Affirms
Holy Spirit indwells believers and guides the church in faithfulness
The Amish affirm the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity, who indwells baptized believers and guides the community. The Spirit enables believers to live faithfully according to God's will, to exercise spiritual gifts for the common good, and to discern the Ordnung of the community.
The Amish are not Pentecostal: dramatic charismatic expressions such as tongues or healing services are not part of Amish practice and would be viewed as disruptive to the quiet, orderly community life that Gelassenheit implies. The Spirit's work is associated with the formation of humble, obedient character rather than with spectacular manifestations.
Key Distinctions
- Personhood:
- third divine person, coequal with Father and Son
- Spiritual gifts view:
- open but cautious — gifts may continue; tongues not mandated as evidence
- Spirit baptism:
- occurs at conversion; subsequent experiences of filling are possible
Scripture References
Sources
- Dordrecht Confession of Faith (1632), Article 7