Should Christians Prepare for a War and Be Survivalists?

Thanks for your response Bryan. I don’t disagree with anything you said.

I’m esp with you that the whole of scripture helps inform us about each particular passage or verse. For example- Jesus’ isn’t speaking against work or saving here because other passages advise saving and instruct that those who won’t work shouldn’t eat.

I’m definitely not against work, money, wealth, savings or preparedness. Give me more of them all. =) Guess I’m just mindful that the same action (ex. preparing for disasters) can be done with mulitple motives. We can prepare as you suggest to be able to take care of ourselves and bless our neighbors.

But we can also prepare out of fear or an unhealthy self-sufficiency (like the Rich Fool in Luke 12:16-21). We can also fall into the trap of thinking that this world is our home instead of a stop on our sojourn and place an overly high priority on remaining here.

Also, from what I see on many of the survivalist’s sites (some of whom claim to be Christians) it seems that preparedness can become an obsession or a major source of their identity. Neither of which seems spiritually healthy.

In fact, the Matthew 6 passage seems to warn directly against all of those things.

Have you (or others) really wrestled with your internal motivations for preparedness before or after you jumped in? If so, have you found a mix of motivations?

What did/do you do with any that didn’t fit the heart/ways of Jesus?

Should a Christian even begin to prepare for disaster if they can’t do so without fear, self-sufficiency or an unhealthy love for this world?

What do you do to make sure your efforts in this area stay on the healthy and God-honoring side of things?

As someone who is genuinely interested in preparedness, but wants it to honor Jesus- like every other part of my life- I’d love to hear some dialogue about these things.

Mary: I am searching for the book “Prepare, Before All Hell Breaks Loose”. Do you know the author, or can you tell me where I can pick up a copy. THANKS!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

From, “Prepare Before All Hell Breaks Loose!” by MK Mason

“Gather a double portion of manna on the sixth day.”
The Israelites were commanded by God to prepare a double portion of manna on the sixth day, as the seventh day was holy. In Father’s blessed provision, the second day’s manna never spoiled, God kept it miraculously preserved.

As the time draws closer each of us must determine if we are to put up a second portion of manna or if God’s plan for our family is to prepare nothing. There are two paths of thought on the issue of preparing. The first is that God will provide for all our needs miraculously and therefore we are to do nothing as an act of faith. If this is your conviction then by all means follow the Holy Spirit’s voice and do not prepare. I firmly believe God will instruct some in this path, as these believers will be on the move, unable to carry supplies. I believe some of the household of faith will be instructed by the Holy Spirit to prepare extra provisions. I believe this to be scriptural. Clearly the early church has many times depended on the charity of fellow believers to provide for their basic physical needs. Joseph prepared food for seven years of famine and Noah prepared for 100 years and I’m certain many considered both quite nuts for doing it.

Philippians 4:15-19, says, “You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

The second thought is to prepare according to the guidance of God. Paul, though a great evangelist, his time being extremely valuable still worked as a tent maker at times, frequently working for his own provisions. I believe God does provide for my family as He provides me with good health so I may work for an income that I may go to the store and purchase food. He gave me a brain and many scriptural warnings. If a storm is coming, common sense tells me to take down the laundry, close the windows and bring in the kids.

Matthew 24:44-46, “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.”

1Titus 5:8,” But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” Unless God tells you not to, I feel generally speaking that it is prudent to prepare as the Lord has given us warning of famine.

Philippians 2:4, “…. do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

If you choose to prepare I feel it is wise and loving to prepare a generous portion for the stranger and the missionary.

Romans 12:9-13, says, “Let love be without hypocrisy Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, …”

Phil 4:11-14, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.”

Be ready

When world events spiral out of control you will become extremely vulnerable.
A financial collapse, could force banks to close and money could become pretty much worthless, that is, if you can get it out of the bank. Chaos, whether it is from a terrorist attack, natural disasters, a stock market crash or avian pandemic flu, these events could cause breakdowns in the supply of essential goods and services. Crime suddenly makes the streets as dangerous as the jungle, where wandering outside is putting your life in jeopardy. With no cash, no food and mob rule outside the door, now what?

Finding food under these conditions will be extremely difficult if not impossible. Everyone will have the same needs and few will choose to share what they do have as they know not what tomorrow will bring. When tomorrow looks even more ominous, and folks are gripped in fear, many tend to not to be so charitable. Grocery stores would be emptied in less than a day. Food riots are likely to breakout, but not with yelling, pushing and shoving but with knives and handguns, stealing food right out of your shopping cart. Then if you do get a few items you must now fight off the bandits who await you in the parking lot.

During the Chicago winter of 1968 as a young child I witnessed a severe food shortage during a prolonged blizzard. When the grocery stores finally opened food began to fly off the shelves, I will never forget that day. It was the first time in my life I ever experienced people behaving selfishly. When people were seen hoarding 3 loaves of bread, milk, etc. the store manager started rationing food at the check out counter. If he tried that in our day he might get attacked. With no cars on the road due to the snow accumulation, we could only buy what we could carry. There may come a day where you’ll have no gas to get you to the grocery store. Could you carry six or seven bags of groceries home? What would you do if after buying the food, a roving gang robbed you of all?

The second problem is America’s emergency food supply. It is dangerously low with only a three-week supply of food in the national food distribution network. This amount has decreased by two thirds thanks to Congress.

Thirdly, under many circumstances, natural disasters, absent sick workers victims of avian flu, fuel shortages, bombed infrastructure, etc. there could easily be a disruption in food distribution leading to empty grocery stores for weeks. Katrina was a nightmare of hunger and thirst, unsanitary conditions, chaos and crime. And that was just one small area of the country. I would imagine that as looting and riots break out at grocery stores and the police are out numbered, that store employees will simply refuse to risk their life to come to work forcing stores to close. Those depending on a generous neighbor or good friend for food would prove unfruitful as most American households have a mere 3 to 5 days worth of food on hand.