The Christian Survivalist: A Biblical View of Preparedness
Purpose: To provide a biblical view of how to prepare for disasters, large and small, so that the individual Christian, the Christian family, and the local Church can give glory to God in the midst of trying times, defend and provide for their families and church, be a blessing to other Believers who were not as prepared, to reach out to the lost with the Gospel while serving them in a crisis, and to preserve a Christian civilization for the future.
Method: This category of the Mark12ministries Blog will include a series of postings that will present ideas about how to prepare to survive the various disasters, large and small, that we may encounter. It is intended to stir up a godly discussion on the topics visited and to generally bring in a sanctified form of survivalism to the Church at large. For too long the Church has relegated topics like this to the Government or to the lost even while doing a pretty good job of sending teams to minister in parts of the country that have been ravaged by storm, flood or earthquake.
Outline: Here is a proposed outline for the study of Christian Preparedness/ Survivalism-
I. A Biblical Study of Preparedness
1. Bible passages that teach preparing for the future and for disaster (Noah in Gen.6-9 is a good case study)
2. Spiritual themes like Keeping our eyes on Jesus, not on building bigger barns for the wrong reasons.
3. When to flee (Lot leaving Sodom) and when to fight (Esther)
4. A biblical case for hoarding and defending from the book of Judges?
5. Working hard, providing for your family and saving for the future, a biblical view.
6. Why did Jesus’ disciples carry swords?
7. Eschatology and Christian Preparedness- will we be raptured outta here prior to things getting “really bad”? Or will we be like Israel, Judah and 2000 yrs. of church history and go through a time of great suffering?
II. Types of Disasters To Prepare For at the personal, family, church and neighborhood level
1. Small Inconvenient Disasters- flat tires, cell phone dies, weather changes, etc. From common sense to witnessing opportunities, practicing the Golden Rule and 2nd Greatest Commandment.
2. Medical Emergencies- First Aid and CPR Training, First Aid kits, calling 911.
3. “Normal” minor disasters- power outages due to storms, water pipes freezing, house and car fires.
4. Major Natural Disasters- Tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes
5. Self-defense issues
6. Civil disturbances- crime prevention to riots
7. Political Oppression and Persecution (It’s coming to America!)
8. The End Of The World As We Know It scenarios (TEOTWAWKI)- Electrical Grid total failure, EMP blast, Nuclear War, Plague, Asteroid strike, Mega Volcano, etc.
III. The Specifics of Survival Gear and Plans
1. Water
2. Food
3. Shelter
4. Weapons
5. Tools
6. Clothing
7. Communications
8. Books
IV. What Should the Church Do?
1. Medical emergency response teams
2. Crime prevention teams
3. Fire Prevention
4. Severe Weather Plans
5. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, defend the oppressed
6. Can a local church prepare for the mega disaster or TEOTWAWKI?
7. Looking at the long term challenge of passing the faith and civilization on to the next generation post apocalypse.
8. “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition” Ministering the Gospel in the middle of a war.
V. Is Any of This Really Necessary? What Are The Chances….?
1. Bible history tells us to prepare
2. Church history tells us to prepare
3. Recent history tells us to prepare- Frontier churches, Revolutionary War, Civil War, WW1 and WW2
4. Current history tells us to prepare- Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, etc.; California earthquakes and wild fires; Los Angeles riots; oppression of the church in various other countries.
5. World political and economic situation tells us to prepare.
6. Common sense tells us to prepare
Thursday, October 9, 2008: This topic has long been one of my favorites, but I have kept quiet since it doesn’t get much cred in the Church. I and my family have made some preparations and about 3 years ago my brother got caught up in the evacuation of Houston during hurricane Rita…and was on the road for 21 hours while making only 17 miles of progress!
On this blog I was actually surprised at the interest level on my one prior posting on this subject:
mark12ministries.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/should-christians-prepare-for-a-war/
therefore I believe a little fleshing out of the topic is warranted. This will be a long process and I will not likely go in the order I have just described. Some posts I will be able to write very quickly without much research at all, while other topics will require a lot of exegetical work and internet research. I am busy with work, teaching Genesis in the Sunday School class, assisting in a Care Group and writing other things for this blog, so this big project will not go quickly.
Any input from the readers will be appreciated!
Here are some stories, websites and blogs of interest:
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27244465/
www.survivalblog.com/about.html
www.content.good.is/post/picture-show-waiting-for-the-end-of-the-world.html?GT1=48001
www.texasprepares.org/ReadyOrNot/Client/Home.aspx
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Should Christians Prepare for a War and Be Survivalists? « Mark12ministries’s Weblog
October 9, 2008
Very excited to see more discussion on this. Thanks Bryan!
Fred
October 10, 2008
Like you I am former military (US Army). I believe in protecting myself and what little family I have. It is very hard for me to adopt the attitude I see in some Christians. Which is” “God will take care of us”…”don’t plan ahead or take any pre-cautions”. God gave us a good mind, sound decisions making abilities. I’d think he would want us to use them. He doesn’t always divide the Red Sea, God does something just as wonderous, he’s given us the ability to cope with situations that are happening.
As long as we put God first in our prayers and the way we live our life, witness to others, read our Bible daily and go to Church to fellowship with other Christians all the while we are walking (the best we know how to do) the Christian walk I believe we are doing what God wants us to do.
Lynn Rodriguez
June 25, 2012
I too am a born again Christian who believes in the rapture, as are my family members. But, I’m also a former Marine who belives in survival and protecting my family at all costs. Not knowing when the rapture may take place… but seeing how close we are to the end of peace as we know it for Christians. Seeing the constant attack on the Church and our fundamental beliefs, and how we are becoming the minority, and persecution of Christians in this great country of ours is just around the corner. Where preaching on certain subjects from the pulpit will be forbidden. I believe it’s time to start planning on being here for part of the tribulation and percecution. With that all said, I believe it is time to start aligning with other like minded Christians to have a co-op for food, supplies, and if need be to fight for our freedom and beliefs. May God bless and protect us in trying time.
Terry
November 4, 2008
Amen Terry! And a “Thank You” for your service to our country as a Marine. Hoo Ahh
mark12ministries
November 4, 2008
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Repent! The End Is Near! « Mark12ministries’s Weblog
March 9, 2009
Becky,
Thanks for your good comments and thank you to your son for serving our nation as a Marine. Good for you in beginning to prepare now. One of the things that finally got me motivated to start acting instead of just reading and thinking was Hurricane Rita. My brother tried to evac from Houston, spent 21 hrs on the road and made it 17 miles from his home, gave up, returned home in 20 minutes going against the flow of traffic, and weathered the storm OK.
I don’t have to worry much about hurricanes here in Ft Worth, but and F-5 tornado, a devastating Ice Storm, a terrorist attack…all are possible.
May the Lord bless your efforts to protect your family! Get ‘One Second After’ by Fortschen and then ‘Patriots’ by James Wesley, Rawles.
mark12ministries
May 28, 2009
I, and my family, believe that we will go through part or all of the tribulation to come, as Overcomers. We’re starting at this late hour, far behind the learning curve, far behind the “call” but it’s never too late unless you don’t begin. We’re preparing a place for our children and grandchildren to evacuate to, should we experience another hurricane (have evacced 5 times in as many years) or some kind of terrorist attack against the refinery areas, or an EMP…we are a family of 20…looking to buy land, build and take care of ourselves and whomever the Lord would lead to us. We’re low on funds, time and resources, but we know we’re on the right track with this leading to “make ready”
Many heartfelt thanks from the bottom of our hearts to the Marine below who served this great country of ours…my son was a Marine/always a Marine….he will be ready to bravely protect those whom God has given him…just like you. I love our soldier/patriots…bless you and thank you, thank you, thank you.
Becky Hansing
May 28, 2009
LIKE WHAT I JUST READ!! ALSO THINK THAT MANY 1000’S ARE CONCERNED LIKE US AND HOPE ARE NETWORKING AS YOU ARE.MANY CHURCHES ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THESE THINGS. ITS A GOOD THING FOLKS LIKE US ARE REACHING OUT TO OTHERS OR CONNECTING WITH OTHERS TO MAKE A DIFFERANCE.
JAMES ALEXANDER
June 11, 2009
weapons? where is that in scripture? c’mon people…
raymond
July 6, 2009
Raymond,
In Luke 22:38 two disciples produce a couple of swords which they had been carrying in response to what Jesus said in vs.36 “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.Jesus refers back to when he sent them out on mission and they did not carry anything, depending on God to provide through God’s people. Jesus is now telling them that things are changing, it will not be so easy now, and they need to be prepared for anything. He tells them to 1) take a bag of money, 2) a knapsack, and 3) a sword. These are classic survivalist preparations for all contingencies.
The obvious point is that Jesus allowed his disciples to carry weapons.
Now later, in the arrest of Jesus in the Garden, He rebuked Peter for using the sword and healed the man Peter struck. In this situation Jesus was supposed to get arrested. His purpose was to die and Peter’s efforts were wrongheaded. This does not mean Peter and the others should not carry swords.
Jesus praises the faith of the Roman Army Centurion in Matt.8 and does not tell him to leave the Army to become a peace protestor or a pacifist.
The Old Testament examples are too numerous to discuss in detail but let me refer you to young David who used the sling not just to keep wild animals from attacking his father’s sheep, but to kill Goliath.
Weapons are simply tools that can be used for good or ill. Self defense is a biblical concept that follows from the doctrine of man being created in the image of God and the 10 commandments that prohibit murder, theft, and rape.
mark12ministries
July 6, 2009
Passage Revelation 13:9-10:
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Saints this is a clue for us, no guns— have faith in G_d!
Dawnyell
October 21, 2009
Well said, God be praised.
Donald Veilleux
January 21, 2011
I want to thank you for your work in this area. I am beginning a new position after 12 yrs. selling technology. I am trusting the Lord by taking on the sales for a start up known as Solar-BC. It has an emergency preparedness focus, including free training and education, supplies and projects that involve general construction (i.e. solar, air purification,etc)
My plan is to take my Christian knowledge and values into the homes of those who have concerns and your site will be a tremendous resource to which I will refer my clients to.
Thanks again! and God Bless you and Keep you!
jim wright
April 7, 2011
[…] extended periods of adversity. Other Christian churches have done this as well. By and large the preparedness communities in the U.S. are populated with people who are family-oriented, religious, and have some knowledge […]
EMP: Darwin’s Hammer « Emergency Preparedness « reagangirl.com
August 28, 2011
I always feel like the rapture isn’t going to happen when the world is in a state of “Disneyland”. It’s probably going to happen when things are at their very worst.
johnny moscow
April 9, 2012
I too am being led in this direction–I have started viewing a series of end time videos for Christians taught by Irvin Baxter ( his website is http://www.endtime.com) It’s all about end time prophecy. I am looking for land in the Mississppi/Tennessee area with a group of like minded Bible believing fundamentalists, Maybe a community of Christian Survivalists. Do you know where my family and I can meet such a group and get some survivalist training and buy some land?
Linda Zimmerman
May 12, 2012
there needs to be balance. all we know is the season we live in. we have a responsibility to care for the poor and for our needs today, and also to be wise and prepare. To spend all on disaster that may not come, or not to prepare at all ? neither is wise. Joseph kept all of Egypt from starving by being wise and listening to God’s voice.
Reva Gray
June 14, 2012
Hi Linda,
Please don’t be offended at what I say, but a dear brother of mine got involved with Baxter several years ago. I read most of the pamphlets and teachings just to know what my buddy was getting into, and I will say that it was all erroneous material. The individuals in leadership roles in this ministry basically used my buddy to do free drywall work and mission work because he has a big heart, all the while he and his family are going without the basics, these individuals are building a multi million dollar building in Texas for their radio show. Typical mega ministry minds, if you want my opinion. However, their views on Jesus, God, tongues and endtimes are just way off base.. Beware..
Chris
August 31, 2012
A great place to get survival tips and one of the better survival guides around.
chase christensen
August 17, 2012
I have a new Survival Outdoor Supply website and would like to use it for both business and outreach. I would love to use some of your content to represent the truth around disaster/survival preparedness. Would you be OK with me using some of your infromation to post to my website?
Mark Hatfield
November 8, 2012
Reblogged this on Prepper Politics.
III
February 26, 2013