUR INPUT:  Do you feel resources or lack of resources affect your innovation and ministry strategy?

    I just finished reading an article in Technology Review about the Amish and innovation.  Where I live in Ohio, we have a large Amish community in nearby areas.  I’ve always viewed the Amish as hard-working people, and people that must take their faith very seriously to live the way they do… but I admit, I never really thought about them as ‘innovative’…

    Comments

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    1. bernie dehler on Tue, June 14, 2005

      Hi Todd-

        I agree with your two key conclusions/applications.  Sometimes, we (humans) make plans for what we want, then simply do a fundraiser (begging) to get it.  I wonder how much we could get done without the fancy-ness, and instead use the money to do works for God, such as feeding the poor.  Sure, having a “Crystal Cathedral” would be cool, but do we really need the “fancy-ness?”  ...as if it impresses God…  We forget that it’s all gonna burn…

       

      2 Peter:


        11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.


      ...Bernie


      http://freegoodnews.blogspot.com/

       

    2. Jeremy Harrison on Tue, June 14, 2005

      Great metaphor Todd.  I’m a fellow Ohioan, and I’ve marveled at the Amish in my community, and I’ve observed many churches (my own included) who allow their limited resources to get in the way of the opportunities that exist.

      Keep up the good work!

       

    3. Bill on Tue, June 14, 2005

      I have to admit that I am also surprised at viewing the amish as innovators.  I am often in Amish areas, Holmes County, Ohio is about an hour away, and never considered that.


      However, what impresses me even more is the willingness of the Amish to actually live what they believe far better than most Christians do.  Most of us profess Christ as Lord, and live just as the non-Christians rather than let our faith determine our lifestyle.

    4. Karl Landis on Tue, June 14, 2005

      Thanks for your good observations, Todd.  I would guess that most innovation is fueled by the need to solve a limiting problem.

      The reason the Amish ban electricity is that being on the public electric grid would connect their homes to the outside world in a physical way and would open their homes to forces that would circumvent their way of life (same with the telephone).  Batteries, hydraulics, and compressed air don’t require a physical linkage to the outside world and their use can be more easily structured by community decisions.  Battery powered TVs and PCs are banned b/c they are seen (rightly so!) as channels for influences that would undermine the Amish way of life.  Using electricity and computers in business applications is often acceptable, as is the use of a public telephone, b/c none of these connects Amish homes to the public grid.


      Karl

       

    5. Todd Rhoades on Tue, June 14, 2005

      Thanks, Karl… that helps me to understand it a little better?  http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif

      Todd

       

    6. ron gillis on Tue, June 14, 2005

      Dear Todd


      I spent 2 years at Ashland Seminary and while there looked at the Anabaptist world closely. An Amish bishop explained that every decision (including electricity) was made by asking “If He should tarry, how will this effect our grandchildren.” Like the telephone, electricity was seen as something that would make too many connections with the dominant culture, and therefore a threat. The refusal to accept tractors was explained as: If we had tractors then people would want to use them to go the the store. Then, they would see nothing wrong with automobiles. If we were to accept autopmobiles the community would be spread out so far that it would weaken the bonds that hold it together. The Amish like many conservative Anabaptists see Christianity an being lived in community so that could not be accepted. I suspect that the idea of becoming dependent on electricity (generated at some distant place) as making the community dependent on that outside (“English”) world.

    7. Pete King on Tue, June 14, 2005

      Wow,


      The Amish model really parallels the be ye separate from the world image protrayed in scripture. Understandibly, the danger of communal government is humanism but done correctly through following God’s word could bring us nothing short of utter dependence on God. I love technology and electricity but perhaps depending the power company and Bill Gates has depraved us of depending on God’s provision. Makes one think that it’s not far from impossible that we could loose these treasured gems and once again be brought to simplicity. After all no one really knows how long fossil fuels will remain as a resource for the world. This idea ties nicely with the battle of Armagedon. The Bible tells us that the blood will reach the briddle of the horses. Although we are not sure when His return will be, we also don’t know when our resources could dry up. If I can take anything from the Amish it’s the trust that God will provide even if our resources are limited. Our churches won’t starve and die as long as we know where our source comes from. Great article. Really made me think. More could be said here but time and space doesn’t allow for that. God bless.

    8. BeHim on Tue, June 14, 2005

      How many remember the movie:


      Schindler’s List


      At the end of the movie when Oskar Schindler broke down in tears wondering how many people the watch he wore, cuff links and pen he owned could have been sold or used to save the people.


      The point being, do we use our resources to reach the lost of the world.  We were asked in Bible College, “if you won the lottery”

      The response I remember most and sticks with me was “I would pay to learn every known language on earth and have the Bible translated to those languages and print trillions of Bibles and train millions of missionaries to make disciples of men”


      We don’t need buildings, computers, televisions, radio, etc to reach the lost.  We need knowledge of who God Is and understanding of The Full Counsel of God in presenting The Gospel.


      Don’t get me wrong, I very much enjoy all those things but yes, I believe they detract from serving our Lord, very much so.


      Maybe when trouble times come (as predicted by the FX original show “Oil Storm”) we will be able to learn from the Amish (or should we be learning now, before the trouble comes???).

       

      BTW. Karl and Ron, thank you very much for sharing these insights.  I am blessed and will Selah.

       

    9. Joel on Wed, June 15, 2005

      I am so blessed and ministered to through this services.My the good God meet all your needs.

    10. Rick H. on Wed, June 15, 2005

      My sister and brother in law live in Amish country in Lancaster County.  In fact, both their next door neighbors on either side are Amish.  The one innovative thing that is adaptable from their practice is that they know how to cooperate/borrow.  Since they are not allowed to have telephones, they readily borrow their non-Amish neighbors!

      Well we have a similar situation in our church.  Our much larger church neighbor from across the street (Assembly of God), has had a Christian school for many years, K-8.  When the parents pressed for a High School, they had no room.  When we completed our new 14 classroom Discipleship Wing, and since we had a great working relationship that we had established over the years, we are now cooperating with the opening of a Jr/Sr. High in our building (ABC/USA church).  This is how the Body of Christ is supposed to operate!  We will be entering our third year of cooperating ‘til we graduate this September!

       

    11. Ellen on Wed, June 15, 2005

      I think that another key to the Amish (and to a lesser extent, the Mennonites) is their contentment.

      They don’t have (or at least appear to have) that drive to *get*.  Get more stuff, get a bigger car, get a faster internet connection.


      If I had that key to life, well…


      Phil. 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

       

    12. Ricardo H. on Wed, June 15, 2005

      How do the Amish fulfill the Great Commission commandment and share the Gospel to all the corners of the world if they are not allowed to take advantage of technology? How do they travel to all the corners of the world? Last but not least if God did not wanted us to use technology to spread the Gospel why did he allow us to discover it in the first place?

    13. Rev. Joyce Wright on Wed, June 15, 2005

      Our church is “waiting” to start a “let’s get going and grow” campaign.  My husband and I are pulpit supply for a small church in Florida.  It’s aspirations are to grow, not to a mega church, but to grow in the community, to grow in numbers, to reach more people to tell them about Christ.  The session of the church keeps hemming and hawing that they are in a period of transition since their minister left six months ago.  We have given them ideas, but there is always an excuse as to WHY it can’t be done.  They are waiting to call a new pastor(s).

      I’m sending this article to all of the session members and a few of the church leaders so they, too, can see that you can make do with what you have until you have what you need.  Thanks.

       

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