Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 1
Susan described being “sprinkled into the Amish church” at 18 “because it was an honor to my parents…going through the motions, not understanding,” and feeling like a “good girl” for obeying; how does her story expose the difference between conformity to a religious system and genuine repentance before God?
Another way to ask: How does Susan’s story show the difference between just following church rules to please people and truly turning to God with a repentant heart?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Susan’s “sprinkling” shows a kind of obedience that mainly fit the system—doing what was expected, without understanding or heart-change—while her later repentance shows personal conviction, surrender to God, and a sensed forgiveness that changed her inside.
- She says at 18 she was “sprinkled…what we would call baptized,” mainly because “it was an honor to my parents, and it was what you did.”
- She describes it as “going through the motions, not understanding” because she “did not understand the German.”
- The result of that system was moral confidence: “I did feel like a good girl because I obeyed my parents…[and] the Amish church…follow all the rules.”
- Later, when repentance was discussed, she says she “truly saw myself who I am…a very sinful person…no way that I’m going to make it to heaven without surrendering to God.”
- She connects repentance to real cleansing: “I was in tears…at that moment… I felt clean. I knew that God forgave me.”