Christian Survivalist isnt an Oxymoron

....or a Cult for that matter....

I had dinner with friends last weekend and one asked me "So, if everything does go really bad, dont you just want to go to Heaven?"

I have gotten this type of question in many different forms, but is basically asking how I reconcile my Faith in God providing - in God's promise of Heaven - in God's protection with my Survivalism.

They are NOT mutually exclusive. If God did not want me to prepare for difficult times, He wouldnt have given me such a FAITHFUL example of Joseph storing away for Egypt. Joseph surely wanted to reside with God, I am sure he begged for it while in prison. God had no plans for Joseph to roll over and die to be with Him, just as he has no plans for me to roll over and die. To do so would be to spit on the precious gift of Life given from God.

Jesus wouldnt have told such a beautiful parable about the 10 brides waiting for the Bridegroom. 5 were PREPARED with extra oil. Now - just for a quick aside - why would brides be prepared with extra oil - surely on their WEDDING DAY, the Bridegroom would be on time! But they were ready just in case.... ** Back to our parable - 5 brides were NOT ready and were left out of the wedding when the Bridegroom arrived while they were gone to get more oil.... Its found in Matthew 25 - verse 2 actually calls 5 of the virgins WISE and the other 5 FOOLISH....

The Jewish Temple was built with STOREROOMS....

Storage is Biblical on so many levels....Store grains....Store God's words in your heart....Wise men store Knowledge...Store up treasures in Heaven....STORE....

There are such precious words for life right here on this Earth in Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. Words to live this physical life by:

Proverbs 21:20 (New International Version)
20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.

Proverbs 30:25 (New International Version)
25: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

I most certainly out rank a little ant and if God designed an ant to do this, He must certainly expect no less from me.

The scripture that causes some to stumble is in Matthew 6:

19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This isnt a prohibition against saving, treasure, storehouses - its an ADMONITION - a WARNING against making what you have here on Earth, your IDOL - this life here being your focus, the end-all-be-all.....

Part of our storage is for charity. Its for restocking our Church's pantry when asked to bring groceries - its being able to put a bag together for some family having a hard time - it may be for someone showing up on my door....

Part of our storage is to ensure we can keep the meaning of true religion:

James 1:27 (New International Version)
27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

My husband supports my food storage and he does his own preparedness because of his added responsibility of taking care of his family. I do not envy his pressure or his obligation to us - He is a blessing and a gift.

I do not post a lot about my Faith - the Mormons seem to have that covered and I dont want any confusion by being lumped in....

I also know that "Christian Survivalist" brings up so many bad connotations - I remember exactly where I was in Texas when I heard Waco went up in Flames. Dont even start on the Warren Jeff's saga where they are prepped to the hilt while marrying young girls....

Everyone preps for their own reason, out of their own motivation - this post is so Christians dont need to wrestle with guilt or lack of faith if they prep. Stand up tall, full of faith in the shadow of the great example of Joseph who happened to save an empire with his food storage! May WE THE PEOPLE who prep save this great nation we currently find ourselves in....From this Blog to God's Ear...

Pray - Praise - Prepare