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Radical Reformation History  /  Lecture 11: The Birth of the Amish  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 9
Hans Reiss repeatedly avoids direct answers—using wordplay about preparation for communion, the priest entering once a year, and later quoting, “What goeth into the mouth does not defile…”—while Jacob Amen demands clarity and treats evasion as possible apostasy. What does this reveal about truth-telling, fear of “traps,” and integrity in leadership, and how should Christians weigh the difference between careful speech and evasive speech?
Another way to ask: What does this clash show about honesty, fear of being trapped, and integrity in leaders? How can Christians tell the difference between careful answers and dodging the truth?

Direct Answer The transcript portrays a leadership clash: Reiss uses careful, even witty language that avoids commitment, while Amen treats non-answers as spiritually dangerous when the church needs clarity. Dean’s telling implies integrity requires more than cleverness; leaders must speak plainly when the issue is central to discipline and unity.

Support from Transcript:

  • When pressed on communion frequency, Reiss gives a worded non-answer: if one can prepare well, “two time would not be too much… [and] one time is not too few,” frustrating Amen’s desire for clarity.
  • Later, when asked about Dordrecht/shunning, Reiss again avoids a direct confession and quotes Scripture: “What goeth into the mouth does not defile…”
  • Dean comments directly on Reiss: “he’s a witty man. But he’s not direct. And that really bothered Jacob Amen.”
  • Dean suggests possible motives: fear of “a little bit of a trap… If I say yes to this, if I say yes to that,” implying self-protection.
  • The conflict escalates because Amen interprets refusal to affirm Dordrecht as “apostasizing from the faith.”
Discussion Follow-ups When is “careful speech” wise, and when is it a refusal to be accountable? What questions should leaders answer plainly for the sake of the church, even if they fear being misunderstood?

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