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Gelassenheit: Seeking Grace Through Community

Through the history of man the search for Grace has taken many forms. These forms generally reflect the predominant culture, philosophy and mores of the time and place. Grace-living at peace and in harmony with oneself and with the world around us-is generally portrayed as a solitary pursuit within the major religions both East and West. Moses to Buddha and Zoroaster to John the Baptist sought peace and harmony alone in the wilderness. To a culture based on rugged individualism and self-dependence, to the extent that a person elects to seek Grace, this would be the obvious way to enlightenment.

To this culture, the idea of seeking grace as a group project would appear alien and counter intuitive. Communities-a social group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceiving itself distinct from the larger society within which it exists-- have long gathered with the stated goal of finding peace and harmony. The contemporary management consultant and author Steven Covey, of the "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" fame, has proposed that Grace is at the pinnacle of a series of paradigms culminating in "Interdependence," a term he defines as independent individuals electing to cooperate in exchange for the superior, synergistic results in their relationships. Interdependence, says Covey, leads to peace, harmony and success.

Curiously, a template already exists for this search for Grace through the fostering of community and service to God. For five hundred years the Old Order Amish, known primarily for their fine craftsmanship, serenity and baffling practices, have been seeking to be worthy of God's Grace through a strict adherence as a group to the rejection of Hochmut (pride, arrogance), the quest for Demut (humility) and ultimately Gelassenheit, (pronounced "gay-las-en-hite.") Though the term has been interpreted variously through the ages and has no clear translation, to the Amish its core meaning is "submission"-giving up of one's self to the higher authority of God. And in one's daily life, God's "higher authority" is explained and enforced within the structure of their local community through a bishop selected-by chance. To the Amish, the purpose of any community is to support each other in this quest for submission.

Needless to say, this approach to Grace is not without significant challenges. Amish beliefs are not a traditional culture in the mold of Native Americans, but rather an other-directed culture, growing out of European roots, a strict reading of the New Testament and hewing to a conscious decision to accept life with a community and its rules. Gelassenhite as practiced is "letting be," submitting to the Will of God as expressed through group norms. It is anti-individualistic, which is no small feat in a global society competing for the rank of number one.

Organized around small local communities, districts, Amish life is paced by the Ordnung. Again no precise translation, the Ordnung is the "understanding" between the members as to how they will live and act. Bearing an interesting resemblance to the U.S. Constitution in its structure if not in content, it is the rules and customs that all adults are expected to obey. It's a loosely structured document that every district must interpret for itself. And each community must come to its own consensus of that understanding.

This expectation of obedience is uncompromising. Disobedient members are expelled ("shunned"), but with the hope that the experience will bring them back. The Ordnung defines the values, structure and symbols that result in the Amish personality of humility, modesty and calm as witnessed by the world outside. Work is seen as a sacred ritual with gain coming to the group and as glory to God. Amish reject many modern tools and contrivances to promote dependence on the group. You don't need a crane to lift your house beams if you have numerous neighbors there to help.

A traditional Amish barn raising.

Covey states that one must be independent; proactive, principle centered and focused; before one can become interdependent. The conundrum of the Amish society lies exactly in this understanding of the difference between independent and individual. Amish culture promotes a common dress and values, a close knit community in agreement. At the same time each member must find his way to Gelassenheit, albeit with support of the others.

The significance of this support is more apparent when one understands that unlike modern Evangelicals, the Amish believe in self-denial rather than self-fulfillment rejecting the idea that one can "find the answers," have no doubt about faith or be "sure of salvation." For them, as Amish historian Donald Kraybill stated, "boldly stating that one is saved is a pretentious self-assertion that borders on idolatry, for only God can make such claims." Amish live lives of service and humility trusting in God's Will, providence, and hope that all will work out well.

One caveat: this community is not perfect or without its strife. There have been three major schisms in the last 100 years, breaking off as many denominations as other churches. And the personalities are as many and varied as any group. As one Amishman told me, "we are just farmers," albeit eighteenth century ones, "susceptible to the same shortcomings as anyone else." It is just that their target is a little higher.

The Amish Way is unquestionably a challenging life, particularly in the face of a world that is going in the opposite direction as fast as possible. The rewards for their sacrifice is the loving concern of the group: Grace through a simple life with meaning. Their "community as the ultimate decision maker" is a level of interdependence, with synergistic results, that we can only begin to comprehend. If Grace is harmony and peace with Creation and with the Creator, the Old Order Amish with whom I spoke have found a solid path in the direction toward that Light.

While it is unlikely we can join them-proselytizing one's beliefs is the height of Hochmut-there is a great deal of value to be learned about the acquiring of Grace through community

References:
The Riddle of Amish Culture, Donald B. Kraybill, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1989
The Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. www.gameo.org