Today’s society is having big arguments on the ‘facts’ on factory farming. Go Vegan, is what’s being pushed. But what can we learn out of the Bible on this? And how can we as farmers explain and show you all our points of view?

Predictions are being made that around the year 2100, no animal farms will exist anymore. So what happened to our textbook balanced diet? A little bit of all kinds of food will give you a healthy life. Dairy, meat and plant-based. Our body’s need structures of each to create a healthy immune-system.

A great division happens when we loose the truth. For us the truth is in the Bible. What can we read? Well, first of all, after the fall into sin, human-kind is forced to work for 6 day’s a week: working the land, taking care of animals. It’s what we call today: farming.

Where will we leave all the producing animals if you want the whole planet to go ‘plant-based’. Will you let them all go free, make them eat and trample your fields? It’s all about balance: if you leave one end off a scale, the other side will never get balanced.

A quick look around our farm: as a fairly large dairy goat operation, we do not see ourselves as a ‘factory-farm’. Yes, animals are inside barns. Though provided with fresh air circulation, water and plenty of feed. If you look to the human population, we know a lot of people are worse of living then our animals do. Some populations hardly have any food or living space. Our animals receive a ‘clean bed’ of straw every day, fresh feed and health check-ups. Yes, they are living a routine, but so do we. Then, you might say; we have holiday’s, recreational activity’s. Animals can walk around, play, fight; however they want/need to behave. Now the most important part: God created humans separate from animals. Yes, we need and take good care of the animals, though, aren’t we as humans not to do even a better job doing so towards each other?

To name a few farmers of the Bible:

• Genesis 4:2: ‘Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.’ – We know Cain killed Abel later in the following chapters. We can learn; don’t wipe out the animal farmer. We need both.
• Noah was a farmer. He loved God and trusted Him. The city’s and neighbors laughed at Noah and what he was doing. But God wiped them all out.
• Jacob: who had to work for 14 years to receive his bride, while the works of his hands in caring for the flocks, brought prosperity and growth in flocks.
• Job: who lost all of his possessions, including all his animals. (for his number of animals; Job 1: 3) For his faith in lonely, dark times, he was blessed with even more after the disasters.

Yes, farming comes with ups and downs. You never know or can predict how you’ll day or year will go. As a farmer we trust. We trust for rain, for sun and warmth, for a good breeding season and healthy animals. Most of all, we, for ourselves, trust in God. And sure, bad things happen. A crop goes bad, a decease fly’s through your herd, but we trust and do not give up. God never has given up on us humans. He gave us hope through Jesus and the Holy Spirit who guards our hearts.

God plants seeds in our hearts, so let’s make them grow!

Ever had it when people look down on you? Or you know they talk about you? Or even defy you? You won’t hear it for yourself, but you can feel it. Situations, eye-contact, body-language; it says it all.

One lesson we can learn from the Bible, well actually more…

• Turn the other cheek – Matthew 5: 38,39 – ‘You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.’
• Turn around and walk away (move on) – Luke 9: 55, 56 – A Sanaritan village rejects the Savior – ‘But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.
• Be humble and lowly – Ephesians 4: 1-3 – Paul – ‘I, therefor, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.’

Jesus is our biggest example and as followers of Him, we can learn from that. When Jesus was in situations as described in the introduction, gave His ‘enemies’ one answer/reply. After that, He ‘shakes’ it off and moves on. For myself, this is something I could work on. I can keep mulling around about things for days, which is not healthy for a brain or your household around you. This ‘silent-war’ within ourselves about certain situations can eat us alive. But instead it can also make you stronger.

Jesus life on earth and His journey brought Him at the cross. All the situations He’s been put through as a sinless Man are mind-blowing. He knew what would be ahead; He mentally prepared for it. Not by arguing, not by mulling over. No, by giving in, being humble and turning the other cheek. Our life-journeys are full of sin, however, our life’s will also come to an end on earth some day… Are we preparing for that? Or are we arguing, mulling over?

Pray for strength, you’ll need your Father in heaven; Jesus did too. God will strengthen us through the Holy Spirit. His nearness will comfort and lighten our disappointments.

Remember the good situations, as we often forget those. There are so many good things happening around us! Not necessary seen or spoken of. God works in mysterious ways!

So: Shake it off and cheer up!!!