A Letter from an Amish Believer: It’s All About Jesus (By: L. Miller)

By Joe Keim

November 1, 2025

I have seen a copy of Amish: Our Friends, but Are They Believers? As is true everywhere, some are saved and some are not. This was ME, sitting under and teaching in a major denomination for many, many years. I missed the point entirely by being consumed with “religion.” When the HOLY SPIRIT finally opened my eyes, I went to our priest with the question, “Just what is the gospel?” I received no real answer.

Think about it. Just because you go through seminary, you are deemed “approved” to be in a pulpit. Does this occur in churches today? Yes! It is a mistake to write off any Christian denomination. It is also a mistake to assume everyone who labels themselves as “Christian” is saved (Mt 7:21-22). Combine this with James 2:14-18. It boils down to motive (Ro 7:6, 22-25). Your motive must be faith in God, with love for GOD, followed by a willing sanctification, which transfers ownership of self to God (Ro 12:1-2).

I have talked with many Amish who get it. At the end of one discussion, an Amish neighbor commented, “It is all about Jesus!” The Spiritual Amish wish to disciple the others. They put more emphasis on humility than the English. This carries over into seeking God in all things (Acts 17:24-31). Many of them KNOW it is FAITH in Jesus that initiates a relationship with JESUS, built on love for JESUS and a desire to please HIM out of LOVE. Do they all “get it”? Sadly, no. But a parallel question, “How many of us miss it?”

Just some thoughts to consider.

Sincerely, in Christian love, with prayer, L. Miller, NY

Dear L. Miller,

Thank you for taking the time to write and for sharing your thoughts after reading Amish: Our Friends, but Are They Believers? I truly appreciate your heart for the Amish people and the re-minder that salvation is never found in religion, tradition, a list of dos and don’ts, or a denomination, but only in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Himself said in John 5:24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

You are right that this truth applies everywhere. Many good, hard-working, and upright men and women sit in church services, and even preach in pulpits, yet miss Jesus Christ Himself.

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I pro-fess unto them, I never knew you: de-part from me, ye that work iniqui-ty” (Mt 7:22-23).

We are also overjoyed to see what God is doing in the hearts of some of the more conservative Amish and Mennon-ite churches that strayed from the truth generations ago. Many of the younger generation are feeling the hopelessness of following a system of rules and tra-ditions. They are asking questions and searching for real, authentic Christiani-ty. God is opening their eyes to the truth of salvation. Many are getting saved! Some choose to stay in their culture, which is alright, because salva-tion in Jesus is not based on what cul-ture we belong to. Others choose to leave the culture, and that is alright too, for again, salvation is not based on cul-ture and traditions.

The Bible is very clear that ordinances, rules, and laws cannot save us. In fact, God’s Word says: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col 2:14). Christ alone is our salvation. It is never about keeping a system, but about knowing the Savior who gave Himself for us.

The booklet Amish: Our Friends, but Are They Believers? was never written to “write off” the Amish, but to loving-ly point out, as you have, that salvation is not found in culture, simplicity, hu-mility, or good works, but only in Christ and His finished work on the cross. I am thankful, as you shared, that there are Amish who do understand this truth and boldly declare, “It is all about Jesus!” What a wonderful testimony.

With Christian love, Joe Keim

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