smittyoneeach's Journal: Unlikely Heroes

http://www.amazon.com/Amish-Society-John-Hostetler/dp/0801844428/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207968965&sr=8-14
Amish Society, p. 270
Compulsory Welfare

The Amish people maintain positive religious teachings and attitudes toward helping all their needy members. They are deeply sensitive to any forces that would erode the principle of self-sufficiency in caring for their old people, widows, and orphans. Self-sufficiency is the Amish answer to government aid programs such as far subsidies and social security payments. They comply with crop reduction programs but refuse payments for raising fewer crops. Amish leaders have repeatedly gone to Washington to seek freedom from federal aid. It is not that they are opposed to paying taxes, but they are opposed to any form of dependency on government.
The Amish opposition to compulsory insurance was widely publicised when social security benefits were extended (Public Law 761, January 1, 1955) to cover self-employed persons, including farmers. A delegation of Amish bishops made numerous trips to Washington seeking exemption from the tax and its benefits. Before congressional committees they contended that "Old-Age Survivors Insurance is abridging and infringing to our religious freedom." In support of their stand they quoted the Bible: "if any provide not...for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel (I Tim 5:8). To pay social security tax, the Amish say, is to admit that the government has a responsibility for aged Amish members, and to admit this is to deny the faith. They know that this alliance with government would make future generations dependent on the government. Federal means of providing for these needs are viewed as purely secular, if not sinful.

Yeah, I think that my church, among the bulk of them in these United States, has really missed an opportunity to make a powerful stand for the Word we claim to espouse.