Organic... Sustainable... Grass-Fed... Naturally-Raised... Do we really need another word to define agriculture?  Yes!  The USDA has adulterated words like “organic”, and “natural”, and they are working hard at “Grass-Fed.”  Remember, once USDA defines a word, it’s open to legislation.  This means it can be re-defined by the highest bidder.

Let’s coin our own word, define it first, and lay claim to it before anyone else does. “Authentic Agriculture”  Authentic means “made or done in the original, traditional way, or in a way that faithfully resembles an original.”

What is “original” agriculture? We look to our origins and the Bible for our guidance on that.  Ask yourself this question.  If you were stranded on a desert island, and had nothing but the Bible in your hands, no TV, no grocery stores, no big ag companies, no universities, nothing but the island and the Bible, what would you conclude about agriculture and food?

Would you think it normal to pump animals full of drugs to make it possible for them to live in cramped quarters?  Would you think about food in an industrial, efficiency-minded manner, or would you think about quality? Would you think about killing weeds with chemicals?  Would you conclude that man should buy all his food from a grocery store, where it has been grown and prepared by minimum-wage-earning strangers?.

Some of the Biblical Principles underpinning Authentic Agriculture:

1. God Created everything. Gen 1:1
2. God was the original, authentic farmer.  Gen. 2:8
3. Man was created to cultivate the soil. Gen. 2:5, 15 (in fact, nothing grew until man showed up.  God put in all on hold for us to care for.) If man doesn’t in some fashion practice this God-directed, God-ordained occupation, he is not fulfilling his purpose as given to him by his Maker.
4. God gave everything to man, for his good, and for God’s Glory.  Gen 2:16, 9:3
5. Love thy neighbor as yourself. Rom. 13:9-10

It is imperative that we use the Bible and God’s creative process as our foundational definition of Authentic Agriculture.  Remember, “He who defines, carries the day.”  The main reason for this definition is to redeem agriculture for the Glory of God.  In addition to this, if Authentic Agriculture does not include as a foundational element our dependence on God and His authority over all of creation, then it will be twisted by those who want it to be regulated, challenged and defensible.

First hand experience in working for the government has shown that governmental agencies are completely “politically correct.”  Therefore, once Authentic Agriculture is clearly defined as having to do with religion, and the Holy Scriptures, there should be less opportunity for adulteration of the term.