Think!
God and Cow Manure
Issue date: 10/27/04 Section: Opinion
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Adam Henson
Features Editor
Over the past week I heard a very interesting thing, something that at first completely appalled me. However, as I began to understand a little of what was being mulled over, I decided that yes it was a little flawed, but not quite untrue. This theory compared God to cow manure.
At first, I thought that this was a Nietzsche type statement that was meant to disprove and discredit God. However, it was not meant as an extraordinary blanket statement of this type, but as an analogy trying to explain Christ's mission on this earth.
Livestock manure is still used in many places as a cheap fertilizer by farmers. Yes, it is treated and has chemicals added to it so that the things grown in those fields are safe to be consumed by humans. But it still stinks. It is an unwanted thing that in some form or fashion is changed so as to be helpful when spread out and used in an appropriate manner.
The theory went on to say that Christ was unwanted and rejected, he was cast out, sent to die by his fellow man, yet after he died he lived again and when spread out among the hearts of men caused new life to begin in them, like cow dung in a way.
This theory, relayed to me by a friend and stated by a campus minister at a large public university, was meant to cause people, namely Christians, to think outside the box about God. I think that the theory only covers a brief segment of God and what he did as savior. I wonder what God thought about being compared to cow manure. And I wonder if it shouldn't be us that is compared in this way.
Maybe if we begin to look at ourselves as cow dung, as a mere tool in the master's hands, it would greatly benefit our perspective on life. Manure doesn't consider itself when it is being spread across a field, it doesn't wonder how this is going to benefit it in the long run, it doesn't ask the farmer "why?" it simply is used in the manner that the farmer intends.
Because of this, the field is nourished, crops grow and the farmer benefits by being able to put food on his table. In turn, others are blessed by being able to buy fresh produce. The cow dung doesn't receive any glory other than maybe a brief recognition in the back of the farmer's mind, but that is enough because it has served its purpose.
Granted I bristle a little at the thought of being as insignificant as cow dung, of having that little importance in the eyes of God. But, if God wanted, could He not throw us on the rubbish heap, disregarded and unused? Shouldn't we rejoice in the fact that He doesn't, that instead He chooses to use us for his own purposes? Yet instead we become upset when God doesn't give us what we want, as if He is some huge galactic Santa Clause.
So be like cow manure, allow yourself to be used as God wants, not as you want. Be confident that you are being used in whatever situation He places you.