vancerains.com

I recently spent some time on a goat farm. You might wonder, “Vance. Why would you spend time on a goat farm?” To which I might respond, “WHY WOULDN’T I?!?”

I’ve always had a fondness for goats, especially baby goats. I’m not sure why. I didn’t grow up on a farm. In fact, most of my exposure to goats has been in petting zoos. For whatever reason, at some point, I decided I liked them. I really like them.

And there’s absolutely nothing cuter than a baby goat!

But spending time with a herd of goats is an entirely different – even better – experience!

In a petting zoo, goats are mostly food-motivated, looking for the next child with handful of goat food to come along. I’m sure herd goats also wouldn’t pass on a snack. But, even without food as a motive, goats are extremely personable.

Goats like people! They like to be pet and rubbed and scratched. They enjoy human interaction and even initiate it.

Now, my short time on the goat farm does not make me a goat expert. But, it seems to me, goats have an unfair reputation for being difficult, onery, contrarian – I’m thinking of certain hard-headed men referred to as “old goats.” Sounds like a compliment to me! Yes, goats are curious – maybe even a little nosy. Yes, they like to nibble – even your clothes. Yes, for whatever reason, they like to head-butt each other – some even have horns. Yes, they occasionally poop and pee on your shoes. But, in my opinion, all of that adds to their unique goat charm.

Maybe Jesus is to blame – forgive me, Lord. I know I sound sacrilegious, but hear me out.  In the Parable of the Goats and the Sheep, in Matthew 25, Jesus separates people like a shepherd might separate sheep from goats. In Jesus’ story, the sheep represent his faithful followers who fed the hungry and clothed the naked, etc. and the goats represent the unfaithful who didn’t do such things. In the end, the sheep receive an eternal reward and the goats an eternal punishment.

Why Jesus? Why pick on goats? Why make the goats the bad guys?

And why make the sheep the heroes?

When I was in seminary, I served part-time at Gibsonville United Methodist Church. Gibsonville is a rural farming community near Thomasville, North Carolina. For those who remember the show, Gibsonville reminded me of Petticoat Junction.

One Sunday, I was leading a young adult Sunday School class discussion on Jesus being the “Good Shepherd,” from John 10. Not knowing much about sheep and not realizing many farmers in central North Carolina raise sheep, I began the discussion asking, “What do we know about sheep.” Unanimously, in one voice, they said, “Sheep are STUPID!” No exceptions! No dissenting voices!

I learned that sheep are not very intelligent, requiring the care and oversight of sheepdogs, shepherds, electric fencing and North Carolina farmers from Gibsonville! Apparently, a sheep’s biggest shortcoming is its tendency to get lost – which Jesus also mentions.

Sheep spend most of their time eating grass. When the patch in front of a sheep’s nose is eaten, they step forward and eat the next patch, and they potentially keep doing so until they’ve wandered in the far opposite direction of the flock. Their little sheep eyes are always focused on the next patch of grass, never looking up to see where the other sheep are grazing. Sheep don’t even know they’ve strayed until they’re lost, or fallen victim to wolves or sheep rustlers.

Whereas goats – who also like to eat – are drawn to the herd and the shepherd (or visiting pastor). Goats, too, have their vulnerabilities – but not due to a lack of intelligence. In fact, goats are very intelligent – especially compared to sheep!

Maybe Jesus, as a carpenter, didn’t spend enough time with goats. Maybe in childhood, a goat nibbled Jesus’ fingers too aggressively at the Nazareth Petting Zoo. Maybe the goats’ horns reminded Jesus of some other horned creature. Maybe Jesus never held a cute baby goat! From all of the Sunday School portraits, Jesus certainly seems lamb-biased!

Who knows!?!?

But I’m going on the record to say – I LIKE GOATS!  And, as far as metaphors go, I’d rather be compared to a goat than a dumb sheep!

Jesus, please forgive me! Hopefully the Good Shepherd will tolerate for an old goat like me in his flock!