The Seed Blog: Spiritual Preppers: Are You Ready?

Many of you probably know someone who is a, "Prepper". Someone who is preparing for economic, social, or military chaos in the future. In the world in which we now live, there is much logic behind this mindset. But as a Christian, the changes that are occurring in our society at this moment, and the increasing rate in which these changes are happening, will soon cause more of us to fall, in a much more serious way, than any event that prepping could prepare you to face.

A spiritual chaos has already begun in this country, and even around the world, which has the potential to take away far more from each of us, than any other threat—physically, socially, and especially spiritually. And the problem is that no one seems to be prepping for this one event that is inevitable—Biblically and literally.
Let me ask you an honest question: "Do you sometimes get tired and weary of living the Christian life?" I pose that question in terms of: 1) Tired of the struggle in marriage or relationships when you see others just quit and move on when it is too tough for them 2) Tired of having to continually defend or justify your beliefs against an accusing, condemning, and ridiculing society 3) Tired of being painted the "bad or judgmental" person in every social issue 4) Tired of the struggle to do right, and sin less in front of a Righteous God that you often feel is not happy with you 5) Tired of having the same difficulties as all of the "non-believers" around you, even though you are trying hard to serve God—I could not agree more at times. But, here is our dilemma: (Let's take a moment for a reality check) Are things getting better or worse for us as Christians today? Obviously, quickly, worse. So, will your struggles and frustrations get any easier in the future, or will they very probably get much worse? If we maintain the outlook and attitude that many of us have right now (me included)—what will eventually happen? Our discontentment and frustration will worsen, and many will eventually give up or burn out.
About a year ago, we talked in detail about the difficult and brutal times that Christians of the 1st century had to endure.
But right now in many parts of the world today the cost is still just as high, the times are just as hard. Christians are now the most persecuted group in the world. "In North Korea, the practice of Christianity is illegal. Owning a Bible is a crime, and any person caught with one is sent – along with three generations of his or her family – to prison."
In spite of all of [this], there are many serving Christ in these areas with fully devoted, undivided hearts. Although these are horrific places and times, the devotion and strength of Christ's believers grows beyond anything most claiming Christ have here, simply because the cost of discipleship doesn't allow pretenders. There is a clear line that must be crossed, which requires one to be sold-out from the beginning. But now, listen to a time in history where this exact situation began to turn the tide. In the Roman Empire, just following the terrible times of persecution for the Christians... A major legal change occurred: In AD 311, Emperor Galerius who once tortured and imprisoned Christians, and destroyed Manuscripts—issued "The Edict of Tolerance" on his deathbed—declaring tolerance for Christians and their faith, and asking Christians to pray for the well-being of the Empire in return. Then, in AD 313, "The Edict of Milan" granted not only tolerance but welcomed equality for the Christian religion and any other religion, causing the government to return goods taken in past persecution, allowing government pay to bishops and preachers, proclaiming Sunday as an official government day of rest. The Emperor of that time, Constantine, chose Christianity as his own religion, caused a major preference swing by the people, bringing orthodox Christianity into the light as the sole official religion of the Empire by the end of the fourth century. Although this freedom allowed a great growth and spread of Christianity, it also became one of the worst things that ever happened because it became popular and advantageous to be "Christian." Laws favored you, people accepted you, and it was the expected course of life. Therefore, a fake, half-hearted, political, and uncommitted church body began to grow. Now listen and compare what was just said, to our position in this country. In the past 240 years in America, it has been advantageous to be a Christian because laws support your beliefs. It has been easy to cry unfair when freedoms have been infringed upon. People look at you more favorably for your lifestyle. Societal structure and public life has been based around your belief system. Speech and actions based on your beliefs have been without repercussions or penalty. As bad as the persecutions of the early Christians were, which era had a more pure, passionate, true church for Christ? The Early Persecuted Church, or the Christian Empire? The Persecuted Church. Well, let's get the big picture of what is happening today. We are actually experiencing a reversal of what we just explained. We have lived in a happy, comfortable, easy-believism world much like the Christian Empire for generations; to the point that I sometimes cringe when we are grouped in with the term Christian today. But in our day, today, we are seeing an obvious, and fairly quick shift from Christianity as an "official religion" of our times, to most persecuted. And as we experience this shift, you will have to make a solid decision about your faith, because it is fast becoming more and more impossible to remain "under the radar" if your faith is real. And since we have come from a "comfortable" season of Christianity, we are faced with a serious time of choice as the church is purged once more by increasing pressure and discrimination. Though we are nowhere near the level of persecution of other countries, there is a definite, growing cost to proclaiming Christ as your Savior.
 
We have talked about this persecution in depth in previous services, but today we are going to look at a different facet of these changing times. As the pressure is increased more and more all around us, there is an ever-present push to go one of several ways: 1) to turn our backs on God's Salvation, God's Plan, and God's Words altogether—and embrace the world-view, 2) to change everything about His Word and Plan to be sure we don't challenge or offend anyone with a God they don't like, 3) to maintain our true love and conviction for Jesus Christ no matter the ever-growing consequences. If you are one of those who will truly continue to stand firm for Christ in the days ahead—one that will survive the outright attacks against everything you say that you live for today—there are a few ways, Scripturally speaking, that God absolutely expects us to become, "spiritual preppers."

1. We have to set our minds on the fact that we are going to face adversity more and more, and be ready to accept the challenge rather than lose heart when it comes: 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 ; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. We can only do this with passion and endurance if we have the mindset spoken of in this verse. A mindset for what is eternally important, instead of right here and now; a mindset that what we do for Christ is primary- front-and-center, and not extra to squeeze in, or a waste of time and resources. A heart ready to abandon reputation, money and plans when needed. A mindset that is ready to do away with political correctness, and begin to live Biblical correctness. The importance that many of us place on our faith in Christ today is a sad joke, when this is how Real Disciples are to live.
2. It is not enough that we endure mistreatment, unfair accusations, and even downright hatred without giving up—we have to choose to do so in love and in joy. We don’t wait until it’s over to rejoice, we rejoice in suffering: Luke 6:26-36. This requires us seeing the spiritual reality of the situation. The fact that these people are lost, misled, broken and angry people without knowing Christ as we know Him, and they are only doing what is normal for them, and that our reaction may be one of the only chances for them to see something different. We say we know this, but when we begin to experience it we often fail.
3. We often get wrong and use Scriptures to back us unjustly: It is true that we are to hate sin, and know that sin is hurtful. It is true that we are to hold our fellow brothers to God's Word when they are walking in sins. But, listen closely to the proper attitude towards sinners outside the church, who do not know Christ: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13. Paul is saying that we often have it backwards. We often overlook the purposeful sins of brothers who know better—and we shouldn't—yet we will look down at, judge, and isolate ourselves from those outside the church in sin. Paul says only God can judge their hearts, and we can't hold them responsible for something they have not embraced. Clearly, simply, powerfully put: you are not called to judge sinners, but to totally love and accept them. You are called to show them, and tell them about Christ—that God has a better way—but you are never called to isolate or reject sinners. On the contrary, you should make them feel more loved than anyone.
4. You have got to decide once and for all that you will learn God's Word for yourself. Matthew 4:4; Psalm 119:10-11. Half-truths and heresies are popping up everywhere in the mainstream church today, sounding sweet and loving, but dripping with lies and disregard for everything Christ teaches, and they will get worse and worse as the days draw closer to the end: 2 Timothy 3:13-15. You cannot survive as a Disciple of Christ in these last days unless you can discern Truth for yourself. You cannot raise Godly, prepared children, in this world without teaching them the Word: Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Ephesians 6:4. Do you teach your children God's Word? Do you live God's Word in front of them? If not, you have all but guaranteed their fall in a lying, fallen world.
5. Don't look for answers, or take the fight for this country to a political level. This country does not have a political problem. No amount of changed law or moral legalism will change hearts for Christ and each other. Vote for moral laws, moral people (these things are a responsibility of Christians), but do not let politics be your hope or your focus for war. Let loving and serving all people through Christ be your focus. Let giving God's Word to the world be your focus. Jesus Christ makes it clear that His concern is for a Kingdom bigger than this one: John 18:36-37.
6. We must be committed to our marriages. Jesus Christ compares the sacredness and beauty of marriage to His own love for the Church: Ephesians 5:31-32. How can you know how to love through the adversity of a more and more corrupt world? How can you choose to keep loving and serving a selfish, lost population? How can you learn to put self last? If you do not learn to love your spouse the way God intended? If you don't believe God's Word in your marriage? Through good and bad, deserved or not, how we handle our marriages is a strong indicator of where we are in our maturity with Christ. How will we face the onslaught of lies and pressure from society, if we do not have a solid foundation from which to teach our families?
7. We have to get serious; we have to get busy. The secular world has become tireless, relentless, in the pursuit of convincing the world of their beliefs. They use every avenue. They devote themselves entirely to the task. They are passionate and fierce. While we complain, cry, and panic over their advancement, all the while, doing nothing for God's Kingdom in passion; letting everything in our lives stand in the way of our so-called convictions. Those of us with that attitude will be the first to fall to the rising tide before us. Jesus warns the churches of the last days: Revelation 3:2-3.

 
We are Christians who have been lulled into comfort, and peace through generations of prosperity; who are now being thrust into serious and growing adversity. If we are not prepared mentally, emotionally, doctrinally, and spiritually, many of us may be those who fall away, and draw back in the troubles to come. We have to decide what we believe and get serious in our actions. We have to become preppers right now, or we will lose everything soon. Will you be ready? Hebrews 10:35-39. It’s time for a real and serious time of recommitment to Christ. If not now, then you are already beginning to fall away.