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The "Ordinances" are rules from the Bible which members
hold each other accountable to. These rules are not man made, but
God made, so that His people may live for Him in joy. The Beachy
Amish Mennonites do not keep the rigid Ordnungs of the other Amish groups,
for the Beachy Amish have a stronger focus on the grace and forgiveness
given us through Christ Jesus.
Here is a sample of the Bible principles which members hold each other
accountable to.
The Bible is God's written instructions for us today and guide us in
our daily life. We recognize holy living does not save us but is a result
of God's transforming power in our lives. Matt. 5:16--Let you light
so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your
Father which is in heaven.
--Also see Titus 2:11-14 and Col. 2:6,7.
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another..." Eph. 4:32
"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did
beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to
God." II Corin. 5:20
"Christ Centered
- Bible believing and Bible practicing Christians"
SEPARATION FROM
THE WORLD
"Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you,
and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall
reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's
sake." Luke 6:22
"Love not the world, neither the things that
are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father
is not in him." I John 2:15
"and the world hated them, because they are
not of the world, even as I am not of the world." John 17:14
"Wherefore come out from among them, and
be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing."
II Cor. 6:17
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is
this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,
and to keep himself unspotted from the world." Jam. 1:27
"Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate
you."
I John 3:13
"...separated unto the gospel of God... " Romans 1:1
"Set your affection on things above, not
on things on the earth." Col 3:2
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HUMILITY AND HOLINESS
"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little
child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Mat
18:4
"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and
he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." Mat 23:12
"And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Phil 2:8
"...be ye holy, for I am holy."
I Peter 1:16
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time" I Peter 5:6
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SELF DENIAL AND
DISCIPLESHIP
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
me." Mat 16:24
"And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after
me, is not worthy of me." Mat 10:38
"And He said to them all, if any man will come after me,
let him deny himself and take up his cross daily." Luke 9:23
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OBSERVE THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK AS THE "LORD'S DAY"
" And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples
came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to
depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."
Acts 20:7
" Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have
given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him
in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings
when I come." 1Co 16:1-2
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or
in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath
days:" Col 2:16
"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind
me a great voice, as of a trumpet," Rev 1:10
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HARD WORK
"not to be over emphasized"
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice
of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded
thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for
thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou
shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt
thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it
wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."Therefore
the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the
soil from whence he was taken." Gen. 3:17-3:23
And because of being of the same trade, he stayed with them
and was working, for they were tent-makers [by] trade.2Th 3:10
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if
any would not work, neither should he eat. Act 18:3
Also see Eph. 4:28
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AVOID USING THE CIVIL COURT SYSTEM
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall
smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Mat
5:39
"And if any man sue thee at law, and take away they coat,
let him have they cloak also." Matt. 5:40
I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man
among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his
brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before
the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among
you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather
take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
1Co 6:5-7
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FOOT WASHING
"...He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the
disciples' feet..." John 13:5
"Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also
ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example,
that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say
unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he
that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things,
happy are ye if ye do them. John 13:13 -17
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BROTHERLY AID (in lieu of
insurance)
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life,
what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body,
what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the
body than raiment ." Mat 6:25
"But if any provide not for his own and especially for those
of his own house, he has denied the faith and is worse than an
infidel." I Tim. 5:8
Also see Gal 6:2, Rom. 15:1,2
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REFUSAL TO FIGHT IN WARS
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the
other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy
coat also. Luk. 6:29
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall
smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Mat.
5:39
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that
curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you;" Mat 5:44
"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest
in the sight of all men." Rom 12:17
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PRIVATE SCHOOLING
"Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer
of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?"
1Co 1:20
"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet
not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world,
that come to nought:" 1Cor. 2:6
"For wisdom of the world is foolishness with God."
I Cor. 3:19
"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and
good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."
Jam. 3:17
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CHURCH IN HOMES
"The Lord of Heaven and Earth dwelleth not in the temples
made with hands." Acts 17:24
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SUBMISSION TO ELDERS
"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.
Yea, all of you be subject one to another."
I Peter 5:5
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GREET EACH OTHER WITH A HOLY KISS
"... Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches
of Christ salute you." Rom 16:16
"All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an
holy kiss." 1 Co 16:20
"Greet one another with an holy kiss." 2 Co 13:12
"Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss." 1 Th 5:26
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CHOOSING BISHOP BY LOT
"Choosing leaders from
local congregation"
"And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the
hearts of all men, show whether of these two Thou hast chosen
(to take the place of Judas)...and they gave forth their lots
and the lot fell upon Matthias..."
Acts 1:23-26
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest
report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint
over this
business.
Acts 6:3
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had
prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom
they believed. Acts 14:23
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MEN'S LACK OF HEAD COVERING
IN WORSHIP
"Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered,
dishonoureth his head."1 Corinthians 11:4
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WOMEN'S HEAD COVERING
"HEADSHIP VEIL"
"But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head
uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if
she were shaven.
For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if
it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
1 Corinthians 11:6
We have the Scriptural basis for this ordinance in 1 Corinthians
11:4-6 . It is not an ordinance made by man, but of God.
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UNIFORMITY OF PRACTICE
"That there should be no schism in the body; but that the
members should have the same care one for another." 1 Co.
12:25
"Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond
of peace." Eph. 4:3
"...Ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful."
Col. 3:15
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the
kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind," 1 Co 6:9
"Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us
walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing." Phi 3:16
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MODEST CLOTHING,
NO JEWELRY
"...that women adorn themselves in modest apparel...not
with plaited hair, or gold or pearls, or costly array."I
Timothy 2:9
"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands;
that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word
be won by the conversation of the wives;
While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting
the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which
is in the sight of God of great price.
For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who
trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their
own husbands..." 1 Pet. 3: 1-5
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TOTAL FORGIVENESS FOR THOSE WHO REPENT FROM THEIR SINS
"But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be
feared." Psa. 130:4
"I, I am He that blotteth out thy transgressions
for mine own sake, and I will not remember thy sins." Isa
43:25 -
"...for I will pardon their iniquity, and their sin will
I remember no more." Jer. 31:34b
"in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness
of offences, according to the riches of his grace" Eph. 1:7
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to
forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:9
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EXCOMMUNICATION
FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT REPENT
"Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn
from it: if he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his
iniquity." Ezekiel 33:9
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and
tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear
thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee,
then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two
or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall
neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect
to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and
a publican.Mat 18:15-17
"To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of
the flesh." I Cor. 5:5
"I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with
the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must
ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you
not to keep company,...if any man that is called a brother be
a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer or drunkard
or an extortioner: with such a one do not eat." I Cor. 5:11
"A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition
reject" Tit 3:10
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FORGIVE OTHERS WHO REPENT
" and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors,"
Mat. 6:12
"For if ye forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father
also will forgive you yours ," Mat 6:14
"but if ye do not forgive men their offences, neither will
your Father forgive your offences." Mat. 6:15
"Then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often shall
my brother sin against me and I forgive him? until seven times?
Jesus says to him, I say not to thee until seven times, but until
seventy times seven." Mat. 18:21-22
"Thus also my heavenly Father shall do to you if ye forgive
not from your hearts every one his brother." Mat. 18:35
"Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother should sin, rebuke
him; and if he should repent, forgive him." Luke 17:3
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another..." Eph. 4:32
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GRACE THOUGH JESUS CHRIST
" For ye are saved by grace, through faith; and this not
of yourselves; it is God's gift:
not on the principle of works, that no one might boast."
Eph 2:8-9
"And he said to me, My grace suffices thee; for my power
is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather
boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may dwell
upon me." 2 Cor. 12:9
"I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness
is by law, then Christ has died for nothing." Gal. 2:21
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RAISE OUR CHILDREN IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD
"Children are a blessing and a gift from the LORD."
Psa 127:3 (CEV)
"Train up the child according to the tenor of his way, and
when he is old he will not depart from it." Pro 22:6
"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but
bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
Eph 6:4
"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:
and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." Jam
1:15
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DISCIPLINE OF CHILDREN AND CHASTISEMENT
" I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit
iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the
stripes of the children of men" 2 Sam 7:14
"He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth
him chasteneth him betimes." Pro. 13:24
"Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul
spare for his crying." Pro. 19:18
"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod
of correction shall drive it far from him." Pro. 22:15
"Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest
him with the rod, he shall not die." Pro. 23:13
"Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his
soul from hell." Pro. 23:14
"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself
bringeth his mother to shame." Pro. 29.15
"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom he receiveth." Heb. 12:6
"But if ye are without chastening, of which all have been
made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."
Heb 12:8
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ABSTINENCE FROM
TELEVISION
"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the
work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me."
Psa. 101:3
"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners."
1Co 15:33
"
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is
good." Rom 12:9
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things
are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are
of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things." Phi 4:8
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ABSTINENCE FROM
STRONG DRINK
"Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor they sons
with the." Lev. 10:9
"For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall
drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with
the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb." Luk. 1:15
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be
filled with the Spirit.." Eph. 5:18
"Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;
but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;"
1Ti. 3:3
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ABSTINENCE FROM
SEXUAL IMMORALITY
"...the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned
in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which
is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their
error which was meet." Rom 1:27
"Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should
not lust after evil things, as they also lusted." 1 Co 10:6
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil
the lust of the flesh." Gal 5:16
"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification,
that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you
should know how to possess his
vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of
concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 1Pe 2:11
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as trangers and pilgrims, abstain
from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;" 1 Thess.
4:3
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WE WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT WE DO HERE ON EARTH.
"But if ye do not do so, behold, ye have sinned against
Jehovah, and be sure your sin will find you out." Num 32:23
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
that every one may receive the things done in his body, according
to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2Co. 5:10
" for it is God's minister to thee for good. But if thou
practisest evil, fear; for it bears not the sword in vain; for
it is God's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil.
Rom 13:4
"For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every
secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
Ecc 12:14
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SUBMISSION TO HUSBAND
"Marriage For Life"
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto
the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ
is the head of the church..." Eph. 5:22-23
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HUSBANDS LOVE YOUR WIVES
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the
church, and gave himself for it;"
Eph 5:25
"Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them."
Col 3:19
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DAILY BIBLE READING AND FAMILY DEVOUTIONS
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin
against thee. " Psalms 119:11
"Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation,
to doctrine." 1 Timothy 4:13
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15
"And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business,
and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;" 1
Thessalonians 4:11
"Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is
not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will
also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep
yours also." John 15:20
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PRAYING THROUGHOUT THE DAY
"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17
"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men
ought always to pray, and not to faint;" Luke 18:1
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
unto God."
Philippians 4:6
"As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save
me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud:
and he shall hear my voice." Psalms 55:16-17
"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day,
he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."
Mark 1:35
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MARRIAGE AND DIVORCES
"He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your
hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning
it was not so." Mat 19:8
"And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife,
except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth
adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit
adultery."Mat 19:9
"And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife,
and marry another, committeth adultery against her." Mar
10:11
"And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married
to another, she committeth adultery." Mar 10:12
"For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law
to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead,
she is loosed from the law of her husband." Rom 7:2 .
"So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to
another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband
be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress,
though she be married to another man." Rom 7:3
"The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth;
but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to
whom she will; only in the Lord." 1Co 7:39
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WE SHOULD BE DEAD TO SIN
"NOT MOVE TO REWARD OUR LUSTS"
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that
grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer
therein?
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like
as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Rom 6: 1 - 4
"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God".
Col 3:3
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by
whose stripes ye were healed." 1 Peter 2:24
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not
I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave himself for me." Gal 2:20
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with
the affections and lusts." Gal 5:24
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