To modern individualistic minds, voluntarily submitting to hundreds of detailed daily life rules under the Ordnung might seem oppressive. However, to an Amish Christian, yielding to the Ordnung is the ultimate expression of Gelassenheit—the central spiritual concept of Anabaptist theology.
What is Gelassenheit?
Gelassenheit (pronounced ge-LAH-sen-hite) is a German word with no direct single-word English translation. It encompasses self-surrender, humility, yieldedness, composure, and submitting one’s personal desires to God and the Christian brotherhood.
How Gelassenheit Shapes the Ordnung
- Rejection of Self-Promotion: Yielding personal style, vanity, and ambitions to maintain community equality.
- Quiet Contentment: Finding joy in plain living, physical manual labor, and peaceful fellowship rather than material accumulation.
- Surrender to God’s Will: Accepting life’s trials, illnesses, and seasonal shifts with patience without complaining.
The Ordnung is not viewed as a burden, but as a protective fence that nurtures Gelassenheit, keeping members grounded in spiritual peace and communal harmony.