Why I Am Not A Prepper

Not very long ago Charisma News published an article titled The Rapture, Obama, Donald Trump and 50 Other Excuses People Use to Avoid Prepping. First of all, I don't recommend Charisma News to anyone with an iota of discernment, I say this mostly because of the presence of Rick Joyner on that web site. There are a bunch of articles about the prophesies of Mr. Joyner but somehow they missed his prophesy that when the Carolina Panthers win the Super Bowl it will be a prophetic sign of the "third great awakening"

Everybody knows that's just crazy talk because God doesn't use professional sports for prophetic signs and the Broncos aren't going to let that happen anyhow.

Now for those of you who aren't aware, prepping is the hobby of getting ready for an emergency either real or imagined. Mostly imagined. People whose days are taken up by preparing for some horrific disaster are called Preppers. Prepping consists of gathering and storing emergency food such as buckets of rice, beans, jerky, and dehydrated entrees. Preppers also gather tents, camping equipment, emergency radios, guns, ammo, bows, arrows, anything you can think of to survive the Zombie Apocalypse, or any other form of apocalypse if they run out of zombies.


Personally I like the idea of gathering up a case or two of MRE's (Military chow - Meals Ready to Eat, packaged meals), they're handy in case the power goes out for a while, or to throw in the car in case my day trip up into the mountains spawns an impromptu picnic. Mostly because I like the pound cake and those tiny bottles of tabasco sauce in each MRE. And camping equipment? Always awesome.

But personally I'm not sure why a Christian web site would feature an article on the excuses people use for not being a prepper. Why would a Christian actually be a prepper? I've found that the militantly pre-trib web site Rapture Ready has quite a few articles about prepping, and seriously - wouldn't someone who is militantly pre-trib need the concept of prepping the least?

Anyhow, here are a few of the 53 common excuses that people like to use for not prepping that were given in the Charisma News article:

• "Obama fixed everything that was wrong with America."
  
• "When Hillary Clinton is elected, she will put this nation back on the right track."
  
• "Donald Trump will make America great again."
  
• "I don't have to prepare because the rapture is going to happen before anything really bad happens to this country."
  
• "Everybody told me that the world was going to end in September and that didn't happen."

I have my own reasons for not prepping and they didn't make the Charisma News list, but I was glad to share my reasons with them:

Reason #1

25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)

Reason #2

24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? 26 If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. 33 “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:24-34)

Reason #3

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)

Reason #4

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Reason #5

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. (Psalm 56:3)

There's actually a lot more reasons listed in the bible, I've heard that there's 365 verses in the bible telling us not to worry, and when the bible repeats something God wants you to take that very seriously. Now if the Bible repeats over and over not to worry, wouldn't that make worrying an act of rebellion? Wouldn't that be a sin?

I've got enough sin in my life to worry about (see what I did there?) I don't need to compound it with the sin of worry. But worry is a hard sin to break, there's so much that we could worry about. If you're married with children the urge to worry is compounded. Anyone remember their child's first day at school? Their daughters first date? Doesn't your spouses health cause worry? 

It all comes down to faith. God says He'll provide, then He will provide. God says don't worry, we don't worry. Here's the best explanation of faith I've heard in a long time: You're driving down a mountain road on a cold snowy night, the road is narrow, steep and twisting. On one side a sheer rock wall threatening to draw you in, smash your car, and strand you on the mountain, on the other side a drop of 3000 feet on to the rocks below. It's windy, and the snow makes visibility less than 100 feet. The headlights of oncoming cars are blinding and getting around them is nearly impossible. You're shaking, sweating, your jaw clenched, your hands grasp the wheel so hard that your fingers are going numb. Then you glance in the rear view mirror and see your four-year-old in her car seat sound asleep. She's warm, safe, secure and she know's you're going to get her home safe and sound. Not a doubt in her mind.

That's faith. And that's what God wants from us - faith that He's going to bring us home safe and sound.