The Christian Prepper's Credo

in September of last year i began this series of posts about my observations regarding the troubled times in which we live. This is the final installment. Thank you for your patience.

This is where I start to sound like a kook! I have not really been too specific about what I believe is happening in our country heretofore in this series of posts. Some of what I am going to say will seem strange and, well, a bit out there. It even seems this way to me at times. I am just a bit gratified however, that whenever I have articulated these ideas, the reception among ordinary people has been favorable. I believe that God is talking to many others than me concerning these things.

 

I do not really consider myself to be a “doomsday prepper” in the classical sense. First, I believe in a far different sort of “doomsday” than they do. Second, they believe in preparing for the needs of themselves and their families and perhaps joining in preparation with a small group of like minded friends, who will in turn work with them to sustain life in a post collapse society. As a Christian, I am interested in saving myself and my family; but also others, especially of the “household of faith” who may find themselves unprepared for what is going to happen (see Galatians 6:10; 1 Timothy 5:8; also see my post On being my brother’s keeper, June, 2010). I also believe that true believers will be in the forefront of keeping our communities together and functioning.

So here it is, my:

Christian Prepper’s Credo

I believe that something very bad will happen in this country in the next 24 months, something that will be significantly disruptive to our lifestyle, and with long term effects. I have begun to make preparations for this future.

I believe that being a Christian at this coming time brings with it additional responsibility for the care of others, first to our own families, then to the household of faith, and then to the world at large.

I believe that God is directing many of His children to prepare for what is ahead. Many are being strategically placed by our Lord to bring about His desired outcome.

I believe that many of the secular world’s “preppers” are headed in the wrong direction, and are preparing for the wrong things.

I believe that, from a biblical perspective, God will remain in control regardless of whatever happens and will turn it around for good and for the furtherance of His will and plan.

I believe that it is essential that we become involved in leading our communities of faith and our larger communities during the coming trouble.

I believe that what we are going to experience is not directly related to “last days” events and we will not be rescued from it by the rapture.

I believe in the following Five Solutions as a guiding philosophy for our approach the troubling times ahead.

The Five Solutions:

First, I think that Christ is leading us to become a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem. If we are going to be of assistance to our brethren in Christ, and to the rest of the world it is important that we not lose all of our wealth, and become dependents of the government.

 

Second, we need to become more self-sufficient and get ourselves into a position where we have something to share with the world.

Third, we need to realize Who it is that we serve, and that we can depend on Him to supply our every need and the needs of those He will lead us to minister to.

Fourth, we need to become a people of prayer.

Fifth we need to become involved in our communities and our governments now, rather than later so that we will be able to provide the leadership necessary to bring our nation through this time of crisis.

 

Those I have encountered who tend to be less receptive to these ideas that I am expressing seem to fall into three categories:

Those who think that our present troubles are cyclical and will be over soon (in spite of the repeated phrase from economic and social commentators “this is like nothing we have ever seen before”. The authors of Aftershock would refer to these as “cheerleaders”.

Those who are looking for a political solution to the current crises: “If we could just get a new group of politicians (or perhaps if more would just get in to line with the current group) then all will be well and we will be saved from this dilemma.”

Those who believe that these are truly the end times and that at any minute the Lord is going to swoop down and save us (see earlier post, October, 2013 So what do I think?)

Perhaps many of these issues could be further discussed at great length. I am considering God’s leadership as to whether I should start a new blog to write about these very issues. I don’t know whether or not it is His will that I do so, but I can certainly see a need. Stay tuned to this station.

I am going into that time of year at which my employment and my Bible study group consumes the majority of my time and energy. I don’t intend to stop posting for the summer, in fact there are a couple of blog posts I am working on that are currently in their incubation period. It’s just that I don’t have as much time or energy to devote to them so you may not hear anything out of me for a little while.

Thanks for following along all these weeks and thanks for sharing this moment with me today.