PREPPERS- Preparing, but for what?

[Neighbor]

Hi all,

I'd like to have a conversation that encompasses  the ideas of being prepared that includes preppers and what the so called preppers are doing do to prepare, as well as a different sort of prepper those that go into all the world to share of  gospel of Jesus.

I'd like to see where the thoughts of many here go ,-including my own in my trying to meld the two - Missionary sojourning as compared with Prepper survival  and perhaps Isolation.

Anyone?

 

Well perhaps I will share just a bit  of the sort of a prepper mode I am in. ( It's all about me, eh? Sorry! But it is who I know best if at all.)

 I am aged, if I don't push up daisies soon I'll push  into my 80's,  the new 50s. I am unemployed ( Retired ), but looking for a vocation, have a home, modest security (Provided SS retirement doesn't fold up that is). I find however I am now part of the "halfbacks" that are seeking security, (Prepping of a sort ) buying a place in the woods, in the mountains, in the cold and wet climes, a retreat.

But why? I have never ever thought to retreat in my life. I have even refused to go on men's  retreat with the church body group just because I cannot stand the thought of anything that is even remotely a retreat mode.

I kind of know the official justification, it is to provide a smaller place in a clime my bride of my advanced years will be secure in should I predecease her. Then I find myself investigating Prepper stuff, like do we need ammo, do we need food resources, do we hoard against shortages that may come about?  What?! What is that all about running through my head?

I (we) Have definitely been led to a church body in the mountains! It is expanding oh so rapidly, and all  the new people are new to the mountains too, all doing pretty much the same thing I am doing. What's with that?

Let the conversation here go where it might. Feel free to speculate, share, or even advise-  especially share if you may of our Lord's work in all this.

It seems to me it is more than a local or even a USA thing, instead might be  part of a worldwide emigration and immigration.

Where in it do you think  the word of God is being expressed and shared, and more importantly applied?

Thanks for reading, and if so inclined or led posting here. -Neighbor

 

[Neighbor]

21 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

I have never ever thought to retreat in my life.

HA I guess I will have to amend that statement of course I have, but I never thought of it as retreating until right now; instead thinking it to be the family compound an actual island.

[other one]

Preppers do so for different things.   Growing up we prepped for a Nuclear war. (actually might be more appropriate now)  

When that didn't happen we found other disasters to prep for.    Personally we prep for ice storms and tornadoes more around my house than the end of the world stuff.   I still have a carnal body and it likes to eat and stay relatively warm and not too hot.  There are certain body functions that we like to prepare for.

So we keep about three months of food around for it's not wasted for we do eat it and recycle into our prep storage.   If something lets is know it's coming I store some extra water.     We loose power now and then so I do have a generator and extra gasoline to run it.

As prepping for nuclear war now it's kind of fruitless for where we live.   Too many targets so we just have enough stuff so we can die with dignity.   No need to be hungry or cold during the process.

As far as end time preparation, one only needs the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.   And whether we are raptured out or required to die with dignity, as long as one has the Holy Spirit all will end well.    Jesus died for me, so why should I not be willing to do the same for an eternity with him.   Because of him, death is no big deal as long as he helps me deal with what pain might be involved.

So, we are ready for a week long ice storm power outage.

[missmuffet]

Should a Christian be a prepper or in any way be involved with doomsday prepping?

https://www.gotquestions.org

ANSWER

The sky is falling! The end is near! Prepare now for doomsday! For centuries, people have been predicting the end of the world or some other cataclysmic disaster and, stirred by their passion, many more people try to prepare for it. Preppers, as they are called, are known for stockpiling food, weapons, and other supplies as they await doomsday. Even Christians have gotten caught up in end times predictions, tangling biblical prophecy with fear and current events. Some Christians believe they must physically prepare for Armageddon, the return of Jesus, or World War III—whichever comes first. Of course, Jesus is coming back, and the earth as we know it will some day come to an end, but should Christians be preppers? Does the Bible say anything about doomsday prepping?

Prepping is big business. Websites, books, and products abound that promise inside information about impending doom and give instructions about storing, canning, or freeze-drying food and purifying water. Y2K, the scare during the late 1990s, started the current trend toward prepping, and the practice has continued as the world gets crazier. During the Y2K frenzy, thousands sold their homes and dug hideouts for their families in the event of a nuclear or chemical attack or a worldwide financial meltdown. In some regions, the prepper mentality is still going strong, even leading to standoffs with law enforcement.

Some people simply want to live more self-sustaining lifestyles by using solar energy, growing their own food, and keeping livestock for dairy products and meat. They consider it wise to be less dependent upon utility companies and supermarkets for daily survival, but these people are not motivated by paranoia and fear. They are not considered preppers in the strictest sense but are focused on simplifying their lifestyles. Many Christians have adopted this lifestyle in varying degrees, especially among the homeschooling community. They find that raising crops and livestock is a better lifestyle for their families and consider it a bonus that they are also prepared in the event of most emergencies, ranging from power outages to terrorism.

To be considered a “prepper,” a person must be preoccupied with thoughts of preparing for an impending disaster. Some extreme preppers have quit their jobs, burrowed into underground bunkers, and gone completely off the grid to await the end of all things. They see every negative news story as evidence that they are right and doomsday is just around the corner. For Christians to behave this way means that they have lost sight of our mandate to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). They have also lost sight of the fact that God’s people are not to live in fear (Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 10:28). First Peter 3:14 says, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’”

When fear or self-centered survivalism is the motivation for prepping, it becomes a lifestyle that cannot be supported by Scripture. We are to live wisely in this world, while remembering that this world is not our home (Hebrews 13:14). And we are to love others as we love ourselves (Galatians 5:14; Luke 10:27). Preppers, for the most part, have self-protection as their highest goal. They stockpile for themselves and their families. But what about their neighbors? What about those who may be in need in time of crisis? What are the guns for? Are they prepared to shoot hungry families who come knocking on their barricaded door? The doomsday prepper mindset can take on a desperate life of its own and lead Christians down a decidedly non-Christian path.

Some Christians have adopted a prepper lifestyle with the purpose of being able to provide for the community in the event of catastrophe. They may have massive storage facilities from which they already sell produce and consider their food cache similar to Joseph’s storehouses (Genesis 41:46–57). Some people have even created community gardens and neighborhood livestock barns and have enjoyed the camaraderie of their neighbors in this joint venture. Such motivation is pleasing to the Lord because it is not self-centered (Philippians 2:4).

A Christian may be a prepper if the Lord is directing that action as a means of furthering His kingdom and ministering to others (1 Corinthians 10:31; Matthew 6:33). If one’s heart motive is love and a desire to utilize what God has given in order to share the gospel and care for as many people as possible in time of need, then prepping is a biblically sound choice. However, most prepping is motivated by fear and self-preservation. It is driven by a lack of faith, and Romans 14:23 says that “whatever is not from faith is sin.” The reasons that a Christian becomes involved with doomsday prepping are what determine whether or not God approves.

Edited December 22, 2022 by missmuffet

[Marilyn C]

8 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Hi all,

I'd like to have a conversation that encompasses  the ideas of being prepared that includes preppers and what the so called preppers are doing do to prepare, as well as a different sort of prepper those that go into all the world to share of  gospel of Jesus.

I'd like to see where the thoughts of many here go ,-including my own in my trying to meld the two - Missionary sojourning as compared with Prepper survival  and perhaps Isolation.

Anyone?

 

Well perhaps I will share just a bit  of the sort of a prepper mode I am in. ( It's all about me, eh? Sorry! But it is who I know best if at all.)

 I am aged, if I don't push up daisies soon I'll push  into my 80's,  the new 50s. I am unemployed ( Retired ), but looking for a vocation, have a home, modest security (Provided SS retirement doesn't fold up that is). I find however I am now part of the "halfbacks" that are seeking security, (Prepping of a sort ) buying a place in the woods, in the mountains, in the cold and wet climes, a retreat.

But why? I have never ever thought to retreat in my life. I have even refused to go on men's  retreat with the church body group just because I cannot stand the thought of anything that is even remotely a retreat mode.

I kind of know the official justification, it is to provide a smaller place in a clime my bride of my advanced years will be secure in should I predecease her. Then I find myself investigating Prepper stuff, like do we need ammo, do we need food resources, do we hoard against shortages that may come about?  What?! What is that all about running through my head?

I (we) Have definitely been led to a church body in the mountains! It is expanding oh so rapidly, and all  the new people are new to the mountains too, all doing pretty much the same thing I am doing. What's with that?

Let the conversation here go where it might. Feel free to speculate, share, or even advise-  especially share if you may of our Lord's work in all this.

It seems to me it is more than a local or even a USA thing, instead might be  part of a worldwide emigration and immigration.

Where in it do you think  the word of God is being expressed and shared, and more importantly applied?

Thanks for reading, and if so inclined or led posting here. -Neighbor

 

Hi Neighbor,

I think you are right to prepare for what is coming. Getting out of the city, (unless the Lord tells you that is your ministry) is very important. When the food crisis really hits there will be more gangs and thieving and no respect for human life. Dangerous even to go out in the daytime in many places. 

So, yes, I believe you should prepare, food, medical, water, fuel, etc and most of all as you are doing keep close to the Lord.

Marilyn.

[Marathoner]

There are places both on this earth and also here in the United States where the sort of thing @Marilyn Cdescribes in her post has been going on for longer than some of us here have been alive. On account of this, and also because I know there are some who haven't walked in these places nor suffered deprivation in such a way, I'm only contributing what applies to me alone. 

Nothing on this earth lasts forever. Not a roof over your head, an income, a good name, family, friends, your own clothing, nor the life in this body. I learned the truth regarding all but one of those things before the Lord called me from this world. I found myself in desperate places many times, never knowing what would come next nor where I would be from one day to the other. 

I'm not distressed in the least by tribulation and evil times because that's all I knew. I was born into it, and I have lived it. Even now, I know those times could come again because the Lord never promised a life of comfort and safety to me. Indeed, those days might be returning very soon. I welcome it.

I've starved before, and I lived to share that with you all here by the grace of God who preserved me. When I almost lost this life the Lord purposed that I should lose that fear of the grave, so I'm not afraid. The only thing I prepare for is tomorrow. I don't worry about the day after that, or the day after that one.

[Wayne222]

2 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Hi Neighbor,

I think you are right to prepare for what is coming. Getting out of the city, (unless the Lord tells you that is your ministry) is very important. When the food crisis really hits there will be more gangs and thieving and no respect for human life. Dangerous even to go out in the daytime in many places. 

So, yes, I believe you should prepare, food, medical, water, fuel, etc and most of all as you are doing keep close to the Lord.

Marilyn.

I agree with you Marilyn. It's going to get more dangerous as time goes on. Here in the USA it's already very scary. I wish I could afford to move into the country somewhere. But I have to work. I do have a bug out backpack. It's only wise to prepare. À sleeping bag below zero a one man tent. I know the Lord will guild us. I might get a hand gun too. 

[Wayne222]

I watch the Canadian prepper YouTube channel. He is very good on information. Plus his take on what's going on in world events is excellent. But God will help us in the day of trouble. Still good to be prepared. 

[kwikphilly]

Hi Im just wondering where your video is?