GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 7:8/p>
Ordnungs system
Alice and I lived in northeastern Pennsylvania for several years. Occasionally, we would drive to Ronks, located in Lancaster County, to eat at Miller’s Smorgasbord, which is surrounded by Amish farms. Tracing their origin to the 16th-century Anabaptist movement led by Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) in Zurich, Switzerland, the Amish began migrating to the New World in the 18th century to escape European religious persecution. Hardworking, honest, and caring, the Amish live by the Ordnungssystem (classification system), a set of community rules that regulate lifestyle, technology, dress, worship, and education. The Ordnungssystem prohibits the use of modern technology such as automobiles, telephones, or televisions. There are, however, workarounds. While a telephone is prohibited in the house, it may be permitted in the barn. While they are not allowed to own an automobile, they are permitted to ride in one.
Much of our life is regulated by traditions that we have received from our ancestors, though most of them are not as formal as the Amish Ordnungssystem. I saw the beginning of an automobile race recently, and the audience stood, without being asked, for the singing of the national anthem and the invocation prayer. Men even removed their hats. The race, however, was run counter-clockwise.
The problem Jesus faced with his judgmental critics from Jerusalem was that they distilled their worship of God to external rules. The Amish live a tightly regulated life, but they strive to honor and please the Father. For the Pharisees and scribes, honoring God consisted of closely adhering to the tradition of the fathers without the heart or spiritual connection. They were careful to wash their hands, cups, and couches without washing their hearts, spiritually speaking. They were content with the external show of commitment without the internal reality of commitment. They were content to see that their hands were clean while plotting to kill the teacher, which led Jesus to say, “Having let go the commandment of God, you are holding to the tradition of men.” (Mark 7:8)
So, honor and keep tradition—yes; honor, worship, and obey the Father above tradition—yes.
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