Interested in learning about Holdemans

[Sudsy]

Talk about bunny trails and I thought I was bad.

[Ken]

Talk about bunny trails and I thought I was bad.

What? You DON'T think having the right vehicle is an important aspect of some plain lifestyles?

[Sudsy]

Talk about bunny trails and I thought I was bad.

What? You DON'T think having the right vehicle is an important aspect of some plain lifestyles?

Looking at the questions asked in the OP, which were to gain understanding about the Holdeman church, is owning the 'right vehicle' an important thing to those in the Holdeman church in living a 'plain lifestyle' ? From what I have read the Holdeman lifestyle differs from other 'plain lifestyles' in some areas.

It just seemed to me that all these considerations to buying a truck would not be something a Holdeman needs to take seriously. But if this is the kind of considerations a Holdeman should be making, then I guess the person that created the OP should know what they are in for even if this was not one of their questions.

I know I bunny trail and all these truck buying considerations struck me as bunny trails to the OP questions. YMMV.

[Josh]

Why are people so afraid of being accountable to their church community for e.g. buying an expensive vehicle?

[steve-in-kville]

This isn't my thread but I've been wanting ask... don't the holdeman women wear a different style head covering? My wife seems to think they crochet their own. I promised I'd ask.

[ABC 123]

Steve, the Apostolic ladies wear a crocheted looking strip.

The Holdeman ladies were something that looks like a tucked in black scarf.

[steve-in-kville]

Steve, the Apostolic ladies wear a crocheted looking strip.

The Holdeman ladies were something that looks like a tucked in black scarf.

What I'm thinking of is a shallow cap-style, black in color. Our neighbors have some relatives staying with them long term and the wife wears something like that. My wife is sure they identify as Holdeman Mennonite.

[Sudsy]

Why are people so afraid of being accountable to their church community for e.g. buying an expensive vehicle?

One reason, for me, would be that we are accountable, first and foremost to God in how we live a life unto Him. Romans 14. Some church communities require conformity to their particulars on how everyone in their community must live unto the Lord. And the church down the street has their versions which differ. Sin gets defined by the group (I.e. a black truck is OK but a red truck is not). As Romans 14 says this can even get into saying what we can and cannot eat and drink. When it comes to unity it is not being forced to all think and act the same. The local church is not a bunch of robots that all look and act exactly the same. YMMV.

[Ken]

Why are people so afraid of being accountable to their church community for e.g. buying an expensive vehicle?

Personally I'm comfortable being accountable to God. I'm less comfortable deferring major decisions about my life, career, and family to a group of other people who all have their own flaws. But I expect that just means that I'm not a good candidate for a highly-controlling church like the Holdemans or any other similar church. Your mileage may vary. I tend to think that the wide diversity of beliefs is part of what makes this country a strong and interesting place.

[MaxPC]

Why are people so afraid of being accountable to their church community for e.g. buying an expensive vehicle?

One reason, for me, would be that we are accountable, first and foremost to God in how we live a life unto Him. Romans 14. Some church communities require conformity to their particulars on how everyone in their community must live unto the Lord. And the church down the street has their versions which differ. Sin gets defined by the group (I.e. a black truck is OK but a red truck is not). As Romans 14 says this can even get into saying what we can and cannot eat and drink. When it comes to unity it is not being forced to all think and act the same. The local church is not a bunch of robots that all look and act exactly the same. YMMV.

Indeed.

Yet, I can also see these church community "ordnungs" or rules as a means of creating a sense of community; creating a bond between the families through a shared value set; and also as a means of keeping life in the community as congenial. By this I mean that I see those rules originally served these purposes for maintaining peace and orderly lifestyles so that the members can use their extra time and resources to help each other.

How that has changed with the passage of time I cannot say nor would I judge on that matter (since I am not Anabaptist and do not know the individuals who are members).