Last year, I was given a copy of Why Be Plain? by some dear ex-Amish friends who told me that it was mailed to them by their still-Amish relatives. As soon as read it, I knew I had to write a response. Having spent so much time interacting with sincere Amish people over the past six years of my life, I had grown very fond of them, but at the same time, my heart had been broken.
None my Plain friends realized how far their Amish community had drifted from the faith of their forefathers—the original Anabaptists of the 16th century. None were benefiting from the centerpiece of that original faith—the spiritual rebirth that results in heart-obedience to Jesus’ commandments. None were enjoying the wonderful fruit of the indwelling Spirit, listed in the New Testament as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22). None possessed assurance of salvation (see 1 John 5:13).
Once I read Why Be Plain? I better understood the reason. In short, biblical truth had been supplanted by hundreds of years of human tradition. Plain people possess a unique, inherited worldview that is designed to preserve itself at all costs. Plain traditions are preeminent. Nothing—even one’s relationships with one’s family members—is more important than protecting Plain traditions.
Knowing something about God’s love for all people, I could not remain silent. To borrow a phrase from the apostle Paul, “the love of Christ constrained me” (see 2 Cor. 5:14).
It is obvious that the Old Order Mennonite authors of Why Be Plain?, Larry S. Weaver and Terry B. Zimmerman, are very concerned that Plain people, and especially their youth, are being led astray regarding the Plain faith and lifestyle, with the result that they are abandoning both to join more liberal churches or, worse, embrace “the world.” The fact that Weaver and Zimmerman have written a book to address their concern reveals that the problem is widespread and likely increasing.
I can certainly sympathize with their concern. All parents love their children, and they do not want them to be led astray in any way. For Plain parents, however, the thought of their children abandoning their faith and lifestyle is extremely distressing, because their Plain faith requires that they sever relationships with children who stray, shunning them to some degree (which varies from one Plain group to another). That in itself is distressing. But worse, their Plain faith also informs them that children who stray have no hope of eternal life, and that they will eventually find themselves in hell. Thus, Plain parents have no greater fear than that their children, other relatives, and friends will stray from their faith.
Naturally, anyone attempting to influence Plain people to question their beliefs or practices is perceived as a threat to be resisted, because there is too much at stake. Loved ones are at risk. Children may become estranged from their parents. Those who now have some hope of attaining heaven could become destined for hell.
I have become acutely aware of that understandable fear since I became involved, three years ago, in publishing a magazine for Amish people, The Awakening! The stated goal of that magazine is to help Amish people reclaim their wonderful Anabaptist heritage. I believe firmly that unless the Amish return to their original roots and the faith of their fathers, the current exodus of Amish youth (and older people) will only accelerate. I suspect the same is true for all Plain groups.
Some Amish people blame The Awakening! magazine for the current exodus, but tens of thousands had already left the Amish over the past decades, long before we ever started publishing. Moreover, we have never encouraged our readers to leave the Amish[1] and, in fact, have encouraged them to remain Amish for as long as possible. But there is nothing we can do to stop Amish communities from excommunicating Amish people for “adopting a new faith” who have actually reclaimed their Anabaptist heritage and been born again.
My heart’s desire is that every Plain person who has not yet experienced the new birth would experience it. It is never my desire that Plain families would be broken apart. In fact, I am working to reconcile broken Plain families by promoting a biblical gospel that has the power to reconcile every shattered relationship (more about that later in this book).
The exodus of Plain people from their communities should give all Plain people reason to pause and ask why so many do leave, especially in light of the fact that everyone who does so fully understands the dire consequences. They all know that their families, friends, and entire communities will disapprove of them, officially vote to excommunicate them, and then shun them to some degree for the rest of their lives (or until they return and ask forgiveness).[2] Some know they will lose their jobs if their employers are Plain (and if those employers are willing to break federal laws that prohibit religious discrimination). Some employers know that they will lose their Plain employees. Some know that they will be disinherited. Yet they make the decision to leave. Why?
“The lure of the world” is often blamed for their defection. “They just want to drive cars, have smartphones, and wear the world’s clothing” is a prevailing explanation.
But think about that commonly repeated accusation for a moment. Does anyone really believe that some Plain people are willing to permanently forsake their relationships with their families, relatives and friends, lose their jobs, forfeit their inheritances, and adjust to an entirely new lifestyle just so they can drive cars, own smart phones and wear different clothing? That explanation seems far-fetched. Obviously, something deeper has motivated thousands of Plain people to pay such a high price in order to escape Plain life. What is it?
Significantly, many Plain people who leave their communities do not abandon church life or Christianity. Granted, some land in churches that downplay the necessity of holiness and obedience to Christ’s commandments. It becomes very clear that Jesus is not their Lord (and He likely never was). But with many others, that is not the case. They may no longer be keeping the peculiar practices that uniquely mark Plain people, but they are very much striving to obey all of Jesus’ commandments. Many will tell you that they are living much more obediently to God than they ever were when they were Plain, and their lives are the proof. They can enumerate the differences. I know many such ex-Plain people.
If you are a Plain person, do you know anyone who has left one Plain community to join another one? From my observations, Amish people frequently do that. Many do it multiple times over the years. And the reason, most often, has something to do with the ordnung. They don’t agree with some of the rules, so they move to where they think the rules are a little different. Their move often results in tensions or broken relationships within their immediate and extended families. Yet the reasons to leave outweigh their reasons to stay. So they leave and endure the consequences, whatever they are.
Can you see that what I have just described is no different than what happens when Plain people leave Plain life entirely? In both cases, people don’t agree with something, so they move. And in many cases of those who leave the Plain lifestyle entirely, what they don’t agree with is all the rules and traditions that can’t be found in the Bible. They disagree on spiritual, biblical grounds, and they are willing to pay a significant price to escape.
My claim is certainly supported by the book Why Be Plain? and even by its title. It is a refutation of the reasons Plain people give for leaving the Plain churches. The authors do their best to find the flaws in those reasons. In the pages that follow, I will point out where their arguments do and do not align with Scripture.
I hope that my love for all Plain people will be obvious in the pages that follow. They have been born into a religious system that has been passed down from their ancestors. Most don’t realize, however, that what has been passed down has not remained faithful to what was taught and practiced by the original Anabaptists. This is why I will at times be referring to the eighteen articles of the 1632 Dordrecht Confession, to which all Anabaptists, including all Plain groups, subscribe. At the source of the “Anabaptist River,” the water is biblically pure and safe to drink from, whereas downstream, the waters have been muddied.
I’ve written primarily to Old Order Amish readers, as I am most familiar with them. I live in the midst of Pennsylvania’s third-largest Old Order Amish community, and my magazine’s readers are primarily Old Order Amish. What I have written, however, has application to all Plain groups, as I am responding to a book written by Old Order Mennonite authors for a Plain audience. This writing project consumed months of my time, but my love for Plain people kept me motivated.
If someone gave you this book as a gift, it is an expression of love for you on their part. Perhaps you mailed copies of Why Be Plain? to your formerly Plain family members, and now those same family members have reciprocated by mailing this book to you.
That shows that you both desire a mended relationship. This book can help build that bridge.
The best way to read what follows is with a copy of Why Be Plain? nearby for reference,[3] although that is not essential, as most of the reasoning found within the pages of Why Be Plain? is familiar to Plain people. I’ve quoted the authors more than 130 times, and I’ve quoted Bible passages even more often. Generally, I’ve followed the progression of Why Be Plain? chapter by chapter. I recommend starting from the beginning of this book rather than with a chapter that might hold special interest, because my later chapters build on my earlier chapters.
Any Plain reader who respects the Word of God and has an open mind will likely be challenged in a positive way. My hope is that God will be honored by the unveiling of truth from His precious Word and that Plain people across North America will rediscover their biblical spiritual heritage to enjoy all that their ancestors did, which all starts with the new birth. May the Lord help us on our journey.
David Servant
April 2025
[1] The exception would be when readers are being verbally, physically, or sexually abused.
[2] It should be noted that, among young adults who depart from a Plain lifestyle, those who have not yet been baptized are generally treated less harshly than those who have been baptized (and who made vows to the church).
[3] At the time of this writing, Why Be Plain? is not available on Amazon.com. It is available, however, at homemessenger.net and through local bookstores.
