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Christianity Today, October, 2007 |

The Good Shepherds

A small but vigorous movement believes that in farming is the preservation of the world.

Rob Moll | posted 10/25/2007 09:20AM

God had performed miracles for Scott and Donna Lehrer before they began looking for a farm to buy. When their marriage was in crisis, each one had decided, separately, to attend church. They became Christians ...

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Sam	Posted: October 28, 2007 11:53 PM

Wow, what a way to diss on the hippies. I guess before when the hippies were calling foul, trying to get people to see how important it was to work with Mother Nature... that's why the Christians stuck up their nose? But now that Joe has co-opted organic from the dirty hippies it's okay again? I'm sure I'd be more welcome in a rural setting than in the Christian world. While I'm glad Christians are becoming enlightened, I'm unimpressed with the holier-than-thou us versus them attitude. Just a shame. What's sad is if we'd been listened to, rather than dismissed or run off for the idea of what we are, then maybe there wouldn't be such a mess. Nice illustration of cutting your nose off to spite your face. There's lessons to be learned here. Let's hope God opens your eyes and ears so you can see and hear, but most of all opens your minds so you can actually take it all in. Welcome back from insanity. We have a LOT of work to do.

James

Posted: October 27, 2007 7:12 AM

I'm so glad to see Christianity Today has noticed the growing Christian agrarianism. There is a wonderfully endearing book about this movement of the Lord that was published last year. It is titled, "Writings of a Deliberate Agrarian," by Herrick Kimball (his blog is linked at the end of the article). Here's a quote from the back cover: "In response to the myriad ills of our industrialized culture, a growing contingent of dedicated believers is taking steps to restructure and refocus their lives. They are going back to God's original mandate: back to the garden, back to simplicity, back to self-reliance, back to family, back to community, back to the basics of the faith. These are the Christian agrarians... With a newfound respect for the past, and assured hope in the future, these new Christian pioneers are reforging the old paths and embracing the virtuers found only in the agrarian way of life. In the current age, their countercultural beliefs are nothing short of revolutionary."

Ron	Posted: October 26, 2007 9:15 PM

I think the real question is if God's children are listening for their calling or not? Are you knocking? Are you asking? Or could you care less; continuing down the path of fear, pride or willfulness that you are on? The Lerher family appear pleased with the direction they feel they are being lend and also appear to be going out of the box that life has dealt them. God Bless them! So where are you headed? I also like that this is a bottoms up "movement". Grassroots. If this was a top down movement I'd say it was about time to jump ship. Organizations have a terrible time being inspired because they are dead things while people are living souls. They can adapt much better and don't get caught up with red tape as long as they unplug their ears and open their eyes. Maybe we are done being naughty little children! With the average farmer over 70 years old and the economy as crazy it is I'm grateful someone is taking on the field of husbandry. I saw no "earth worship" practices mentione

George T.

Posted: October 26, 2007 8:55 PM


What a great example. This really destroys the "myth"that organic is too expensive,unreliable and sbject to missinformation in general.

Randy

Posted: October 26, 2007 2:56 PM

Jay, wow. Ouch. That stings, brother. My wife and I, out of a desire for healthfulness not found in store-bought goods and a repulsion for the inhumane treatment of confinement livestock operations (let alone the pocket-padding of corporations, like Monsanto, who's sense of morality is deplorable) decided to purchase some land where we could raise our own food in a more original way. Don't forget that when man was created, he was placed in a garden and instructed to "dress it and keep it." Nature belongs to God and us. Before you react to the clause about "inhumane animal treatment", I would point you to Prov 12:10 and to do some research on what the FDA, USDA, and your state's department of agriculture call CAFO's. Why should we be grouped with an amoral culture simply because to the outsider the effects are similar? Even some of the motivation is similar, but that doesn't water down our heart's desire. Am I closer to God than you? Judging from your cynical tone,maybe I am

gina	Posted: October 26, 2007 10:13 AM

we are stewards. i learned what that actually means when i read The Lord of the Rings. i want to know that when GOD comes and sets up His kingdom here on earth, i can look at Him and say i took care of His stuff right. as to "Jay's" comments above, i dont know which direction you are comming from here, are you a christian who isnt willing to live for GOD, or are you a non-christian who doesnt want christians to look good?

Fi	Posted: October 25, 2007 6:43 PM


Wow, I love this idea. Sounds so good. I grew up in rural Australia and I sure miss the country lifestyle.

Patrick Gann

Posted: October 25, 2007 6:20 PM

So happy to read this article. Favorite line: "Salatin says he is just copying creation. "We use God's design and take it as a template," he says. "Our overriding question is not how do we grow the chicks bigger and faster and cheaper. The goal that we have is how do we … create a habitat that allows the chicken to fully express her 'chickenness.' " EXACTLY. Thank God someone gets it. Down with the wicked procedures used in factory farming, whose only goal is efficiency. Hurray for Christians who care for God's creatures properly!

Ted Voth Jr

Posted: October 25, 2007 2:06 PM


"But Scott was skeptical when his wife said that she felt God wanted the family to raise sheep. "Excuse me," Scott replied. "I can't even stand to mow my own yard. What makes you think I'm going to start doing things like that?"" Cute! We got the idea for our close-cropped lawns from the lawns around English manor houses which were grazed close by sheep!

Emily

Posted: October 25, 2007 1:24 PM


Very blessed to see that this is a growing trend, especially here in IL! It is my dream to be an agrarian, and for my whole family to contribute. I think it is a process, and pray that God will open the doors for our family as he did for this one. It is good to know that God can use people like this to change the sway of a whole nation - hope is not lost!

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