Shining the Light of Scripture on Agriculture
For Producers
For Consumers
&
In a world full of competing affections, pharmaceutical fixes, farming and livestock management methods, diet and exercise strategies, and ecological solutions, we must establish first and foremost that it is God who ordains whatsoever comes to pass according to the counsel of His good will (Eph. 1:11; Heb. 6:17). It is God who makes the sun rise and the rain fall on the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45). It is God who prolificates the livestock (Ps. 144:13-14). It is God who increases the fruit (Mark 4:27; 1 Cor. 3:6). It is God who provides our daily bread (Ps. 78:24; Matt. 6:11; Matt. 6:33). And man does not live by bread alone (Matt. 4:4).
Reformed
re·form /rəˈfôrm/
From the Latin root words re, meaning “back,” and formare, meaning “to form” or “shape.”
Agriculture
ag·ri·cul·ture /ˈaɡrəˌkəlCHər/
From the Latin root words ager, meaning “field,” and cultura, meaning “growing” or “cultivation.”
Isaiah 66:1-2
66 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
We Are Reformed…
-
The English word catholic comes from the Greek words καθ’ (kath’) and ὅλης (holēs) found in sequence in Acts 9:31 which mean “throughout” and “all” respectively; they combine to form καθολικός (katholikós) which means “universal.” The following ecumenical creeds have been held fast to by the visible church since its earliest days as a means of defense against the various heresies that have attempted and continue to attempt to creep in.
The Apostles' Creed (AD 200-300)
The Nicene Creed (AD 325)
For further study, we recommend:
-
The Five Evangelical “Solas”
Sola Scriptura or Scripture Alone
Scripture is inspired (John 14:26; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21), without error (Isa. 40:8; John 16:13, 17:17), authoritative (Matt. 5:18-19; Mark 7:8-9; John 10:35; 1 Cor. 14:37-38), sufficient (2 Tim. 3:16-17), and clear (Ps. 119:105, 130; 2 Pet. 3:16; 1 John 2:27). Therefore, a creed or a work of biblical or systematic theology may only be affirmed in so far as it accords with Scripture because Holy Scripture is the only rule for faith and life, and the standard against which all other “rules” must be tested (Luke 16:29; Eph. 2:20; 1 John 4:1; Rev. 22:18-19).
Solus Christus or Christ Alone
But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace. (John 1:12; Acts 15:11, 16:31; Gal. 2:20) This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; (Matt. 6:30, 8:10; Rom. 4:19-20; Heb. 5:13-14) may be often and many ways assailed and weakened, but gets the victory; (Luke 22:31-32; Eph. 6:16; 1 John 5:4-5) growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, (Col. 2:2; Heb. 6:11-12, 10:22) who is both the author and finisher of our faith. (Heb. 12:2) From the Westminster Confession of Faith Ch. XIV.
Sola Fide or Faith Alone
Justification, or right standing before God, is distinct from sanctification, or that process of growing in Christ likeness. Justification happens in a moment when a believer’s sin is forgiven and Christ's perfect righteousness is counted to that believer (Rom. 3:22-28, 4:5-8, 5:17-19; 2 Cor. 5:19-21). This work of God is a free grace for sinners (Rom. 3:22-25). Faith alone is sufficient for this work and that faith is a gift from God, neither earned nor apprehended by man. (Acts 10:43; Rom. 3:28, 5:1; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 1:7, 2:8; Phil. 3:9; Titus 3:5-7)
Sola Gratia or Grace Alone
Justification by faith alone has been established, but where can that faith come from? Does the human will have the capacity to believe and obey the gospel? The Bible states in no uncertain terms that faith is a gift from God so that no man may boast (Eph. 2:8-9). This gift is necessarily from God and not by any ability of man because of the human condition already established a few verses before “And you were dead…” (Eph. 2:1-3). A dead man can not come to life on his own, something outside of him with the power to make the dead live must act first (John 15:16; 1 John 4:10).
Soli Deo Gloria or To the Glory of God Alone
God is the God of glory. (Acts 7:2) That glory has been, is being, and will fully be revealed through the person and work of Christ. (Is. 40:5; John 1:14; 1 Cor. 2:8) Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. (Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor:10:31) May the end of Reformed Agriculture likewise be to the glory of God alone. (Ps. 115:1; 2 Cor. 2:15; 1 Pet. 4:10-11)
We need not debate about the mere words evolution or progress: personally I prefer to call it reform. For reform implies form. It implies that we are trying to shape the world in a particular image; to make it something that we see already in our minds. Evolution is a metaphor from mere automatic unrolling. Progress is a metaphor from merely walking along a road – very likely the wrong road. But reform is a metaphor for reasonable and determined men: it means that we see a certain thing out of shape and we mean to put it into shape. And we know what shape.
— G.K. Chesterton (A.D. 1874-1936)
“
"
The Reformed Distinctive
Standing on the shoulders of our fathers in the faith, we remember and subscribe to the doctrines so critical to the protestant reformation, namely:
The Sovereignty of God Over Whatsoever Comes to Pass (Prov. 10:22; Eph. 1:11; Phil. 2:12-13; Heb. 6:17)
The Responsibility of Man Over That Which He Has Been Given Authority (Prov. 10:4; Ps. 62:11-12; Eph. 2:10; Jas. 1:13-14)
The Pervasive Depravity of Man, the Spiritual Deadness of Every Unregenerate Person, and the Fallenness of Creation (Rom. 3:10-12, 8:18-23; Eph. 2:1)
The Unconditional Election of Sinners Unto Salvation (Rom. 9:10-13; Eph. 2:8-9)
The Definite Atonement of the Elect (Matt. 22:11-14; John 6:37-40; John 10:24-29)
The Irresistible Grace of Regeneration and the Effectual Call of the Triune God (Ezek. 37:1-10; John 10:27; Rom. 8:30)
The Perseverance of the Saints to the End (John 17:11; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:3-5, 5:10; Jude 1:24)
Covenant Theology and the Unity of the Scriptures (Gen. 9:16, 17:7; Deut. 28:46; 2 Sam 7:16, 23:5; Ezek. 37:26; 1 Cor. 11:23-25; Heb. 6:4-6; 1 John 2:7-8)
The Threefold Use of the Law to Restrain Sin, Reveal Sin, and Guide Believers (Ps. 19:7-11; Matt. 5:17-19; Rom. 3:19-20; 1 Tim. 1:9; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 5:2-3)
These doctrines are described faithfully and in detail by:
For further study, we recommend:
We Are Agriculture…
-
Tasked with the mandate to cultivate and protect the land and its produce while simultaneously caring for the well-being of life at all trophic levels.
We love our patrons through providing for their comfort, wellbeing, and enjoyment by spending our strength, time, and liberty with wisdom, knowledge, and prayer.
-
Providing for the needs of our households. We must, with foresight, gather our food like the ant (Prov 6:6-11) by working diligently and faithfully, not having anxious thought for our food but trusting that the Lord provides for those who faithfully trust him (Matt 6:31-33).
We ought not to lay up exces stores that we may put off diligence for ease (Lk 12:15-21), but rather be liberal with what we have been given (Prov 31:15,21; 27:27), sowing bountifully that we may reap bountifully (2 Cor 9:6).
Our food comes from the husbandman’s labor; therefore, let us support his efforts with generosity (Jas 5:4; 1 Tim 5:8). But, we do well to beware of those who would join house to house and field to field (Isa 5:8) for selfish gain, rather than to exercise dominion with stewardship (Gen 1:28).
In the first place, it is not only an art but an important and noble art. It is, as well, a science, which teaches which crops are to be planted in each kind of soil, and what operations are to be carried on, in order that the land may regularly produce the largest crops… Grazing and agriculture are different things, though akin; just as the right pipe of the tibia is different from the left, but still in a way united, inasmuch as the one is the treble, while the other plays the accompaniment of the same air.
— Marcus Terentius Varro (116-27 B.C.)
“
"
