Posted on 09/23/2014 6:13:35 AM PDT by WXRGina
This is a difficult column to write. It may earn me scorn from fellow conservatives who strongly trust in their hard-earned, stored provisions. But, it is a subject that has weighed on my mind. The question concerns Christians, not unbelievers. Is serious “prepping” something Christians should do? Prepping, as you may know, is the laying up of food, water, weapons, ammunition and other supplies for the event of future disaster, commonly referred to in the prepper community by the initials SHTF (“stuff” hits the fan).
There are Christian prepper communities. According to one such Christian website entry:
The prepper sees the imminent collapse of the American dollar, hyperinflation, breakdown of society and the [disintegration] of the city infrastructure such as roads, transportation, telecommunication, water supply, electricity, gas, etc. They start storing food, water, batteries for survival, and even guns and ammunition for protection of their hoardings. Many are looking for lands to buy and so the prices of farmlands and rural acreages have been driven up tremendously. Preppers are increasing in numbers every day in America, so some have called it the Prepper nation.
… Most preppers are mainly concerned about their physical wellbeing during bad times and disasters, so they focus on stocking up food, drinks, batteries and other items that are required for survival. Some are buying gold, silver and other precious metals as hedges against the U.S. Dollar and economic collapse. Others go further by looking for farmlands and equipment for renewable energy such as solar and wind powered generators. All these kinds of preparation are highly essential when the Great Tribulation occurs, but there are other more important things to consider as well.
The piece goes on to express the importance of being spiritually prepared in Christ. It admonishes us to not do our prepping out of fear.
The Bible tells us that God’s ways and thoughts are not our ways and thoughts. What seems wise and right to us is not necessarily so, because the only true wisdom is God’s wisdom. The Lord is infinitely higher than we are, and our very limited minds cannot grasp the depth of the knowledge and wisdom of God, although as we seek His wisdom, He gives it to us, and we grow in it. The world tells us there is wisdom in laying up provisions for bad times to come, and there are also examples in Scripture of this, as in God warning Joseph in Pharaoh’s dream to store grain before the famine in Egypt, and God advising Noah to build the ark and load provisions into it for the duration of the flood. What else does the Bible say about this?
In Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV), Jesus says:
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Further on in verses 25 and 31-34, Jesus continues:
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
… 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
That passage makes it clear that the Lord wants us to put our faith in Him alone. Does that mean God does not want us to be serious preppers? In defense of prepping, some might point to Proverbs 21:20 (NIV):
The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
Is that an admonition to hoard, or more of a general comparison of the behavior of the wise man and the foolish man? Proverbs is full of such comparisons of the wise and foolish and the Godly and wicked.
The Bible stresses the importance of work and the folly of laziness. However, there is a big difference between hardcore prepping and laziness. Just because some of us may not be serious preppers does not mean we’re lazy. There are many of us who have thought about prepping but have little to no space for storing a lot of provisions. Neither does everyone have enough money to spend on extra supplies, other than a little here and there, although even without much money, you could still build up quite a collection over time.
Is prepping in keeping with God’s instructions for us? Not if you look to Jesus’ words in Matthew 6. But, if we do choose to prepare, how much is enough? Three to six months’ stockpile of food, water and other supplies? How could we ever know how much we would need? The answer is that we can’t know, and I believe therein lies the key to the whole issue. I don’t believe there is anything inherently wrong with prepping, but as Christians, our faith must not be in our supplies or our ability to procure them. God makes it clear that He wants to be the sole object of our faith and trust. Seek Him first, and “all these things will be added unto you.” All we have comes from Him. “Unhealthy” prepping is when it becomes more important to us than trusting the Lord to know what’s coming and what we will need.
Psalms 37 is a marvelous chapter that contrasts the righteous with the wicked. It declares that the man who trusts in God will be taken care of by the Lord in every way, but the wicked will quickly perish, even though for a time it seems that the wicked prosper. In verses 23-25 (KJV), David writes:
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
The Lord knows what’s coming, and He knows what we will need. He will give Christians the things we need when we need them. I’m not advocating lying down and “doing nothing,” because I don’t believe prepping is a bad thing, but we must keep it in perspective. While prepping can be a great help in certain situations, it is not what saves us or takes care of us. Only the Lord does that, and while we may choose to be preppers, as Christians, we must always keep our focus on Him.
Republican/Conservatives: Preppers=Responsibility
Virgil, that’s my take, too (and I quote in the column that very passage you wrote). As I wrote, I knew I would receive scorn from the cynics for even bringing up this subject, but I honestly struggle with this issue, partly because I’m poor and have little extra space (other than a garage that’s not air conditioned), and partly because I don’t see the Lord clearly telling us to hoard provisions.
That's the very conclusion of my column. Thanks.
Bad planning on their part does not make my good stewardship a bad thing. The stored food I have "put up" takes up less than one closet space in my home. It's perhaps 16 square feet of space. The "affordability" is simply a state of mind. I grow all the vegetables we eat and can enough to last till next harvest. I can or freeze meat the same way. Those who don't could simply purchase a can or two extra on each shopping trip and accumulate that way. There is always a way.
There is a VERY large number of verses advising preparing (stockpiling) for the unknown, and many verses roundly criticizing those who don’t. Just because God hasn’t clearly told you to stockpile 7 years of food doesn’t mean you shouldn’t set aside some of the “harvest” from good years in preparation for bad years.
The anecdotal directive to stockpile grain in preparation for 7 lean years was given to the _whole_country_. Joseph was the nation’s leader, given the dramatic task of doing what individuals should have been. (OK, 7 years is a bit much, but there is no excuse for not being prepared for _at_least_ 1 year.)
Parable of the ants & grasshopper. Parable of the maidens with and without extra lamp oil. Consequences of famine. Plenty of others; I’ve not time to dig them up but you know where to find them.
Trust God for providence? Absolutely. And you’re wallowing in “providence” RIGHT NOW: you have the money, time, opportunity & resources to stock up a year’s worth of food etc, knowing full well that our country is being driven directly into a brick wall. Come the next big crash, you’ll likely be too distracted with hunger to recall writing this anti-preparedness drivel instead of stocking up for that inevitability.
A favorite insightful joke comes to mind...
A preacher’s home was subjected to a massive flood.
Standing on the front porch, a rowboat came by. “Get in!” the occupants said, “we will take you to safety!”
He replied, “no, I trust God will protect me.”
As the rising waters drove him to the second floor, a powerboat came by. “Get in!” the occupants said, “we will take you to safety!”
He replied, “no, I trust God will protect me.”
Rising still more, the waters drove him onto the roof. A helicopter hovered over and lowered a ladder. “Get in!” the occupants said, “we will take you to safety!”
He replied, “no, I trust God will protect me.”
Still rising, the water engulfed the home and the preacher drowned.
Entering the Pearly Gates, the preacher came to the Almighty, thanking Him for salvation. “I’ve one question though: why did you let me drown when I trusted You so much?
God replied, “I sent you two boats and a helicopter, what more did you want?”
You live in a time of plenty. Are you preparing for the inevitable time of want? Dying of starvation, will God’s reply to your pleas be “I gave you a generous income, and sacks of flour at $15 for 50 pounds - why did you choose hunger?”
To download the (free) comprehensive LDS Preparedness Manual:
http://www.ldsavow.com/PrepManualGeneral.html
Based on various LDS Manuals:
http://tomeaker.com/kart/Preparedness1j.pdf
Training materials for Civilian Emergency Response Teams:
http://www.fema.gov/community-emergency-response-teams/training-materials
One list (of many) of preparedness materials:
http://survivalblog.com/store/amazonbooks.html
Ship Captain’s Medical Guide: (in PDF!)
http://www.crosstree.info/Documents/CaptGuide.pdf
FEMA Civilian Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Instructor’s Manual:
http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1838-25045-1683/ig_combined.pdf
Participant’s Manual:
www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1839-25045-8729/pm_combined.pdf
Proverbs 22:3
(3) A prudent one foresees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.
1 Timothy 5:8
(8) But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.
You cannot share what you do not already have.
Absolutely those ways DO include such items.
They are not the totality thereof, though.
Better to clarify this way:
Prepping is good, so long as it does not hinder other moral responsibilities.
Nothing wrong with having 7 years’ supply on hand, unless it means foregoing care for your own here and now.
Yes, there is always a way to have some provisions, but there is no way to ever be truly prepared for a real "doomsday" scenario.
Yeah, really - it’s not like we’re the gov’t or something... :)
I tend to agree with you. ‘Prepping’ is not a bad idea for short term disasters. Societal collapse is not short term. I question the quality of the life one wants to desperately preserve in a post-apocalyptic world. With all due respect, how long do people think their small band of well prepped and well armed survivors will last in a world full of huge numbers of raiders, especially armed ones? I think people have too much Hollywood imagery in their heads. If it does happen, it isn’t going to go like people think.
You know, it's only been in the last 50-75 years that folks have NOT made a habit of storing food. Mankind has always stored food in the spring/summer for the lean times in winter. It's gotten out of practice now because of the wonderful transportation systems we now have. But...that can be a very fine thread that could snap in a calamity. We must be prudent...we must be observant.....we must be prepared....we must be ready to assist....and we must trust in the Lord with all our heart.....
6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
So, I guess Christ is saying that we should not be preppers.
Regards,
Part of that passage in Matthew 6 is quoted in the column.
I don’t know if that was a sarcastic comment or not. The whole point of those scriptures is that we’re not to worry; not that we’re not work. Big difference.
For example, he says He provides food for the sparrows. Does that mean the sparrows just throw their heads back and the worms fall from heaven? No...they work for their food. What the Lord says is that he will provide their food.
We’re to use the brains that God gave us —the common sense and the perception we’ve been gifted with as we’re made in His image —and to be prudent......not to worry.....not to wring our hands.....
Perhaps if you define what you consider "serious" more fully I would better know if I agree with you or not.
I think you're referring to "attitude", the mindset of a serious prepper, as being the issue? Have they logically responded to concerns or over-reacted to worry?
From the abundance God provides, I think we are to be responsible for and provide for our own needs, so as not to be a burden on others, in good times and bad.
Moreover, it's good to prepare for the bad, good on many levels.
Charity begins at home. It's better to be a resource others can depend upon, a shelter from the storm. Who can say when we will be called to be each other's food banks or whatever in times of trouble, either theirs or the world's?
Much beyond that, I trust God and know He will continue to provide for my needs, both physical and spiritual, and send others my way if He thinks I can be of service. Gotta be ready for those...
Well if you are not prepped up and you have to get in a line and put your kids little wrists out to take the mark of the Beast what will God think?
People get much to much of their mindset from liberals, non Christians, and those who call themselves Christian but are not. Of course we can't be totally self sufficient in the sense that we don't need even God's help. We are however to be good stewards in our supplies to the extent we are able while at the same time relying on God to provide that way and then to trust that He will provide for what we cannot forsee.
The "oldtimers" like my grandparents had a much different mindset then people today. The concept of "putting up" for family needs was a natural part of life. They didn't consider it "prepping for doomsday". I believe that it's a Satanic lie to consider it " prepping for doomsday" in order to get people prepared for the time when one will need the "mark of the beast" to buy or sell.
Joseph’s revelation was literally for the “salvation” (physically) of the whole surrounding world - not for himself or even just the Jews - but also the Egyptians and surrounding countries.
This post is a good word.
I have no problem with prepping with two balancing thoughts:
1. Spiritual preparation is primary, not physical. Physical preparation without the spiritual is vanity that will be short-lived. Most people cannot afford to physically prepare - will God take care of them who cannot prepare physically but who are prepared spiritually? Of course. He always has.
2. If your preparation is just for yourself, and doesn’t include others - woe unto you when things collapse. Will you deny helping your own family? your friends? your neighbors? you will die alone....maybe last, but alone. Selfishness (really, “self”) is the root of all sin. It is not a virtue. Sacrifice for others is virtue. “No greater love.....”
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