Christian Agrarians... Speak to Me.

Thanks, Cheryl, for your helpfullness.

So, if I am understanding this correctly ... it's a new religion? kinda like the "promise keepers" ?

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I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it."
Thomas Jefferson

As has been infered here already: anyone can call themselves anything they want, but that doesn't necessarially make it so. In my mind, "Christians" have given the name such a bad image that I won't call myself one, nor even claim of myself to "follow Jesus". If YOU can see by my words and deeds something 'christ like", so be it, and if not, let that be how I'm known.

As for Christian Agrarianism, isn't this just a new buzz word for a 'we is better than them because...' sort of thing - I mean the Mennonites, Amish, Hutterites, and some other odd corners of other faiths (including some "conservative Catholics", in what has been called "christian homesteading") have all based their culture on the firm belief that working in close relationship with the earth and each other was a God ordained (Genesis 3) way of life, centurys before being "being a disciple of the Anointed One who tills the earth" ever became an 'ism'. There are also bunches of folks doing the exact same lifestyle without "faith", or faith in things other than "God and Christ". Yet the work of a person's hands is in many ways a function of what is in their heart ("for where your treasure is, there shall your heart also be"), and in the final analysis, it isn't so much what a person does, but why they do it: whether an accountant or plumber "professes Jesus" as a good for business practice, or whether a person choses to put family ahead of great financial gain, or to grow organic on the plot he has been blessed with, just because "it's the right thing to do".

The problem with "isms" is that they often have a grain of truth amid the pile of manure they become, and it is too easy for some to focus on the grain of truth and ignore the stinking mess, and for others to chuck the lot of it and miss the grain of truth. I avoid 'isms' like the plague.

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Of all the evils that have befallen the earth, the worst is the desire of men to profit one from another. (Book of Andy 3:1)

Joey,

Loved the poem. Thank you!

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"I love all of this mud," said no one, ever.

I have nothing to say about the subject of Christian Agrarians, but this:

deserved a laugh.

I think since God created Adam and Eve to live in a garden, that's where He ideally meant us to live. I suspect the New Jerusalem will be a city unlike any we know today. It will undoubtedly be spread out with gardens and space galore! (My thoughts anyway.)

As far as Christian businesses go, I like giving my business to those who are Christians because in many cases they will turn around and bless someone else with an offering from their profits.

That said, Christians are just human beings subject to sins and faults like everyone else. This includes Christian business people.

In the Bible Belt there are probably people who some would call "nominal Christians" who use the title to help get more business. But I know others who actually lose business on Sundays by closing so that shows integrity in my view.

We always have to discern by someone's fruits. Anyone can "say" they're a Christian. But their actions speak louder than their words.

I find it odd that Christians are so browbeaten in our society (in some quarters) as though they're supposed to be perfect. No one is perfect.

We're all works in progress and churches are where sinners go, but get refurbished though repentance.

Anyway, off my soapbox now!

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LilyRose

That's unbelieveably sickening. Our retired pastor used to say that the American church is a mile wide and an inch deep. I think he was quoting someone else but don't know who. Jesus said in Matt 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Makes me wonder how many of these people who claim to be Christians in order to do more business are actually on the broad road. There is so much junk marketed at "Christians" that it makes me incredibly sad and sick. If "Christians" spent half what they spend on that stuff to alleviate suffering, there'd be a lot more people taking their faith seriously.

There is a lot of "Christian" marketing going on. It's a moneyfield ripe for the picking, especially in the area of contemporary rock music. I've heard some of those musicians are secular, but do "Christian" to take advantage of that market.

Ooops! (Did I actually say that here?)

(Hiding from the 'maters!)

Don't throw those 'maters! They'd make good eatin' for dinner tonight!

Nope, I didn't say that. Nope, I didn't say that. Nope, I didn't.....

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LilyRose

I am a Christian who lives on a farm. We believe that we have a responsibility to take care of the land we live on. We have a responsibility to those we sell farm products to (that our products are safe to eat). We do not publicize the fact that we are Christians.

There are many (as Ellebeaux posted the Christian Environmentalist thread recently) who believe that stewardship is part of the Christian Faith. I believe that too. This land is not just for this generation. We are supporting an ecosystem that is intertwined and intermingled.

But I don't think this is only a Christian thing--other religions also stress the need to take care of the land and animals. I liked what the poster said about following leviticus. Interesting...Please post more about this--other things that are done?

Last night I saw on TV they were making fun of a muslim Burger Chef in Paris. But, you know, I'd rather buy a hamburger from someone who could say the animals were humanely raised and slaughtered they way they do in Halal or Kosher butchers.

When God said man had dominion over the animals, I think he meant that we should be responsible about how we live with them. We do not have the right to obliterate species as we have done (are doing).

I agree with both of you. Folks like these are about as far away from being Christians as anyone could be ...yet they use the name and others judge all of us by them and their actions. Disgusting.

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I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it."
Thomas Jefferson

I like it when a business identifies itself as Christian. It means its proprietors are claiming to obey an authority greater than themselves (good) and that they purport to operate under God instructions of right and wrong (extremely good). If there is any problem or disagreement they have morally pre-agreed to settle it by a fixed set of standards. You can call them on it. Now, as always in humanity there are charlatans but it is better to trade with some firm that claims or at least aspires to God-determined righteousness than some firm mired in the current moral relativism or worse, no morals at all.

Don't fear. There's no threat. Non-believers can buy there too!

Here are a few blogs that would be of the Christian Agrarian type. I think most people who would label themselves as a Chrisitian Agrarian would see it as more than just farming. It is a mindset that encompasses a lot of beliefs regarding family, faith, land, self-sufficiency, the role of government in personal life, etc.

Not all Christian Agrarians that I have run across online are Calvinists although it seems that a lot of them do identify themselves as Reformed in their understanding of Christian doctrine.

http://northernfarmer.blogspot.com/

http://www.draughthorsepress.com/chronicles/

http://homesteaderlife.blogspot.com/

http://www.degenhart.us/blog/

http://ksmilkmaid.blogspot.com/

http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/

HTH,
Sallie

I'm afraid I see no connection between "good" business ethics and being a Christian and not being a Christian. It's a very individual thing. I want to deal with an ethical person. Just because he/she professes to be a Christian does not necessarily mean he/she is more honest than the non-Christian next door.

KAK,

It is an unfortunate reflection on the state of Christianity today that as a Christian I have to agree with you to some degree. It should not be that way. Unfortunately there are a lot of people running around using the name of Christ who do nothing to reflect accurately who He is.

On the other hand, I think this quote is also true:

“Even though I am Jewish, I think the demise of religion in this country, which I recognize is overwhelmingly Christianity, is a tragedy of unparalleled proportions in American history. And for those who argue with me on my show [by saying], ‘Dennis, what are you talking about? Religion has caused a lot of evil and you know it doesn’t make people any better,’… I have one question for them. ‘Imagine,’ I say to the caller, ‘that you are walking in a very bad area of Los Angeles at midnight. You are alone in a dark alley. Ten men are walking toward you. Would you or would you not be relieved to know that they had just attended a Bible class?’ Generally there is silence after that question.” Dennis Prager, talk show host on KABC Radio, Los Angeles

Sallie

Well, it depends--am I wearing a Pentacle? Am I obviously gay, or a woman wearing "revealing" clothing?

Howdy Folks

Christian Agrarianism is an alternative to Industrail Capitalism. We believe that mans first calling is to be good stewards to His creation. In general, we are for local economies built of small family businesses (not only farms). For the most part we are Calvinists of the Reformed Presbyterian type and we believe that Gods Law is the standard by which all men should live. We reject usury and fiat money. I'm headed back to the barn, but here are a few articles that will give you a good idea what we're all about.

The Lament of a Repentant Capitalist, and the Hope of Christian Agrarianism
http://degenhart.us/blog/?p=48

Industrialist, Environmentalist or Agrarian?
http://theagrarianfoundation.com/blo...p?p=14#more-14

Modern Capitalism: A Christian Agrarian Critique
http://theagrarianfoundation.com/blo...p?p=13#more-13

Thank you so much for posting those sites. I've just started reading them and they look very interesting.