Christian Homesteaders

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I thought it would be interesting to see what influence being a christian has had on ya'lls interest in homesteading. Do you feel like this is where God has led you? Do you feel that taking care of a part of Gods good earth is important as a Christian?

I definately feel that taking care of my farm and animals is a kind of religious experience. I just had some of my woods thinned by logging off the larger trees with an eye to improving my land for wild life. I thanked God for the gift of those trees. I know this is where He wants me to be. I feel the Lord is leading me to a simpler life and I am rejoicing in his choice for our lives. May God richly bless you all.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), January 05, 2001

Answers

Yes, we are homesteading because we felt a call to live more simply and walk softly on the earth. By being closer to the creation, I find I feel much closer to the Creator.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), January 05, 2001.

I figure God put the desire for homesteading in us and because we were faithful to what He wanted, he has blessed us. And we are thankful. Don't know where we'll end up, but then we wouldn't want to, the journey's the important part.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), January 05, 2001.

I find they have little to do with each other. I was a "christian" before I became a homesteader. God, Grandpa and the bank loaned me the land. Even if I didn't have this place, I still wouldn't be allowed to live in a populated area( more than 2 families in a 60 acre section). God sees fit to provide for me and the family and for that I am thankful but homesteading for us is simply to live solidly apart from society in general. Our government labels us white sepratists--whatever that means ? It was a name created by the U.S. Marshalls. I have no racial motives, so we shortened it and we were simply sepratists. Homesteading, by Countryside's definition fit the mold and was more acceptable. I've said this many times and I firmly believe it-- No one ever ran to be a homesteader ! They ran from something and ended up one.

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), January 05, 2001.

I'm glad that you asked that question because it made me stop and think about it! Nope. Being a Christian had nothing to do with the decision to homestead. Neil & I were basically fundamentalists in PA hanging around inmates and Amish. We found the Amish lifestyle to be interesting and pragmatic, and FUN! For years I had been quilting and canning and sewing on my treadle machine, and baking from scratch...it was the desire for our own land which had us dreaming of a homestead, and livestock. It was soooooooooooo cool to sit on the Amish porches, far away from the madding crowd and sing on a Sunday night with the young people.So now we have our own porch, no neighbors who will be annoyed with us and we have singings with our ex-inmate guys once a week when they come for dinner.In the suburbs, I used to see an occasional hawk soar by and think to myself,"Thank you Lord for making such beautiful creatures. You are truly Almighty!"..Now, I have only to look out my windows to see His majesty all around me..what a gift! Being a homesteader has strengthened me as a Christian, and made me more aware of how many folks still need to hear the Word out there. God bless.

-- Lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), January 05, 2001.

I tend to agree with a couple responses above. I was raised on a farm and then after gettin married, Lil Dumplin and I ended up moving to the big city. I HATED every day of living like that! After several years, walkin away from the Lord Jesus Christ, He called us back to the "sticks". I don't hate people at all. I hate being in crowds and away from the peace and solitude of the country. Living on my own "borrowed" farm is the closest that I can get to my Jesus! I can walk and talk with Him whenever I choose. The noise of the city is a lifetime away from "our" place. His Majesty is all around me and I can actually reach out and touch it whenever I wish. Now, I'm not saying that His Majesty isn't in the city--quite the contrary! It's everywhere--I just happen to "connect" with It out here. My mind is mucher clearer out here and I'm more open to His speaking to me. I don't know how I could get any closer to Him than I am right now. I'm still not where I want to be in my relationship to Him--but with His help and patience I'll experience the closeness that I strive for everyday! My advice for anyone wanting to move to their own homestead is to do it and do it quickly! This type of life is fast drawing to a close for most people. Very soon the cost will be prohibitive and also the opportunity to get away will disappear. Sell whatever you can, do without all the unnecessary "things" in order to make the move. Seek Him NOW and ask for His Divine guidance to get you to your new home. You'll not regret it! hoot. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), January 05, 2001.


For me the "homestead bug" bit soon after the realization that Jesus was the Only way....I don't know if it was really coincidental or not. I did always enjoy nature, but somehow the desire to be more in tune with His Creation as opposed to concrete solidified into what we loosely call homsteading.

I find it interesting that I talk to many Christians that in the past 8 years or so, have felt a 'push' from the spirit to get out of the cities and take up a more self sufficient lifestyle. Maybe God is setting His people up to be able to care for others? Or perhaps it's just a response to the world we have created...Thanks for asking and thanks to all the others for responding with such eloquence!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), January 05, 2001.


We are in a really/really small town------& we have lots of land in town & we have livestock/ garden & live very simply!!!!

But the area we had lived in before(large city) we had lots of brothers & sisters in Christ & we did everything with/ people who thought the same as we did & believed the same as we did/ worshiped together/ socialized together/ prayed together!!!!

We came back to this area /to care for our parents/ & there are no saved Christains in this town/or area/ that think or believe as we do!!

It is not a Christain area at all/ & "most"/ not all but most- live in a way that is appauling/ as it certainly isn't respecting anyone else /let alone them selves!!!

There is a great deal of alcohol & drug abuse here/ not an area that shows much pride in their property or good care for their children or livestock, or anything.

What a change from how & where we had lived for many years!!! Almost protected from the outside world/by fellow belivers!

But, we believe we are where God wants us to be/ at this time. I love my garden & livestock & we are thought of as "different" here-----but find when people need help /we are the first ones they ask for help!!

Have even heard people say(about us) need help Etc. go ask those "Jesus Freak" Folks---they know what to do/ or they will help you----etc. Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), January 06, 2001.


Thank you Amanda for posting this. It is soooooo soothing to my spirit to read these positive testimonies. Simplicity is complicated but so worth the effort. I really believe that Christian homesteaders have a blessing that others will never know. Calming if nothing else. God Bless you all and may you receive what has for you.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), January 06, 2001.

I have been an ranch,farm,animal type person all my life. I got my first horse when I was 9, and I dreamed of having a huge cattle ranch when I grew up. I grew up with good parents and wonderful brothers who taught me how to be a tomboy. Believing in the Bible and being the kind of person God wants me to be is first in my life. I am accountable for my actions, what I do and what I don't do.

Homesteading is just a natural step for me, knowing that times will get harder as the years go by, according to the Bible. The Bible teaches us that fancy houses and lots of money don't mean a thing, you are rich if you truly love your brother. Also, having very little debt frees you up to go and help others. We aren't supposed to just sit and look at what we have, we are supposed to do God's work, however we can. And be always open to His leading.

'Store up treasures in Heaven, not on Earth'. God knows we need things to live, and He knows our hearts, and our wishes. God dosen't want us to be poor, if we are poor, how can we help others, or give to His work. We are supposed to see where God is working, and join Him. That is, find someplace allready doing God's work, and join in. It can be from home or anywhere. Something little or something big. Like Hoot says, go check on your neighbors. Stop and give help. I would want someone to stop and help me if I needed it. And since God has blessed you with so much, share it with others. I grow 20 times what we need in the garden, and I get such joy in my garden.

Being truly thankful for what we have allows us to go outside and look at the beauty everywhere around us. And the wonder of plants, and trees, and colors and all His creation is enough, so much we can hardly take it all in. Every single living thing is a wonder. The peace of God is more than all understanding.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), January 06, 2001.


I've been a country girl all my life, and a Christian since I was 18. I've been a Christian in the city and a Christian in the country, and as long as God allows me to be in the country, that's where I'll be. I hope if I'm ever called to ministry in the city, I will be faithful to the call. I believe we are to be good stewards of whatever we are given and I try to do that wherever I am. I think it's easier to see the wonder of creation when you are surrounded with it, the growing or crops or forest, babies being born, etc. Pragmatically, I am better able to provide for myself and DH the kinds of food and stress-free environment we desire here on our little homestead. And after the ice storm, I am very thankful God spared us any real adversity.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), January 06, 2001.


Follow-up questions for Joel and Lesley:

Joel: What did you mean when you said you wouldn't be allowed to live anywhere but in the country away from other? Allowed by whom?

Lesley: I love to hear about the Amish lifestyle. Were you Amish? If not, was it easy to mix with them at the singings and such? I would like to hear more about this time and your experiences. I would be interested in corresponding with an Amish woman, but being in NM, I know of no way to do that, so I will be content to hear your stories.

Both of you may want to start a separate thread. Thanks.

-- Connie in NM (karrelandconnie@juno.com), January 06, 2001.


Connie: I had a medical practice with the Amish and found them to be just the same as regular folks with few exceptions; they try harder to lead good Christian lives than most people I have met. Neil & I are just a tad wacky and Amish love wacky people! When we visited, it was like an episode of Frasier for them I think. We were one of the few English families truly invited to all of their social and religious celebrations and we were humbled. They probably would not correspond with anybody they have not already met, because fathers and husbands would not approve. I'll have to look in the Botschaft, an Amish newspaper to see if there are any settlements in New Mexico. I know there are in Gonzalez Texas (wherever that is)...if I find any folks anywhere within driving distance for you, I'll let you know. God bless.

-- Lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), January 06, 2001.

Allowed to live amoung people ? I don't quite know how to answer that question since my wife says it best. Something about looking out your kitchen window and seeing your neighbor's bathroom window(it is quite cute to see her say it, but looses something on paper). Like hoot said---"I like people fine"--however I only like them on my terms which requires they leave their moods, attitudes and opinions at the gate or stay outside of it. The world exists outside of the fence--inside of the fence is my world and sometimes even the laws of physics don't apply here. Simply said, You have a whole world in which you can be anything you want to be, except for 47 acres in western Virginia. The caretakers of that property require nothing from you and without an invitation you shall not tread there. This is my way of keeping what I consider evil out and only allowing good in. I agree it is anti-social but when you consider society evil than it is the only way !

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), January 07, 2001.

Well, I don't go by the label of Christian anymore, but I was a Christian when we first moved to the country. Raised in a huge city, I can see know that I was always a country girl at heart. I was 'born again' and our family moved to northern Idaho within months of that. There as a lot of prayer put into the decision, I think we were expecting the end times to begin imminently and intended to flee into the mountains. After moving, we went to a conventional church for awhile, and then the Weavers shared their convictions with us(which were not at all as publicized), and we began to take a fresh and critical look at things we'd always believed without really questioning why. At that time, we broke from mainstream religion and began studying the scriptures for ourselves and finding out what they really said. My family has since gone their seperate ways, and moved away. I've been interested in Judaism, as the new testament believers were basically messianic Jews.

I do think there's a connection between one's religion and living in the country. It's a lot harder to be 'separate from the world' and raise your children that way, when you live in a city. Living in the country makes it much easier to practice my faith. For example, I don't eat blood or certain meats. Growing my own meat or buying it from friends means I know just how it was raised, killed, and prepared. Living in the country gives a person many wholesome, edifying ways to spend their time rather than partying or watching TV. Work takes on new meaning, and work refines a person and builds character.

I think a person's faith is worthless if it never goes into actual practice, and this includes the way we treat the earth and the rest of creation. The old testament makes it quite clear that our role is not so much to dominate the earth as it is to be good stewards. Many of the mosaic laws actually protect not only man, but the plants and animals. For example, there's the commandment about not taking a bird and her eggs. You can take the eggs but not the mother, too. This would prevent extinction. Many of the unclean animals were either scavengers, or animals that have a slower rate of reproduction (like whales and elephants). Land was to be rested every seventh year. I know there are more, but this is all I can recall right now.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 07, 2001.


Rebekah, I have been wondering what your "denomination", if you will, was. I don't mean to be nosy, just curious. Do you refer to yourself as a messianic Jew, then? Thanks!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), January 07, 2001.


Well this discussion has certainly taken an interesting turn :o). I must say that this interests me. I have been trying to find more information on Jewish beliefs/customs etc. After all these were the chosen people of God and He spoke to them in a very direct manner. I find the old testament fascinating. God is Alpha and Omega his ways are consistent. Seems like we could get a better understanding if we studied a possibly more complete history of Gods works. I'm glad I started this discussion.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), January 07, 2001.

Amanda, I do believe God wants me in the country. For me there is no peace of mind in the city. I feel for believers that live in the city. Being a Believer and homesteading is even in scripture. We are sowers, and we are to sow seeds, as it seems lots of Gods children are doing this on the forum. And just reading some of them can bring tears to my eyes. Not to get off the subject, but when we plant a seed, and it falls by the wayside or it drys up, or it plain doesn't take, I think weve done what God has asked of us, we sowed seeds. I firmly believe every jot of Gods Word, and I believe we shouldn't cast our pearls before swine...MATT 7:6. This has been a refreshing post you put out, I hope I see more of these. I also believe we will see very rough times ahead. As stated in Revelation 1:3(a blessing to all who read or hear the words of this prophecy). Love in Christ, Judy

-- Judy (allsmile@ctnet.net), January 07, 2001.

Thank you for posing this question. Yes, I believe that Jesus leads us where HE wants us to go. I believe He draws us away from materialism and towards the simpler way of life. Perhaps it is for end times where the brothers and sisters will be able to help those to need to flee from the cities. Only He knows. Thank goodness there is a list like this where we still can "talk" to one another about our Lord and His Mighty Way. The day may come when that is no longer possible.

One can rejoice in the Lord sitting in the garden, trimming back rasberry bushes, shoveling out driveways and bringing in wood in way below zero temperatures.

-- Carole in Wisconsin (coverga@bminet.com), January 07, 2001.


Carole in Wis. I'd like to comment on your follow-up. In the end times [which we are definately in right now] Christians will be persecuted and to the point of being killed for their testimony. It's already happening in other countries at this time. We have seen the persecution in America start a few years ago and didn 't really realize it because it wasn't publicized in the press. The ACLU is one of the most vocal and active in the persecution that I know of. Anything that's Christian it seems they are against. We never hear about them going after other beliefs-or at least I never have! Corole is so right about worshipping God as we do simple things like our everyday chores. I love working in the garden, mowing and even little tasks that are un-important to the marjority of people. I constantly talk to Him while doing these repatitious, boring jobs. My old brain can't handle two things at once anymore so when I'm really having to concentrate on things--He is willing to wait until I can handle talking to Him again. I don't have to get on my knees to pray. Prayer is just talking to Him and I can do that wherever I am. It draws me closer to Him and that's just fine with me. I would llike to be even closer. I can see His Mighty works all around me when others seem to see problems---and I'm not special at all. I'm no better than anybody else--just forgiven and have finally realized just how precious that forgivness is! I'll get off my soap box now. Thank you Lord for this borrowed land that we're caretaking for You! hoot. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), January 07, 2001.

Doreen, I was raised Lutheran, was born again and went to a spirit filled type church, then we went to an Assembly of God for awhile.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 07, 2001.

Rebekah, I'm sorry I used improper grammatical syntax....What I MEANT to ask, is what is your present "denomination" called?

I was 'sprinkled' Lutheran, then Presbyterian then Methodist, then we went to a Congregationalist church then I went atheist, agnostic, new age, NOW I am non denominational, non 501c3, all Biblical, what I guess is referred to as "fundamental" Christianity. I really wasn't aware that there could be anything derogatory associated with the term 'basic' ie. all the "fundie" stuff here recently. I never even realized I was in such a specific group....weird. I just call myself a Christian {{{{period}}}}.

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), January 08, 2001.


I think we had a thread similar to this several months ago, but it's a good idea to re-think things once in a while. I think that a Christian with real convictions about serving God has to be ready and willing to go wherever God wants him or her to go. Most of the people who need to hear the gospel are unavoidably in heavily populated areas, but there is definitely a place for those of us who want to live quietly, work with our hands, care for our families, have something over to help others, and raise our children to know and respect God's creation. Also, it is really important to me to obey God's injunction to "owe no man". Hard to obey that if you are in debt with a mortgage, and hard to avoid a mortgage in areas with lots of people and building codes.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), January 08, 2001.

Doreeen, I've struggled a lot with the label thing. For awhile I considered myself a messianic gentile(after all, I'm not Jewish), then I wanted to convert to orthodox Judaism, but that would have alienated my husband, and besides, I don't agree with that 100%. Judaism has something they call the righteous gentile, that gentiles who live a righteous life and live by certain standards have aportion in the world to come. Looking at the new testament, I think that's what the early gentile believers were. Some call this the B'nai Noach, (sons of Noah)guess I'm a daughter of Noah!

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 09, 2001.

Thanks, Rebekah. The very last thing I want to do on this forum is debate on doctrine. Mostly because I am searching it out and there is soooo much I don't know. I was just interested and I am trying to understand reasons behind different doctrinal issues. Thanks again!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), January 10, 2001.

It is so much easier for me to live a godly life in the country. We moved to Amish country 2 years ago. We wanted to get our kids out of the city because I was concerned that they would be drawn into the depravity I saw all around me. I wanted my kids to have strong character and values. The hard work and family togetherness that homesteading provides teaches this. I can homeschool my children without the constant snickers and jeers of neighbors. I can teach my children what beautiful music is like without having to compete with the Marilyn Manson blasting from the sullen teen next doors bedroom window. I can give them the pleasure of pulling up a carrot they grew themselves or milking a goat they raised themselves. They can grow up surrounded by the miracles of God's wonderful creation instead of the concrete mountains of the city. They can breath fresh air, eat chemical free food, and run behind the house without hitting a fence. My kids aren't impressed with the latest fashions - how could you do your barn chores in those big jeans anyway? We have learned to love simplicity by observing the Amish. I want my kids to see that our purpose for being here on this earth is to LOVE GOD AND LOVE OTHERS - not in the mad pursuit of material and fleshly self gratification. I'm not saying that children cannot be taught character and values in the city. They can. It is just easier out here. I knew my kids were real country bumpkins when during a recent visit to the city at night my daughter declared in amazement, "Wow, mommy, look at those pretty Christmas lights up there." It was the freeway bridge lit by the headlights of rush hour traffic!

-- Tiffani Cappello (cappello@alltel.net), January 10, 2001.

Good Morning, I have just taken the time to read this site for the first time. I truly believe that living in the country brings us closer to God without all the interuptions of the city life. Hubby and I live on five acres in the mountains of northern California. We raise several kinds of animals and have doves which are the Lords birds. It is just so peaceful to listen to them cooing. We supply our own power with solar panels and a wind generator so therefore dont have to worry about the energy crisis going on here in Calif. The Lord has led us to a simpler life much like the Amish. I have studied these dear people for several years and wish that we had them for neigbors like others on this list have mentioned. Tiffani, I would be very interested in anything that you had to tell us about the Amish. Blessings, Barbara

-- Barbara Brown (backachers@cot.net), January 11, 2001.

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