Today we are talking to Chris Ray from Prepared Christian, a Christian Preparedness website dedicated to providing a Christian world-view on preparedness.
While I’m sure there are going to be a number of people who may not agree with some of the topics we are about to discuss, I wanted to talk about this topic because when it comes to preparedness and survival, I truly think salvation is the most important survival topic we can talk about. In the end, if Christians are right, it’s the only way we can ensure our ultimate survival.
For non-Christians, the article does talk about some Christian topics, but I think you will still get a lot out of the article, particularly how Preparedness is nothing new – even if the media pretends it’s a new concept.
Q&A with Chris Ray of Prepared Christian
In the past, I’ve mentioned a couple of passages in the bible that I believed point to preparedness being a biblical concept, what are your thoughts on the topic?
Preparedness is absolutely a biblical concept, though in the times the Bible was written, they didn’t think of it as being prepared in case some future event happened. They saw it as a natural and normal way of life. For most of human history, humans have lived a very agrarian lifestyle; storing from the times of plenty during the harvest, for leaner times when they wouldn’t be able to grow food.
Do you have any passages that you believe support the idea of preparedness?
There are some that speak about preparedness, they are:
Genesis 41:1-32 tells us that Pharaoh has dreams that Joseph interprets for him. He tells Pharaoh that Egypt will see seven years of abundance, and seven years of famine.
Exodus 12:35, 36 speaks about God telling the Jews to ask the Egyptians for clothing, gold and silver. God chose to miraculously provide their food and water, but asked them to get these items.
Proverbs 6:6 –11 is about the ant and lazy grasshopper. It warns against laziness and slumber and tells us to be like the ant or “scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.”
1 Timothy 5:8 “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” I take this verse seriously; it is my job to provide, come what may. In bounty or famine it is my job and there are something’s that, in order to provide, one would had to have prepared ahead of time.
Mathew 25:1-13 is the parable of the ten virgins who went to wait for the bridegroom. Five brought extra oil and the other five did not, having to leave to get more. I have seen this parable used to describe a few different things; one of them preparedness.
Proverbs 27:12 “A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” This is my favorite verse on preparedness! It plainly tells us a wise person prepares for things they see as a potential danger.
Some Christians seem to think that stocking up on food and supplies shows a lack of faith, what would you tell them?
I have faith and gratitude that God provides every day. During times of abundance, I have faith that God is providing for not only the present but the future as well. In times of struggle, we praise God for the times of abundance because our needs have been met ahead of time.
What made you start blogging, and why did you choose the name Prepared Christian?
When I started blogging, there was a ton of good information available about prepping but only an article here or there about whether it was biblical or not. I figured that if my wife and I had questions, others might as well. I decided to make my main goal to show other Christians that preparedness is, in fact, biblical. My second goal is to show them how to be better prepared.
I chose the name Prepared Christian (http://preparedchristian.net) mainly because it is what I want to help other believers become. I also considered Christian Preparedness, but I liked the sound of Prepared Christian better.
What kinds of things are you preparing for and why?
I take a pretty general approach to prepping. Instead of prepping for one or two events, I like to be well-rounded. If you asked me what things I thought we might need to use our preps on, I would say that the world economic situation concerns me, as does pandemic. We have seen great depressions and the world has seen multiple pandemics, the last big one being in 1918.
I would also say North Korea. Kim Jon-Il, North Korea’s former leader, was crazy, but reminded me of that drunk uncle that runs his mouth but is pretty harmless. Kim Jung-Un, his son and North Korea’s current leader, is just as crazy and is acting like he wants to make sure we know he’s more dangerous and powerful than his father. He has declared the 1953 armistice invalid, has said he would use a preemptive nuclear strike against the USA and has threatened bases in South Korea.
Whether it’s these larger events or a smaller event like job-loss, the stuff is hitting the fan for someone every day. I just want to be ready to meet my family’s needs in times of crisis.
Thank you so much for showing the Christian connection with preparedness. I especially liked how you illustrated how it isn’t a lack of faith to prep. I already check this site (Off Grid Survival) regularly, but now I am an even bigger fan. And you can bet that I will also be visiting the Prepared Christian site now.
I just came back from the Prepared Christian site. It’s great. I am adding it to my bookmarks. Thanks again!
finally biblical preparedness. I didn’t think of those verse’s like that!
offgridsurvival.com just got a lot more
subscribers
great article,loved it!
Great post, informative and to the point. There’s certainly no room for debate when it comes to preparedness. You either do or ya dont. God willing we will have the faith of Job, wisdom of Proverbs and war a good warfare like Timothy.
Good interview. Regarding whether prepping demonstrates a lack of faith, I would say, not prepping preumes upon God. If He provides the resources it just good stewardship.
I’m not a Christian myself, but there’s a passage in Revelations that talks about a ‘woman’ (commonly believed to represent the Church; Christians) fleeing in to the wilderness during their persecution by the antichrist. So to any Christian preppers (I know there are quite a few) don’t be afraid to prep, and prep for a bug-out situation.
I always remind my fellow Christians that yes God does provide food for the birds of the air, but He doesn’t drop it in their nests.
I too have been pondering being prepared and whether i am not trusting God…or prepping in obedience to God. I reflect back on our Missionary Dad who prepped for our first typhoon. He bought tons of food and supplies, (LOTS OF PEANUT BUTTER lol) the day before the storm hit.
But he did so not just for our family
but also to help our poorer neighbors in our small village. It was a true honor to share the food with them and they had the outdoor ‘facilities’ to do the cooking by fire. That whole scenario was an awesome bonding-time enabling us to share in the love of Jesus.
All 3 households lost their homes and God provided them refuge
in our house, which remained in tact
due to God’s merciful hand of protection covering
us.
Prep? by all means, but prep with a purpose to
share with those who have or can’t. Do all in the love of God.
By doing so you may also have the opportunity to help them prep for their lives in Eternity!
Don’t forget to prep with extra Bibles to share especially at a time when hearts may be more open
to searching out the Word of God which remains
our true treasure in any situation!
Never forget to constantly be prepping yourselves spiritually as you practice Eph 6, putting on the whole armor of God!
I know this site is an older one, by the last comment date, but I wanted to put in my two cents worth. For some reason I have a great need to be prepared. Stocking up always. My daughter feels the same way. We like to call it our extended pantry, which can feed us for about a year. It helps when I’m sick and can’t get out to store, when there are storms out, snow, or unemployment. I always know I can feed my family. But being a Christian, and ones who really feel that Jesus is about to rapture His church, we both feel that perhaps we are not storing for ourselves, but for those left behind. We who are Christians, know that their will be millions left who will need the food, since they will not be able to buy. Perhaps this is why some of us feel the need to prep. I wonder if God is using us to help those who do not turn to Him before its too late. I feel that perhaps my storage will be used by others who will need it far more then I need it.
Thank you for this blog. I want to remain balanced as Christian and not live in fear. My faith is in God and not America. He is the only One worthy of trust and I look to His provision. So for the most part I see being able to survive if the environment changes drastically as providing for my family instead of prepping for disaster, in other words not depending on the system as we know it to always be there.
Thank you for this awesome blog.The Word of God wants us to be prepared.We’re not preparing out of fear,but wisdom. I think about Noah and the Ark.People have looked at me weird and crazy because I talk about being prepared.If we as Christians are prepared,we can be a better witness to the world.People of God.Be prepared! By the way,does an ant get food in the winter,NO! They get their food in the summer and eat all winter..(Consider the Ant)
I’m looking for a group of Christians to holdup and fight if need be until the Lord comes for his church.
I have stocks of food, weapons, AMMO, large truck, survival gear, and much more. I have $20,000.00 or more worth of building equioment as i own a small constructiin commpany, a licensed plumber, MASTER carpenter and all the tools and many supplies. I need a place to hold up at and have tools to help build compound if necessary.
Please let me know if you have a space in your group for this retired Army dog handler.Thanks Tim
I think people, Christians especially, fail to understand the history behind their beliefs. How did the people live in the days of the Bible, both Old and New Testament? Well most were farmers; they would harvest their crops… and those crops had to last ONE… WHOLE… YEAR until the next harvest. People stored over a year’s worth of food, at all times. Yet, today, if I stock up on three months worth of food I’m not trusting in God? That makes zero sense to me when that is used as an excuse today. Early Christians would have ALL starved to death if what Jesus taught was taken how we take it today.