Vine & Fig Tree


Supporting: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, sobriety
Opposing: Secularism, Humanism, Anti-Family Sex, Hedonism, Autonomy, Totalitarianism, and Mass Death

The name "Vine & Fig Tree" comes from the fourth chapter of the prophet Micah, and is set forth here. You've probably heard Micah's words before -- we beat our "swords into plowshares" and everyone dwells safely under their own "Vine & Fig Tree.

America's Founding Fathers were familiar with this vision: "Vine & Fig Tree" is the worldview that made America "the greatest nation on God's green earth."

George Washington's Diaries are available online at the Library of Congress. That website introduces those writings with these words:
No theme appears more frequently in the writings of Washington than his love for his land. The diaries are a monument to that concern. In his letters he referred often, as an expression of this devotion and its resulting contentment, to an Old Testament passage. After the Revolution, when he had returned to Mount Vernon, he wrote the Marquis de Lafayette on Feb. 1, 1784: "At length my Dear Marquis I am become a private citizen on the banks of the Potomac, & under the shadow of my own Vine & my own Fig-tree." This phrase occurs at least 11 times in Washington's letters. "And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree" (2 Kings 18:31).

"Under My Own Vine and Fig Tree, 1798" by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, Lora Robins Collection of Virginia Art, Virginia Historical Society
Under My Own Vine and Fig Tree, 1798
Jean Leon Gerome Ferris
Virginia Historical Society
Lora Robins Collection of Virginia Art

Many other American Founders wrote of this ideal. "Vine & Fig Tree" is the original "American Dream."

The phrase occurs a number of times in Scripture. These references are visual reminders of the Hebrew word for salvation, which means
• peace,
• wholeness,
• health,
• welfare, and
• private property free from pirates and princes.
When today's Americans hear the word "salvation," they usually think about going to heaven when they die. When the writers of the Bible used the word "salvation," they wanted you to be thinking about dwelling safely under your own Vine & Fig Tree during this life -- much more often than they wanted you to be thinking about what you'll be doing in the afterlife.

The best place to see the Vine & Fig Tree ideal is in the book of Micah.

 Let's look at Micah's prophecy (on the left) and ask a few questions (on the right):
And it will come about in the last days
That the mountain of the House of the LORD
Will be established as the chief of the mountains
And it will be raised above the hills
  Are we in the "last days?"

When did this establishment take place?

And the peoples will stream to it.
And many nations will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD
And to the House of the God of Jacob,
Is Christianity doomed to minority status throughout history? Hasn't Christianity been growing since the first century?
That He may teach us about His ways
And that we may walk in His paths."
For from Zion will go forth the Law
Even the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
  What should be the Christian's attitude toward the Law? Isn't every Word of a "Lord" "Law?"
And He will judge between many peoples
And render decisions for mighty, distant nations.
Then they will hammer their
swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation will not lift up sword against nation
And never again will they train for war.
Are we commanded to beat our swords into plowshares today? Or do we wait for the Second Coming?

Are Christians "pacifists?"
And each of them will sit under his   What about private property?
Vine and under his  fig tree,
With no one to make them afraid.
For the LORD of hosts has spoken.
What about technology? What about the military? What is it that really brings "security?"
Though all the peoples walk
Each in the name of his god,
As for us, we will walk
In the Name of the LORD our God
forever and ever.
  What if all the politicians, university professors, TV commentators, bloggers, newspaper editors, rock stars, scientists, CEO's, athletes, authors, and think-tanks repudiate the Vine & Fig Tree vision and tell you not to believe it?
In that day, saith the LORD,
will I assemble her that halteth,
and I will gather her that is driven out,
and her that I have afflicted;
And I will make her that halted a remnant,
and her that was cast far off a strong nation:
and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion
from henceforth, even for ever.
Should we strive to be on top, or to help those on the bottom? Is God on the side of those who have accomplished much by their own power and initiative, or is He on the side of those who are willing to be used by God to accomplish much to His Glory?

Seven Themes in Micah's Vine & Fig Tree Prophecy

We hope there is a blue bar at the bottom of your browser window that says "Click to play all audio posts."
Clicking that button will initiate an hour-long audio "tour" of the Seven  Vine & Fig Tree Themes.

  Micah's Prophecy (Micah 4:1-7)
audio
Archetypes Controversy Comfort
1 And it will come about in the last days
[For the LORD of hosts has spoken.]
That the mountain of the House of the LORD
Will be established as the chief of the mountains
And it will be raised above the hills

Audio

Predestination
vs. "Free Will"
Chose birth?
• Nobody used "free will" to come into existence
• Real issue: The nature of the Creator | Person or Mud
Calvinism
"Free Will" = imago dei | Image of God
 • reason
 • planning for future
 • symphonies
Providence
Protection is an act of love
Prayer  = anti-deism
      "Last Days"

V&FT "impossible even for God."

Predestinated tribulation?
No. Vine & Fig Tree
2 And the peoples will stream to it.
And many nations will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD
And to the House of the God of Jacob,

Audio

Conversion of the Gentiles

One religion is superior to the others

One has caught our attention: jihadism

blow-up vs. convert

Peace is possible
Peace is inevitable
3 That He may teach us about His ways
And that we may walk in His paths."
For from Zion will go forth the Law
Even the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
And He will judge between many peoples
And render decisions for mighty, distant nations.

Audio

• The God who gave you life deserves your respect
• Every Word this God speaks deserves your attention/obedience
• Bible is not just for "private" religion, "down in your heart"
• Also for public policy
• Textbook for every area
When Americans learned the Bible
in public schools
(and public schools
were Bible schools
), America was the
most prosperous, most admired nation on earth.    Now U.S. exports weapons and pornography.

Laws of Nature and of Nature's God.

"judgmental" vs. Hitler

4 [And each of them will sit under his
Vine and under his fig tree,]

Audio

Male + Female
Father + mother

Family = "undemocratic"

When families are functional, the State is unnecessary;
Archism is suppressed

Adams: mothers:
religion + morality

5 Then they will hammer their
swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation will not lift up sword against nation
And never again will they train for war.

 

Thou shalt not kill

Thou shalt not steal

Audio

Pacifism = "criminals will take over"
 
really? More people will die under pacifism than under archism?
More money will be confiscated under pacifism than under archists?

Slavery is an inescapable concept.

Myth:
  • OT = violence, slavery
  • Jesus = irrelevant utopian hippie; not
    "practical" or "realistic."

Fact:

6 And each of them will sit under his
Vine and under his Fig Tree,
With no one to make them afraid.
For the LORD of hosts has spoken.

Audio

Agrarianism vs. technology

Environmentalism

Garden of Eden / City of God

Wilderness vs. Garden

"False weights and Measures."

7 Though all the peoples walk
Each in the name of his god,
As for us, we will walk
In the Name of the LORD our God
forever and ever.
In that day, saith the LORD
       will I assemble her that halteth,
and I will gather her that is driven out,
and her that I have afflicted;
And I will make her that halted a remnant,
and her that was cast far off a strong nation:
and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion
from henceforth, even for ever.

Audio

social darwinism

immigration vs. "enumerated powers."

works of mercy vs. focus on "winners," celebrities, power-brokers
  "Iron Sharpens Iron"

Audio

Purpose is not to have a fight or
shout-over like Fox News
 
Don't sign up if you just want to tell us we're wrong.

Bereans, search scriptures

"I'll have to think about this"

"This is what I've always been looking for"


How a  Vine & Fig Tree World "Really" Works

Most people will describe the "Vine & Fig Tree" vision as "impractical," "utopian" and "unrealistic." Probably everyone in 2015 would describe those on board the Mayflower, leaving the Netherlands in 1620 in a rickety old boat (by today's standards) headed across the angry Atlantic Ocean for "the New World" as nut-case religious "extremists." But their "City upon a Hill" eventually worked. Better than anything in human history.

In the last 50 years, however, the United States government has killed, crippled, or made homeless tens of millions of innocent non-combatant civilians in an attempt to impose "secular" (atheistic) "democracy" (corporate fascism) on the world. During the last 100 years, "secular" governments have killed an average of 10,000 born people each and every single day of the century. (The figure does not include "legal" killings of unborn people, which now take place 135,000 times a day around the world.)

But government-approved, university-trained, media-whitewashed mass death is "responsible," "respectable," "practical," and "realistic,"

On this page is described how the "Vine & Fig Tree" vision could actually be implemented in "the real world." [note] Here is an excerpt:


Q.4: What are you promoting in place of "archism?"

A: Liberty Under God.


Liberty Under God
vs.
“Security”
Under Archists


A Christian worldview:
  1. zero-aggression policy
    rely on persuasion, not force, coercion, and threats of violence
    [learn more]
The Archist:
  1. initiates force against others
  1. "turn the other cheek,"
    not vengeance; (1 Corinthians 6:7)
    I'd rather be a martyr than a revolutionary
    [more]
  1. engages in punitive retaliatory vengeance
  1. respects private property,  no theft
    [more]
  1. does not respect others' rights to private property
  1. "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40)
    Free Market Institutions of Systematic Reconciliation/Restitution
    [more]
  1. creates disorder, chaos, instability, riots -- violent overthrow of competing archists;
  1. The peaceful "Vine & Fig Tree" society
    "The Laws of Nature and of Nature's God"
    [more]
  1. promotes the religion of Secular Humanism: "every man his own god."
    monarchy, oligarchy, socialism, fascism, "the dictatorship of the proletariat," "crony capitalism," democracy, republicanism, etc.
    "The State is god walking on the earth" --
    Georg W.F. Hegel

In a nutshell:

Liberty Under God

Liberty Under God is the philosophy that made America
the most prosperous and most admired nation in history.
America is now bankrupt and despised even by former admirers
because we have abandoned Liberty Under God
in favor of "Security Under Man"

By "LibertyI mean
Freedom from Archists  (burglars, "the Red Coats," etc.)
By "Under God" I do not mean
the god of Osama bin Ladin.

Q.5: "Wait a minute . . . . Aren't you illegally mixing politics and religion?"

Kevin Craig opposes the modern myth of "separation of church and state." The real meaning of the modern phrase is "the separation of God and State." It no longer refers to "churches," or as Madison often called them, "ecclesiastical bodies." Any government that will not acknowledge itself to be under God is a government that believes it is God.

False Religions

The modern idea of "Separation of Church and State" is an evil lie. While the modern Supreme Court declares that America is a "secular" nation, for the first 100 years after the Constitution was ratified, the Supreme Court frequently acknowledged that America was a Christian nation. And the more consistently America was Christian, the less archist America was.

On May 2, 1778, George Washington ordered the troops:

The commander-in-chief directs that divine service be performed every Sunday at eleven o'clock in those brigades [in] which there are chaplains; those which have none [are] to attend the places of worship nearest to them. It is expected that officers of all ranks will by their attendance set an example to their men. While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian. The signal instances of providential goodness which we have experienced, and which have now almost crowned our labors with complete success, demand from us in a peculiar manner the warmest returns of gratitude and piety to the Supreme Author of all good.
— George Washington, General Orders, May 2, 1778 The Writings of George Washington, JC Fitzpatrick, ed., Wash. DC: US Gov't Printing Office, 1932, Vol. XI:342-343.

The Delaware Indian Chiefs came to Washington inquiring how they could leave their world of superstition and poverty, and become more like the Americans. On May 12, 1779, George Washington coached them:

You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do every thing they can to assist you in this wise intention.
The Writings of George Washington, JC Fitzpatrick, ed., Wash. DC: US Gov't Printing Office, 1932, Vol 15, p.55.

George Washington to New Hampshire Founding Father Meshech Weare, June 8, 1783:

I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.
 a Circular Letter of Farewell to the Continental Army, containing "my final blessing to that Country, in whose service I have spent the prime of my life."
Inscribed on a bronze tablet adjoining the Washington pew in St. Paul's chapel in New York City.

Can we know for sure who is the Divine Author of our blessed Religion? Could it have been Muhammad? On July 9, 1812, President James Madison proclaimed a day of prayer,

to be set apart for the devout purposes of rendering the Sovereign of the Universe and the Benefactor of Mankind the public homage due to His holy attributes; of acknowledging the transgressions which might justly provoke the manifestations of His divine displeasure; of seeking His merciful forgiveness and His assistance in the great duties of repentance and amendment, that He would inspire all nations with a love of justice and of concord and with a reverence for the unerring precept of our holy religion to do to others as they would require that others should do to them.

"Our religion" is Christianity.

If elected I will follow James Madison's advice to vote against any bill which does not promote Christianity, the "true religion." In one of his most famous speeches, Madison, the "father of the Constitution," gave his reasons for opposing proposed legislation:

Because, the policy of the bill is adverse to the diffusion of the light of Christianity. The first wish of those who enjoy this precious gift, ought to be that it may be imparted to the whole race of mankind. Compare the number of those who have as yet received it with the number still remaining under the dominion of false Religions; and how small is the former! Does the policy of the Bill tend to lessen the disproportion? No; it at once discourages those who are strangers to the light of (revelation) from coming into the Region of it; and countenances, by example the nations who continue in darkness, in shutting out those who might convey it to them. Instead of levelling as far as possible, every obstacle to the victorious progress of truth, the Bill with an ignoble and unchristian timidity would circumscribe it, with a wall of defence, against the encroachments of error.

The Disciples were given a "Great Commission":

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and make every nation a Christian nation,
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
Matthew 28:18-20

During the first 100 years after the Constitution was ratified, courts -- including the Supreme Court of the United States -- repeated on numerous occasions that America was a Christian nation, including the notable 1892 case of Church of the Holy Trinity vs. United States. Only someone ignorant of the facts or with a secularist agenda would ever say that America was not originally a Christian nation.

But Washington D.C. does not always act consistently with "the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion" -- to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and to not be like "the kings of the Gentiles." America has never been 100% consistent with "the religion of Jesus Christ." Of all the political parties, I think the precepts of the True Religion are best reflected by the Pledge required of all members of the Libertarian Party:

#1
audio

  1. I do not believe in or advocate
    the initiation of force
    as a means of achieving political or social goals.

Beyond the initiation of force, the religion of Jesus Christ prohibits the return of force:

#2
audio

  1. I do not believe in the return of force -- no retaliatory, punitive vengeance

#3
audio

  1. Private Property - Individualism, not collectivism

#4
audio

  1. Order, not chaos/disorder

#5
audio

  1. God's Law, not Man's Law
We have been trained to think of "anarchy" as a situation where every man is his own god. But if Jesus is Lord, then we ought to obey His command not to be "archists." A world without archists is a world of peace, cooperation, harmony, and Free Markets, with everyone dwelling safely under his own "Vine & Fig Tree."

 Vine & Fig Tree Tornado Crisis Fund

Your donation is urgently needed!


On February 29, 2012, a tornado tore through Powersite, Missouri causing devastating damage.

The home of Kevin Craig was destroyed.  And as half of that house served as the offices of Vine & Fig Tree, Inc., the home of Vine & Fig Tree was lost, too.


Please mail your tax-deductible donation check to:

Vine & Fig Tree, Inc. 
PO Box 179,
Powersite, MO 65731

Alternatively, you can use PayPal to safely transfer funds.

Thank you for your understanding and generosity. 

Your prayers will be enormously appreciated.
 


 
If you have any questions, I would be more than happy to answer them. If you would like to be notified of updates on this situation, just say "send updates." Please use the form below.
 




Thanks to Dan, Kaleb, Billy, Majic Jones, the Orange County Catholic Worker, the Caraccio Family -- and others who prefer to remain anonymous -- for gifts and work on my behalf.



"Spiritual Exercises"

This is not an easy website. Not only are there more than 1,000 webpages, some of them are very controversial. They really make you think. It's like being on an athletic team and the coach ordering you to do 1,000 push-ups. It's not like the coach thinks that at the big game this weekend the teams are going to decide the championship by seeing who can do the most push-ups. The coach just knows that it will be easier to hit a ball over the wall in deep centerfield if you do your exercises before the big game.

You don't have to agree with everything on this website to benefit from it. Check everything you read here by the Scriptures; test the spirits (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1). But if you stretch your spiritual muscles it will be easier to carry the Cross Christ asks you to carry. There's a lot of spiritual muscle-building here, and it's more entertaining than a Jane Fonda workout video.

Examples:

Although millions of Americans go to church every Sunday, more and more Christians are disenchanted with the liturgies and rituals of only-on-Sunday religion. If you fall in love with Micah's Vine & Fig Tree vision you may be tempted to pull up stakes and leave your church. That may not be the best idea. On the other hand, if you feel that you're entitled to go to heaven just because you planted yourself in a pew every Sunday, you may be in need of some spiritual exercises:
Justification by Allegiance
Should A Christian "Attend Church"?
The Home-Church Debate
Every Christian is a priest, every Christian a pastor
A World Without Priests
 
Most Americans believe that living in America is better than living in any communist dictatorship, and most Americans believe that capitalism is better than socialism, but few can explain why. As a result, America is becoming more socialist. The Vine & Fig Tree defense of laissez-faire capitalism will make it easier for you defend the American idea of "limited government," even if you choose not to go as far as we do. Ready for some push-ups?
Laissez-faire Capitalism
Anarcho-Capitalism
A World without "The State"
The Christian Anarchist Homepage
How to Become a Christian Anarchist.
 
America is the land of "Liberty Under God." Our official national motto is "In God We Trust." But a vocal minority of atheists have convinced the Supreme Court that America's Founding Fathers intended to create a secular nation with a wall of separation between God and Government. Anyone who says religion should be accommodated by the government is accused of trying to "impose a theocracy." You're looking kinda flabby -- time for some exercises:
America was a Theocracy
America should be a Theocracy Again
Atheists should not be allowed to hold political office
America's Laws were Based on the Ten Commandments
Court Decisions Banning the Ten Commandments Should be Resisted
 
But should we resist the increasingly anti-Christian federal government with guns and bombs? If you even thought that for a second, you need to do some spiritual sit-ups.
Would Jesus Celebrate Memorial Day?
Christians should be Pacifists
America's War for Independence (1776) was unBiblical
 
Deciding how "realistic" or "practical" the "Vine & Fig Tree" vision is depends on how big your God is. Many Christians pay lip-service to the idea of God being "sovereign," but their God just isn't powerful enough to bring about Micah's "Vine & Fig Tree" vision without coming back to earth, destroying everything and starting over. Besides, the ACLU might be offended if God started fulfilling prophecies like Micah's. How sovereign is your God? Is there a wall of separation between God and society called "free will?" Is Man able to tell God to back off and leave us alone? Push-ups, push-ups, push-ups!!
God Interferes in Human History
God has predestined every molecule in the universe, including the electrical impulses in your brain that you call "thoughts." I dare you to use your "free will" to click here.
 
But even if God is sovereign, hasn't He predestined everything to get worse and worse before the Second Coming of Christ? If we work for the Christian Reconstruction of society, won't that just delay the Second Coming? Wouldn't it be sinful, in fact, to try to "bring in the Kingdom" by our own works?
This is going to take a lot of push-ups. Check with your Physician. Don't try all these exercises alone all at once. Please go through them in order.
The Second Coming has already taken place.
We are already in The Kingdom.
In fact, we're already in heaven.

Again, you don't have to agree that we're already in heaven, but if you work through those exercises, you'll find it a lot easier to believe what the Bible says, and you'll agree that after doing these exercises, you'll be strong enough to believe a lot more of what the Bible says than you could before.

And isn't it your goal to believe as much of the Bible as you possibly can? That's our goal as well.


The examples above are just the tip of the iceberg. We have nearly 1,000 pages on our various websites, many unfinished, all of them constantly being revised. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

undercon.gif (293 bytes)

A Complete Directory of our WebPages.
[no frames (120k)]


We have worked hard to create this website, and we're still working on it.
If you feel you have been helped by our work, remember that "the laborer is worthy of his hire" (Luke 10:7).

In 2012, the offices of Vine & Fig Tree were destroyed by a tornado.
If you you can, please make a tax-deductible donation to Vine & Fig Tree.

Or mail your check to
"Vine & Fig Tree"
P.O. Box 179
Powersite, MO 65731



Note:
From time time time you'll find links to
the website for Kevin Craig's "campaign" for United States Congress.
 Vine & Fig Tree  in no way  endorses this campaign. 
The campaign is Kevin Craig's own personal attempt
to promote
the "Vine & Fig Tree" vision in his spare time.
We are working to import the content from this
political website into the
"Vine & Fig Tree" website.