This Ain’t No Revolution
Sometimes well meaning agrarians, and sometimes our critics, talk about Covenantal Agrarianism as though it were a “revolution”. Nothing could be further from the truth. Agrarianism is as natural as breathing, industrialism and capitalism are what is revolutionary. It is they who turn God’s order upsidedown, ignore His law, mock and taunt Him. Agrarians are in the business of restoring order and sanity. The only revolution Christians should ever be associated with is a counter-revolution, and I guess agrarianism is that. I think it is important that we argue from the point of restoring order. The majority of human history has operated in an agrarian order, this thing we call industrial capitalism has not been with us very long at all. But, with the short sided view of history Americans have (especially we protestants), the average person dosen’t see this plain fact. The world is turned upside down, the abnormal is now normal and lies are truth. As Deb points out “Leaving your five year old child in a large brick building with a stranger and lots of other little strangers isn’t normal at all”. How in the world can so many people find that normal, but they do. The normal people, who might homeschool, are seen as the revolutionaries. The restoration of order and sanity, obeying the word of God and aknowleging His Kingship are not revolutionary at all.
August 28th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
I think the reality check that is needed is this
By some miracle of grace you may just have noticed that for you the end times have become the now times. Simply by standing still for just a few short decades you have become a dangerous thought criminal.
So fast is this pace of change that what was one considered by humanity for milenia as perfectly normal is now percieved as the haunt of the lunatic fringe.
Never not even at the heights of the industrial revolution has the effect been so swift, pronounced or as deeply felt. The eternal patterns of life that could once be recognised by all the peoples of the planet have exploded!!
I think each imperfect and struggling agrarian aspirationalist could be considered, not as a lilly in the field but perhaps a mustard seed. and for that mustard seed to grow into a shady tree it will need generations. And I think that the multigenerational inheretence must be the key to all we do.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
“this thing we call industrial capitalism has not been with us very long at all”
What you say right there is something that I’ve been noticing more and more. And yet most people look at me funny when I happen to point it out. I guess every single generation of people- whether Greeks, Romans or Americans- have the idea that the way it is RIGHT NOW is the only way it should be, or should have ever been.
Thanks for the very thought-provoking post.
August 31st, 2007 at 7:00 pm
You’ve given me reason to reconsider my use of the term “revolution” in my writing and thinking. Thank you for your blogging efforts.
September 6th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Scott,
If I didn’t fear that people thought I was trying to hog the comment log in the upper right hand corner of your blog, I’d probably write you after each and every post. I like your insight on the most recent one about the Constitution. Touche. But, I also really liked this one. (And, mea culpa if I ever used the word revolution.)
The day that you posted this entry was an especially difficult day at home with our daughter. Her adoption loss and abandonment issues had reared their ugly heads again and I was very frustrated that day. To see my own words in print when and where I didn’t expect them was a perfect jolt of reality for my soul. We are in a spiritual battle and I know I must persevere in love and faith.
As always, it’s great “talking” with you. I sort of picture you and your commenters all sitting on your front porch on a Sunday afternoon, chatting away about life. Blessings to you and your family.