by Phil T. Arnold
On our vacation early this month, Carol and I had the opportunity to spend a short time in an Amish town in north central Missouri by the name of Jamesport. It is interesting to see the yellow and black traffic signs giving warning as we neared the town. Instead of picturing a deer, falling rocks or some other matter peculiar to the area about which motorists should be attentive, the signs depicted a horse-drawn black enclosed carriage. And we were not disappointed as we spotted several of the conveyances so uncommon to us.
In fact, while Carol explored the local craft and antique stores, I stood on the corner of the two main cross streets and observed their “rush hour” traffic. I did learn one thing about the carriage traffic at the four-way stop – - they don’t stop! Talk about rolling a stop sign! They didn’t even stop when an automobile was already waiting at the intersection to cross in front of them. They simply slowed down, looked both ways and “bluffed” there way through. I concluded that stopping and starting a one-horse carriage was more time consuming and difficult than stopping and starting a hundred-and-sixty horse automobile.
Another observation also crossed my mind as I observed the Amish mode or transportation as well as their unique attire – here is a people who surely are not conformed to the world but have failed to change the one thing absolutely necessary for them to change – their heart. Their choice of vehicles and manner of life are certainly distinct from most of the other people in this world and akin only to those who share their particular faith. The only trouble is that these life choices are not predicated upon the truth of God’s word but the traditions and teachings of men. In this way, they are truly conformed to the world having rejected the truth of God for the teachings of men which makes all other distinctions from the world meaningless and their service to God vain (Matt.15:9).
Brethren, we must not be conformed to this world.
