Nuanced
Arminian: God desires all to be saved; Calvinist election rejected
Amish theology holds an Arminian view of salvation: God desires all people to be saved, and grace is offered to all. Calvinist predestination — the unconditional election of some for salvation and reprobation of others — is inconsistent with the Amish understanding of God's character and with the voluntary nature of adult baptism and community commitment.
The Amish practice of Meidung (shunning) of excommunicated members presupposes that individuals can fall away from the faith and that returning to faithful community life is both necessary and possible — neither consistent with strict Calvinist perseverance of the saints.
Key Distinctions
- Election model:
- conditional election — God elects those he foreknows will believe (Arminian)
- Double predestination:
- denied — God does not predestine any to damnation
- Free will teaching:
- libertarian free will — prevenient grace enables genuine choice
Scripture References
Sources
- Dordrecht Confession of Faith (1632)
- John A. Hostetler, Amish Society (4th ed., 1993)