“Prophetic Warnings Are Not Meant to Demoralize You.
THEY’RE MEANT TO SAVE YOU!”
And for most believers, that’s their take on prophecy. It’s just too negative! Who needs it! Most of us have enough trouble plaguing our lives without having to sit through a sermon on prophecy that’s all about doom and gloom!
But a danger sign is not meant to demoralize anyone. Nor is prophecy. The purpose of both is to save us from harm – to rescue us and our loved ones from catastrophe.” ~Douglas Shearer – Urban Hope Ministries
Jesus said the season of His return would be distinguishable, and in fact commands that we be watchful and in prayer; to encourage each other all the more as that Day approaches. It is possible, is it not, for American Christians to come into a time of tribulation when true believers will be killed or imprisoned for remaining faithful to Jesus.
So, how does one prepare for such oppressive times?
We have to consider all the areas of preparation to truly be prepared both physically and spiritually; and emotionally. A lot of people will break down emotionally when victimized by various pressures for an extended time; something many American soldiers have experienced in combat. Remaining in God’s word, staying humble before Him, and putting aside the temptations of our materialistic environment will be paramount to being attuned as to where He would lead us.
Hiding Behind Common Titles
Regarding hiding in plain view…lately I have been considering some old terms that were around before the word “Prepper” became so popular. It may be a toss-up as to which term is the most controversial, Prepper or Homesteader, but in my thinking their goals are very similar and maybe even interchangeable. But for sure the term “Christian Community” really gets people’s attention. That term always sounds a little strange, don’t you know! One instantly gets a little suspicious. “Must be a cult of some kind,” they say. And even I cringe at the militant term “Survivalist.”
Another old term we should mention is tenant farmers. A tenant farmer is one who resides on land owned by a landlord. Tenant farming is an agricultural production system in which landowners contribute their land and often a measure of operating capital and management; while tenant farmers contribute their labor along with, at times, varying amounts of capital and management. We sure do not want to use that demeaning term any more, but it does show us the workability of the concept. For instance, J. B. Hunt’s parents were tenant farmers and he only had a 6th grade education. Yet he became a billionaire.
Today, a homesteader is one who has chosen the simple agrarian life style and hopes to become completely self sufficient. They want to make their own buildings and power sources, and grow all their food and raise a family in a manner reminiscent of our forefathers hundreds of years ago. This is a lifestyle that has taken societies through the best of times and the worst of times for 6,000 years. It works, but sometimes we first need to be apprentices and learn how to do it. But believe me, it takes hard physical labor and we will need committed helpers.
In ” the good old days”, a lot of sons and daughters were needed to run the farm. Today, with smaller families, we need farm hands (apprentices?). Do you remember the old saying, many hands make light work? People get sick, they get injured, and they need some time off. A farm can work a husband and wife to death, so never think you can do it alone. Over the long hall you cannot…period! Have you ever heard the old saying, “He bought the farm”? That means the farmer died and his life insurance paid off the loan on the farm.
So back to the argument for farm hands (community members, or apprentices).
An apprentice in this setting is one who may have all the skills and aspirations the homesteader has but doesn’t necessarily have the funds to get a start. So the apprentice lives on the homesteader’s land and works for, and with, the family. For their own peace of mind they should have most views in common about every social, economic and political view. But their theological views and heart desires must center on Jesus Christ.
In simplest of terms, they are preparing for the eschatological culmination of Bible prophecy in what they perceive to be in their life time. Since the terms Homesteader and Apprentices are so accepted these days, you can call your guests apprentices even though what really is happening is Christian community.
To take it to another level, (hey let’s get real) why not just call yourself a farmer (a word everyone is comfortable with) and call those people working with you farm hands, even though you all are in fact (discretely) living in Christian community.
Here is my thinking on this. Let’s invite like minded people (who have no money to buy land for themselves) to help us help them. Whether they live on your land or close by makes no difference. And whether or not they have an outside income source to supplement their income makes no difference. The fact that they are helping you in order to help themselves is what makes the difference. Together we can reach our mutual goal to serve and be secure in these end-times.
In other words, we are talking about a stealth, underground, hidden in plain sight; Christian community of like minded believers in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!
These are some ways to hide in plain view, to blend into the ethnicity of the area, to go … underground. Just be a common farmer amongst a community of common farmers. Yep, that tall old man out at the “Carrot Patch” is me … Ken! No one is sure though. LOL. Oh, and those guys moseying out to help the old man gather eggs and juice carrots, or something, are friends.
We consider this to be the lifestyle we prefer for ourselves, no matter the times or conditions. Many who call themselves Preppers and Survivalists live in fear and in a premature, self imposed deprivation, not discerning the Lord’s timing and will for them.