Why some Christians are against physical survival preparations

There are a fair number of Christian believers that believe physical survival preparations are somehow synonymous with a "lack of faith" in God! I argue that the opposite is the truth. When we physically prepare for any number of possible future contingencies, we do so as a testament to our faith in the Lord our God. 

Christians who are anti-survival prep in their orientation often cite Luke 9:23-24 to support their position. The verses read as follows:

²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. (NIV)

Thus, the liberal argument is essentially that those (survivalists) who want to "save their life" (i.e., via physical preparations) will lose their life. However, those who lose their lives (i.e., perhaps as a martyr in Christ's name) will be saved. 

I contend that the liberal interpretation is partially correct, and also partially incorrect. 

Certainly, those survivalists who are otherwise antichristian in their beliefs and who revel in their sins may have all of the underground bunkers and survival items that they could ever want and afford, and those people will certainly not be able to survive. Either they will survive in this world, and will then be caste into hell by God's 2nd (and final) judgment, or they will (somehow) meet their demise (in this world), and then also face God's 2nd and final judgment. Either way, those not right with God will die eternally at the 2nd judgment. That is a promise written in Revelation 20. 

Verses 23 and 24 essentially refer to the concept of "discipleship" which means saying "no" to oneself, and "putting to death" one's sinful desires and following Christ. So, when Jesus said "whoever wants to save their life," this would mean those who want to preserve the "sinful" aspects of one's life; not those who want to preserve their life on this earth and in this life so that they may continue the mission of Jesus, which is to essentially spread the gospel!!

Looked at from this perspective, it seems preposterous then to say that physical survival preparations are indicative of a "lack of faith" in God! He expects us to think for ourselves. We are to "act in faith" and God then leads and directs us as we take those actions in alignment with His objectives!

Physically prepare so that you may live as long as you can in this "vail of tears" so that you can do God's work...whatever that may be in your life!

Jesus was NOT a pacifist, a wimp, or a coward!

JESUS WAS NOT A PACIFIST, HE WAS NOT A WIMP, JESUS WAS NOT A COWARD – ( WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON WAR? )

08 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by wesdancin in Uncategorized

What is the Christian perspective on war?

There are two dominant positions on war that conscientious Christians have embraced throughout Christian history. There are variations on each, but, for the sake of brevity, this answer will focus on the two main views and explain them in general terms: Pacifism versus Just War Theory. The pacifist tradition Definition: A pacifist is someone who believes that under no circumstances is war justified. This position has a long history in America and as well as throughout the Church. It dominated Christianity during the Church’s first 300 years. Early Christians perceived two roadblocks that prohibited a devout believer from joining the military, voluntarily or involuntarily. In order to become a soldier in the Roman army, one had to offer a sacrifice, swearing an allegiance to Caesar—swearing ultimate allegiance to him as a god. Of course, all Christians agreed that this was not possible for a devout believer. So believers were prohibited from joining the military, based on this requirement. Soldiers may be called upon to pick up the sword and use it. Many Christians believed that this too was against the teachings of Christ. Here is a sample of what some early Church Fathers said about joining the military: Justin, who was martyred for his faith, wrote: “We refrain from making war on our enemies, and [we] cannot bear to see a man killed, even if killed justly.” Clement of Alexandria wrote in 217 A.D.: “He who holds the sword must cast it away and that if one of the faithful becomes a soldier, he must be rejected by the Church, for he has scorned God.” Tertullian, in the early third century A.D. makes this statement: “For even if soldiers came to John and received advice on how to act, and even if a centurion became a believer, the Lord, in subsequently disarming Peter, disarmed every soldier” (Treatise on Idolatry 19; Ante-nicene Fathers 3:73). Tertullian is referring to the incident where Peter attempted to defend Christ in the garden of gethsemane. Jesus halted him, forbidding him to take up the sword against those attackers. He tells Peter that he who lives by the sword will die by the sword. Tertullian and many Church fathers saw this as a model for all Christians—that none are given the right to pick up the sword. In the Canon of Discipline, a third century document, it was said that Christian soldiers should not be taught to kill, and if they were, they must refuse to kill, even upon command by their officers. To do otherwise would bring Church discipline. Here are the major elements of the strict pacifist viewpoint, based upon their interpretation of Scripture: According to pacifism, war is inconsistent with the law of nonresistance preached and modeled by Jesus Christ. The pacifist tradition is based on its interpretation of part of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matthew 5:38-39). This is the “law of nonresistance.” Following Christ’s command to turn the other cheek, many pacifists believe that it is better to suffer violence than it is to commit violence. They believe this was taught by Jesus, and modeled by Him in the words of Peter: “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps” (I Peter 2:21). Pacifists have said that our obligation as believers is to follow the example of Jesus who turned the other cheek—and did not return evil for evil. They say we are to “resist not evil” (Matthew 5:39). They interpret this to mean that we are never to resist evil under any circumstances or under any conditions. Just as Christ did not retaliate against violence, but rather he suffered on the cross taking suffering to Himself and snuffing it out. The pacifist sees the death of Christ (an innocent victim in the face of injustice) as a pattern for all Christians to follow. Pacifists believe that war is inconsistent with the ethic of love. Again, quoting from Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44). Pacifists say, “Jesus called us to love our enemy, not take up arms against him. We are to pray for those who persecute us. We are to turn the other cheek. We are not to resist evil, but to allow love to overcome evil.” Mennonite Pacifist Myron Augsburger asked, “How can we kill another human being for whom Jesus died? How can we adopt the attitude that ‘Jesus loves you, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to kill you?’” Objections to the pacifist interpretation of Scripture WAS JESUS REALLY A PACIFIST? A comprehensive study proves that He was not. In John 2:14, Jesus comes to the Temple and finds people selling “oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.” Jesus sees that the religious leaders have turned this, His father’s house of prayer, into a marketplace. Instead of prayers and supplications, there is the noise of commerce. Jesus is burning with anger and indignation. The zeal for His father’s house consumes Him. “And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables” (John 2:14-15). This was a physically violent response on the part of Jesus. This makes it abundantly clear that Jesus was not a strict pacifist. The Bible is also clear that Jesus was sinless. Even in this situation, he did nothing wrong. In Luke 22:36-38, Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure. He knows that the Jewish leaders are decidedly against Him. In the past, when He sent His disciples out, He took care of all their needs. But now things are going to change. “And He said to them, ‘But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘And he was numbered with transgressors;’ for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.’ They said, ‘Lord, look, here are two swords.’ And He said to them, ‘It is enough.’” What is the context here? When traveling from city to city, people of that day often had to carry a sword in order to fend off robbers. Jesus told His followers that He was going to send them out there, and warned them to be prepared to defend themselves when appropriate. Clearly, Jesus was not a pacifist. In the book of Revelation, there is a stronger example. Here is a portrait of Jesus, the warrior king. Here the elements of love and justice come together. Love and war can go together, if it is done on behalf of good. And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. …From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty (Revelation 19:11, 15). This is no meek and mild Jesus. This is not a pacifist. This is the mighty warrior, the God of love, who comes to wage war against his evil enemies. The imagery is graphic. It describes Him as treading the wine press, destroying His enemies as their blood spills over on His robes. Love and the pursuit of justice are not contradictory. They can go hand in hand. Standing by and refusing to act while harm befalls a neighbor is not a virtue; it is a vice. John Calvin emphasized that a Christian soldier should never use force to gain self-advantage, but “use force out of love for thy neighbor.” Standing by and refusing to act while harm befalls a neighbor is not a virtue; it is a vice. As someone else has said, “War can be a means to a just peace, and to break an unjust peace.” Jesus was not a pacifist, nor was He a hawk. It is interesting that Jesus makes everyone uncomfortable, because He can never be put in anybody’s box. He said blessed are the peacemakers. Jesus wasn’t a hawk. He wasn’t a pacifist. He wasn’t a Republican. He wasn’t a Democrat. He wasn’t an American. He wasn’t an Iraqi. He transcends all categories. PRIVATE VS. PUBLIC ROLES – Pacifists fail to make a clear distinction between a Christian’s private and public views. In Romans 12-13 we find Paul’s explanation of the role of the Christian and the State. Here he lays out some fine distinctions between how were are to conduct ourselves privately and publicly—how we are to manage our person, and how we are to manage our office. In Romans 12:17-21, Paul lays out the responsibility of the Christian INDIVIDUAL. “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. If possible…” Notice the qualifier, “if possible.” “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” What is Paul saying? There will be times when you cannot be at peace with all men. But when it is possible, when it depends on you, as an individual, strive for peace. “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” These are words very similar to those of Jesus. Verse 17 and 21 are saying the same thing: Never pay back evil for evil, and overcome evil. These two verses act like bookends in the text—one at the beginning and the other at the end. Everything between these two bookends supplies the definition and context for what Paul means when he says “evil.” What is evil? Don’t take your own revenge; that is evil. Why is it evil? Because you are usurping the prerogative of God who alone has the wisdom to know when retribution ought to be enacted. God is to be the judge, and God’s ministering authority, the State. Individuals should not take matters into their own hands. That is God’s job. To do otherwise is to usurp God’s right and to usurp the right of the State. So, the evil that Paul, and I believe Jesus, had in mind to resist here is the evil of personal vengeance. The Scriptures are forbidding us from taking personal revenge. That is a lot different than forbidding us to pursue justice. Revenge no; justice yes. It is no coincidence that Paul follows this passage dealing with the Christian’s private response to evil with a Christian’s public response to evil. In chapter 13:1-4, we see the role of the State. “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it [government; the State] is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” What is Paul saying? He is building an argument. First of all, government is established by God. As a minister of God, it acts as an avenger to promote good and to punish evil (some translations say “evildoers”). Essentially, the role of government is to promote justice. As individuals, we are not to seek personal vengeance. We need to be willing to suffer injustice as Christians, and make an appeal to our God and to our State. We are to entrust ourselves to God. But, as members of the State, we are to work for justice against evil, for the sake of others and of society. That creates a tension for many Christians, trying to understand when is the right time to turn the other cheek. John Stott put it this way, “If my house is burglarized one night and I catch the thief, it may well be my duty to sit him down and give him something to eat and drink, while at the same time telephoning the police.” We have a private responsibility and duty, and we have a public one. Conclusion about pacifism Ever since Adam, the world has been in a war between good and evil. For this reason, the pacifist position is unrealistic. When taken to its logical conclusion, it would virtually do away with courts and police departments. It would ultimately lead to anarchy due to the nature of human hearts. Pacifism is also unbiblical, because it does not take the whole counsel of Scripture. It does not separate a Christian’s private duties from his public duties, and the role of the State versus the role of the individual. The Just War Theory Just War Theory is the other dominant position held by many Christians. This position was first formulated by Augustine of Hippo and later refined by Thomas Aquinas. It is based on the following assumptions: War is never good. But it is sometimes necessary. Why? Because sin is an ever present reality that has to be dealt with. “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder” (James 4:1-2). At the forefront of much war and conflict is an idolatry that says, “I want more. I want what you have.” And so there are wars and rumors of wars. Much of it is rooted in human sin. Political parties and institutions are not evil in themselves. Evil is ultimately rooted in every human heart. Necessary wars are to be conducted within the limits of justice. The purpose of Just War Theory is to give us a common terminology, so that nations that wage war will operate within certain parameters that are just. As Christians, we need to be realistic, not naive. We need to get past the common white hat versus black hat assumptions about war. When it comes to war, there is rarely pure good versus pure bad. There are usually gray hats versus gray hats, with different shades of gray. We are all guilty sinners. The hope of Just War Theory is that by applying just principles we can be as righteous as one can be when it comes to waging war. Only governments, and not individuals, have the right under God to carry out retribution. This rules out terrorists. They have no authority to do what they do. Within Just War Theory there is a seven-fold criteria. There must be a just cause. All aggression is condemned in Just War Theory. Participation in war must be prompted by a just cause or a defensive cause. No war of unprovoked aggression can ever be justified. Preemptive war can be legitimate in some circumstances, according to Just War Theory, if it is known that a grave act of aggression is imminent. If a government knows that their nation or another is about to become a victim, it can act to prevent the injustice before it takes place. Just intention. The war must have a right intention to secure a fair peace for all parties involved. One must have just motives for going into war. It is a last resort. Other means of resolution such as diplomacy and economic pressure must have been reasonably exhausted before war. Formal declaration. The war must be initiated with formal declaration by a properly constituted authority. Only governments can declare war, not individuals or militias or terrorist organizations—only governments. Limited objectives. Securing peace is the purpose and objective in going to war. War must be engaged in such a way that when peace is attained, hostilities cease. Proportionate means. Combatant forces of the opposition may not be subjected to greater harm than is necessary to secure victory and peace. Noncombatant immunity. Military forces must respect individuals and groups not participating in the conflict and must abstain from attacking them. Conclusion Based on my studies, a strict pacifist position is not only unreasonable, it is unbiblical. The presence of sin in the world means that is is sometimes regrettably necessary to use force in order to secure justice for the innocent and the helpless. However, when war is considered, its legitimacy must be carefully evaluated. In doing so, Christians should remember that their ultimate allegiance is not to the State; it is to the commands of God. Unfortunately, history shows that individual Christians and churches have rarely stood up effectively against the State when the war is unjust. It is too easy for people to get caught up in patriotism. It is all too easy to buy into nationalistic interests. People are often so close to the situation that they cannot objectively judge the legitimacy of taking action against another nation. That failure was evident in Nazi Germany, where the Church became a lapdog to the State. Yes, there were those who stood against it in defiance, but most did not. The Church also failed in Constantine’s Rome. Yes, there are times when war is just. We must be careful to step outside of nationalistic thinking and critique our nations so that we can be faithful to God, before our State, and then act according to our conscience. Remember, God is sovereign. The nations rage, but God has established His King on Mount Zion. He has given Him an inheritance which is the whole world. And there will come a day when we will take our swords and craft them into plowshares. We will learn war no more. Come quickly Lord Jesus! Author: John Salvatore, Faith Church of the Valley. The Just War Theory section of this article was adapted from an article by Commander Timothy J. Demy, Th.D. and Th.M. (Dallas Theological Seminary), Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy. Copyright © 2003, Faith Church of the Valley, Chandler, Arizona. All Rights Reserved – except as noted on attached “Usage and Copyright” page that grants ChristianAnswers.Net users generous rights for putting this page to work in their homes, personal witnessing, churches and schools. www.ChristianAnswers.Net

    *Reprinted from the following source: http://wesdancin.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/jesus-was-not-a-pacifist-he-was-not-a-wimp-jesus-was-not-a-coward-what-is-the-christian-perspective-on-war/  

More biblical guidance on the appropriate role of government

This blog entry serves as an extention to my previous blog entry - Romans 13 – The Appropriate Role of Government.  In this blog entry, I discussed the biblically appropriate role of government, and the fact that Romans 13 mandates a "limited" government somewhat in alignment with the U.S. Constitution. Romans 13 is critical for believers to understand when discerning what roles are appropriate and what roles are not in the eyes of God. 

In addition to Romans 13, I wanted to add some additional instructions that I failed to mention in my Romans 13 blog entry. Read Luke 3:12-14. In these verses, John The Baptist gave specific instructions to two government employees - a tax collector and a soldier. Both of these functions are ordained by God, and both functions have limits. It is these "limits" that current governments have totally ignored for many years!

Luke 3:12-14 says the following:

¹² And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

¹³ And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.”

¹⁴ Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Just these verses alone strongly indicate the fact that government is to be LIMITED! Soldiers are needed to protect a nation and a people, but they are NOT to engage in tyranny or to extract (or steal) more money from the citizens either through intimidation or through force. And yet, liberal Christians would likely submit to such tyranny not ordained by God!

The tax collectors have a necessary job to collect a LIMITED amount of taxes needed to fund the biblically appropriate functions of a God-ordained government. However, John says they are to collect absolutely no more than that! The implication is that any taxes extracted above and beyond that are outside of that which is God-ordained!

So why then have taxes been going up and up and up over the years? Much of this money is funding government programs that are not ordained by God. My Romans 13 blog entry airs that rant!

Therefore, use discernment when determining what roles of government are biblical and what roles are not. The more people who wake up to this fact, and who become aware of what is biblical and what is not, will also be more able to make decisions that are in accordance to God's will. 

Romans 13 – The Appropriate Role of Government

As a former military (and government enforcer), I feel both qualified and compelled to write a blog post of this nature. I hope it will be well received among a wide range of readers. My intent is to point out what the role of government should be according to the Bible. Certainly, the U.S. Constitution does a fair job of defining an appropriate role, and its mandate of “limited government” is also reflected in the Bible.

I would invite you to read Romans 13 (verses 1 to 7 in particular). These seven verses pretty much describe what government should be, and how its citizens should relate to it.

The essence of these verses essentially state that governments are ordained by God, and are His intent to exist. Those of you who are anarchists will not believe or accept this fact. However, continue reading, because there is more to understand.

Romans 13 was NEVER meant to be a Chapter that orders all Christians to bow down and submit to all government requests or orders unconditionally! However, when governmental orders are legitimate and in alignment with God’s Will, then God does expect citizens to submit. Unfortunately in today’s world, the distinction between Godly and unGodly mandates has been significantly blurred! By that I mean the fact that governments (nearly everywhere) are taking on roles that the Bible never intended for it to assume responsibility for! Expensive international wars, massive growth of government, expensive welfare programs (designed to encourage dependency rather than to provide job skills), etc are just a small sample of the type of roles that go beyond what is biblical.

If we are to look to Romans 13, government has the following general rights – to take life, to enforce justice, to maintain law and order, and to levy taxes. As citizens, we are to submit to government authority within the limits ordained by God. HOWEVER, if the government goes beyond its God-ordained authority, then we must refuse and resist (in a polite manner if at all possible). The overarching responsibility of government is to punish evil-doers, and to ensure that justice is properly administered. In fact, Romans 12, states that regular citizens are to never seek revenge for wrongdoing. It is the government that is supposed to properly handle this function. Sadly, however, governments (in modern times) have been doing nearly the opposite of this function!

Given the above God-ordained rights, it appears that Government has a protective responsibility, a law enforcement responsibility, a judicial responsibility to run and maintain a court system, and a responsibility to collect taxes in order to fund these basic responsibilities. Given these very basic responsibilities, why then do we have all these other government agencies that extend so far outside of the biblical responsibilities stated above? We now have Food and Drug Administration bureaucrats who examine everything we eat, as well as a slew of other ‘three-letter acronym’ agencies that regulate nearly every other aspect of our lives! Could it be that government has expanded way beyond that which the Bible would have ever mandated? For certain, this has been the case, and libertarians are absolutely correct in their assertions of this fact.

Further to that, even the newer government agencies that do fall into a protective or law enforcement role are engaged in activities and functions that do NOT advance the security or protection of a state. This is due in part to the corruption that exists in those various agencies at all levels, as well as the fact that the New World Order controls the enforcers. The elitist controllers that do not serve God will certainly not use its enforcers to meet Godly ends! That should be common sense.

With all of the information above, and if each of you read your Bibles and pray to God, you will be able to discern what government roles are ordained by God and which ones are not. My intent is not to tell you how you should relate to government. It is merely to inform you of what is biblical and what is not. In no way am I advocating the limp-wristed liberal Christian posture that submits to tyranny unconditionally. On the other hand, I am not saying that government has no right to exist. That too would be a severe distortion of Scripture.

I encourage each and every one of you to think critically about what governments should do and what they should not do. Hopefully, my blog post has pointed you in the right direction. 

Update - August 20, 2013:

One thing I should have made clearer above is this: Government has a right to exist as long as it is performing "God-ordained" functions, that is functions which conform to the mandates of Scripture. Governments that steal from or harm the very people that they proclaim to serve and protect are not performing "God-ordained" functions. That which is not "God-ordained" is illegitimate. Pastor Chuck Baldwin has a book on Romans 13 which a large portion of it, I agree with. Yes, he is endorsed by Alex Jones, but I agree w/ a very large portion of his book. Those seeking answers on the Romans 13 issue should read his book.

Is the current societal decline a punishment from God or not?

Having just read an essay in Lewrockwell dot com called “Who Is To Blame?" by Cam Rea, I just wanted to provide some input regarding some of the assertions made in this essay.  

While I can fully sympathize with her position, and while it is true that there are far too many liberal ‘government-loving’ Christians out there, I must clarify a few points.

First of all, it is preposterous to say that God does not punish people (or societies of people) who engage in sexual sins (i.e., homosexuality, etc), or who conduct abortions (or other murderous activity) on a widespread scale. I strongly believe that God does this, and one can point to Sodom & Gomorrah and to other occasions when widespread judgment (punishment) was necessary. I will not debate this point any further, because the biblical evidence is obvious.

Secondly, I see no indication anywhere in the Bible where God actually disapproves of the “State” or of the existence of any form of borders. While it is absolutely true that most governments have become wickedly tyrannical throughout history, He has in fact allowed “States” to exist along with their associated borders. I am not sure, given my study of His Word, whether God is for or against the existence of borders or not.

However, consider the following points. He allowed Babylon to rise and fall. He allowed the Medo-Persia to rise and fall. He allowed Greece to rise and fall. He allowed Rome to rise and fall…. And, today, He has allowed America (and her allies) to rise….and to now gradually fall. Many unbelievers do not understand WHY God would allow such tyrannical and wicked regimes to rise and to then fall. In the case of Rome, He allowed her to destroy Jerusalem in 70 AD (given the Jew’s lack of acceptance of Jesus as the Christ), and then allowed Rome (a wicked Babylon) to fall in the mid-400s, in order to suffer for her impenitent ways. I do not believe that God has ever totally condemned or condoned warfare between countries. He has always allowed such wars to go on. Such a track record leads me to wonder if God is really for the type of “antiwar peace” that so many seem to believe He would or should be for.

Most libertarians would want to believe that God punishes people only on an “individual” basis, and I personally believe that God does in fact do just that. I also believe that God punishes larger societies of people simultaneously, as He has done throughout history. People in most societies CONFORM to societal norms of the communities that they live in. For example, the wealthy materialistic (millionaire) communities consist of people who “compete with the Jone’s.” These people do many of the same type of things. Gay communities often consist of people who engage of many of the same activities right within the area that they inhabit. If a group or society of people engage in similar (sinful) activity, why then would we assume that God would not (at times) punish people in a collective manner?

And lastly, I will agree with Rea’s point that there is a contingent of “Christians” and “Jews” (mostly Zionists) that do advocate and support violence against the enemies of the current nation of Israel. I am totally against this disgusting view and the eschatological premises upholding the justification of their support of violence against her Arab neighbors. For further elaboration on this point, you might want to read my earlier blog post called “A comment about Christian Zionism” .

Sadly, many intelligent libertarian-minded Lewrockwell readers no doubt equate “Christianity” with irrational Zionist philosophy. I am here to debunk the destructive teachings of Hal Lindsey and those like him. I urge freedom-minded libertarians to dig deeper, and to look beyond the cruddy Christian Zionist hype that so pervades common Christianity as we now know it!

Christian Passivity

There are a fair number of Christians (many from the liberal camp) who believe that they are to pray and they are to then passively await God’s blessings to fall from the sky. To do anything other than this is to demonstrate a “lack of faith” in God. This is preposterous!

In my previous blog post about how the US Constitution will not save you, I admonished the fact that we should all seek the “highest” power (God), and that we should return to His Word. All of that is of the most critical importance. However, does that mean that we are to pray to God and to study His Word, and then sit passively with the hope that God will lead, guide, and direct us? My answer is an absolute “NO!”

For those of you who are Infowarriors doing all that you can to get the “truth” out about the current globalist scams (from top to bottom), and for those of you who are doing all that you can to wake people up to the various lies out there, you are in essence doing your part to fight corruption, and I would view that as a God-like action. God is all about “truth!” Although, not all “truth” is necessarily God’s truth…that is for another discussion and a separate tangent to this discussion.

In a nutshell, the process works like this. We are to first study God’s Word (The Bible). We are to set our goals (similar to how any unbelieving humanist would do), and then we are to pray to God regarding the goals that we have selected and then determine (against God’s Word) if these goals are in fact biblical ones. My book outlines this process in detail, so no need to detail it here.

Some liberal Christians would likely see this perspective as a “lack of faith” in God, because I dare say that people need to actually do their OWN thinking! That is right, God EXPECTS us to THINK and to use our rational capacities! Further to that, He expects us to work. As the Bible indicates, He who does not work, neither shall he eat. II Thessalonians 3:10. We are to take purposeful actions to ‘glorify God’ and then God leads and directs us to achieve those goals.

One reason unbelieving libertarians are closed off to “Christianity” is due to the liberal presentation of it, that they have received at earlier times in their lives. That is unfortunate.

Overall, those who are Infowarriors or those who are working to get the politicians to honor the US Constitution that they (i.e., their elitist predecessors) created, you are doing important work! However, seek guidance from the highest power!

Why the US Constitution cannot save you!

I am aiming this blog post at the patriotic libertarian-minded Americans that love personal liberty and freedom. I too am a US military veteran, and over the last decade, I have considered myself to be a libertarian. America is the country that I have spent nearly most of my life in. Subtract the several years that I have spent living and working in overseas locations. Certainly, America still has more freedoms than many other countries in the world. And of course, it is undeniable that America’s freedoms are steadily and rapidly decreasing at a rate faster than I have ever witnessed in my own lifetime. All of this is a fact!

There is a growing contingent of “freedom lovers” that really believe strongly in the US Constitution and the founding fathers. Further, they believe that the inspirers and writers of the US Constitution were truly God-fearing men carrying out the Will of God, and that America truly is a Christian nation! However, the truth about the US Constitution is that it was not inspired or written by God-fearing Christians. Consider that the key founders and signers of the US Constitution (i.e., George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, etc) were freemasons actually engaged in occult practices. While some of these freemasons made references to “God” in their slogans and in some of their writings, such references to God in no way provided evidence of their intent to carry out God’s will. In fact, there is evidence to expose antichristian sentiment from some of the writings of our “founding fathers.” Christian J. Pinto (a historic premillennialist) provides some very critical information in an article called: “AMERICA’S “NOT SO CHRISTIAN” FOUNDING FATHERS."

While I do not endorse all of Mr. Pinto’s biblical assertions, I do agree with his points about the writers and signers of the US Constitution given the undeniable evidence he has cited. Given this evidence, it is not hard to match some of the statements made by our founding fathers versus God’s word, and to notice the blatant discrepancies between each. To make a long story short and simple, we should not even be surprised by such discrepancies! Those who are engaged in freemasonry or in other occult practices cannot possibly do anything perfect or even marginally proper for that matter. Without the Spirit of God, by nature, it is impossible to act perfectly and in alignment with God’s nature. Most unbelievers will not fully understand this statement, but one thing humanistic (pagans) do understand is that “nobody is perfect!” And, I assert that there is a reason WHY we are not perfect! And that reason is due to “original sin” (reference Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden). [I could do a lengthy dissertation just on that statement alone!]

Therefore, the founding fathers were imperfect; therefore, the US Constitution, by default, is also going to be imperfect. Certainly, there are “good” things contained within it that might be considered “Godly” such as the “freedoms” it contained. Certainly, the found fathers needed “freedom” to express their antichristian sentiments, and would not be able to do so in any place where there would be no “freedom” to do so! Further to that point, God Himself would want all of us to have the “freedom” to either choose His ways or the ways of Satan. Therein lays my point that “freedom” is indeed a “Godly” principle.

Also, the US Constitution provided various “instructions” which were to somehow preserve its existence throughout later time periods. However, evidence is currently showing just how poorly any such measures have worked! If people are too fearful of rising up against a tyrannical government, just how then will a people be able to preserve their liberty? Certainly, that is not to say that there are not people willing to take up arms. There are certainly people willing to do that. There are also information warriors who are doing what they can to preserve the US Constitution and what it stands for. However, even with all of the current efforts, the elite are continuing the dismantling of the US Constitution, and they are doing a very successful job of it. Therein lays my point which is to say that this US Constitution has not been capable of delivering upon its promise to preserve the liberty and freedom for future generations.

Aside from the failures of the US Constitution, let me also praise its “good” aspects. Certainly, while I do not believe the hype that the US Constitution was “divinely inspired” by God Himself, I do believe that the US Constitution did a reasonably successful job in promoting liberty and freedom! And to its credit, America, for many years, has been a freer (and better) country to live in than most other countries in the world…at least in terms of materialistic wealth. And, I will also assert that the materialistic wealth has been both a blessing and a curse! Speaking in negative terms, many materialistic and wealthy Americans have become lazy, slavish, and decadent due to this type of “prosperity.” Currently, it is this decadence that is now eating out the substance of America!

Certainly, I would love to see our Governments (at all levels) follow the US Constitution. I would love to see true freedom return to this country! The problem; however, is that the US Constitution was built by an elite class of freemasons (and other elites), and it is they (the current elites) who have the power to destroy it, or any part of it they do not like or want! This is a bitter pill for diehard US Constitutionalists to swallow. In fact, it is a bitter pill for me to swallow, even though I do not look exclusively for the US Constitution to save me! I love freedom, and I want to see it return in this life on earth! All the above said, however, I am not realistically optimistic.

Given the historic and current failures and abilities of the US Constitution to save us, I am not too optimistic of its ability to save me in the future. I strongly contend that we all should be looking beyond the US Constitution alone. Instead of focusing exclusively upon the “higher power” (i.e., governments and corporate or banking elites), we should be focusing upon the “highest power” (i.e., the God of the Heavens and the earth). This requires reading God’s word – The Holy Bible. The Holy Bible, unlike the US Constitution, was “God-breathed” and “divinely inspired.” Therefore, it is the Holy Bible that can indeed save us. I know unbelievers (even the libertarian-minded types) are probably confused with this statement. You might think it is the ramblings of just another evangelical “Bible thumper.” However, anyone who has thoroughly studied the Bible can also connect the dots and clearly see that many of the problems we are seeing today are really just a manifestation of our disobedience to God! Even many liberty-minded people are simply not doing what God would really want us to be doing. That is why we are losing our liberty. It is time to reevaluate our priorities.

If we live according to the nature of God, we then are able to “live free” in Christ! For some reason, many unbelieving libertarians believe that living in accordance to God’s will is somehow a restriction upon their personal freedom. The opposite is true. When we do not live in accordance to God’s word, we then become slaves to the world! Likewise, if we live in accordance to God’s will, we then become slaves to Jesus Christ! Either way, we are a “slave.” I know the libertarians will ardently denounce that idea of being anyone’s slave! However, we either choose to be a slave of the world (run by Satan), or we choose to be a slave to Jesus Christ. We are one or we are the other.

Here is the kicker! Those who choose to be a slave to Jesus Christ are essentially choosing FREEDOM! How could this be? Even if we are not always doing what we want to necessarily do, we are doing God’s work, and as God only does “good” we can trust that He will carry out His promise to save and redeem us! Satan, on the other hand, does a masterful job of promising us the world; however, we can never trust him to carry out his promises. Evil beings never keep promises! Satan’s ways lead to death. God does keep His promises! So, exercise your Godly “freedom” to choose which way you will go!

As I say in my book, survive in this world, and in the one beyond!

Blessings,

Jason

Who should read this book and who should not

I want those that would want to read this Survival Preparation book to know what this book is and what it is not. There are times when we purchase a book on Amazon, and we have some idea of what we think the book is about, and then after we receive (and read) it, the book is (at times) not what was expected. This post should help you in deciding whether this book is for you or not. The points below are not necessarily all inclusive, but are critical ones that I could think of off the top of my head.

(1)   Those seeking a purely spiritual book from a Christian perspective, this is not your book. The front cover of the book may lead some to believe that the book is entirely a book on Bible prophecy.  While the book is not entirely about Bible prophecy, Part 1 (about 30% of the book) does cover critical aspects pertaining to an orthodox view of Bible prophecy (and biblical guidance) which can be characterized from a conservative orthodox and “reformed” perspective. If you are anti-religious, you might actually like this book. I do not speak of ever joining a large denominational religious organization. Some of them have turned me off! I write about it in my book. What I do talk about; however, are the “truths” that the Bible (itself) does present, and how we can apply those “truths” to the actions that we take in this world. Part 2 of the book pertains to physical survival preparation, and accounts for approximately 70% of the entire text.

(2)   The term “spiritual” in my book title does not denote that I write anything about “spiritualism” such as yoga, Hinduism, Zen Buddhism, occultism, transcendental meditation, etc. For those titles, you might want to make a trip to the local occult specialty store, where they sell more than enough of those types of books, Ouija boards, crystal balls, etc. Once upon a time (in earlier years), I was into this type of spiritualism. Due to my personal experiences with the occult, I moved away from it given my experiences with it. Those seeking a book within the realm of this type of spiritualism, and who have no desire for a refreshing exposure to the Holy Bible should not purchase my book. However, Part 2 (physical survival preparation) should still be of good use to the spiritualists.

(3)   Those into a virulent liberal Christianity where you believe in an “anytime” pre-tribulation rapture, you will find my book to be offensive when I provide overwhelming evidence that a pre-trib rapture is not biblically supported. For those of you holding this view and perspective, and for those who are willing to consider new and additional biblically supported evidence, I invite you to read my book. For those of you are hopelessly and thoroughly convinced that the pre-trib rapture is a foregone reality, and you are not open to any information to prove otherwise, then you probably will not want my book. In fact, Part 2 of my book will also likely be of little use to you, as you believe you will be raptured out prior to any type of tribulation!

(4)   Those who are ardent premillennialists and who believe in the 7 year dispensationalist perspective of “Daniel’s 70^th Week” – “The Great Tribulation” will not like what I have to say. There is biblical evidence against this perspective, and I explain why. We can all thank the establishment backed History Channel and National Geographic for giving a fair amount of air time to this very perspective and all of the hype that goes along with it! For those who are unrepentant premillennialists, with no desire to ever reexamine your position, my book is NOT for you. The authors who push the premillennialist hype and “date setting” of Christ’s expected 2^nd return, do often sell a lot of books. Hype does indeed sell! Nonetheless, Part 2 of my book will still be of use to you.

(5)   Those who believe that all they need to do is “pray to God” for blessings to fall from the sky will not like what they read in my book. What I write about is taking appropriate responsibility as a believer in Christ. There are no quick fixes, and no, God is not a vending machine that grants us each and every request that we might make! Those seeking quick fixes such as what you might obtain in a psychic reading, will not like what is presented in my book. My book restores a proper perspective in such a manner that we approach God in a humble manner and in a rational manner to better understand His will in our lives. I approach this topic neither from what I dub as the “liberal legalistic” perspective or the “conservative intellectual” perspective. Both are traps. While my approach is indeed conservative, it differs from the more common conservatism seen in large Christian denominational churches.

(6)   Those seeking information about 11^th hour bug-out plans will not like my book at all. In fact, you will probably not like what I have to say! Those engaged in the debate as to what type of “bug-out vehicle” you should buy, here again, there is no discussion of it in my book. Do not buy this book if you are fantasizing about an 11^th hour bug-out plan! If you are a multi-millionaire, you might be able to pull it off if you can afford a high performance Bell 500 “Little Bird” helicopter like the ones used in Magnum PI or in Black Hawk Down, and/or a Charter Jet if traveling to a foreign destination. Even then, your 11^th hour destination might not be the utopia that you would need it to be unless of course unless you have a full staff on the other end. I teach that you will have to make a decision – a “rural retreat” or an “urban retreat.” For most of you, I preach the fact that nearly 82% of the population’s decision is already made by default. That is, an “urban retreat” is your only good option. And, I provide suggestions on how to properly hunker down in the big city. This is where the topic of personal privacy comes to play among many other critical survival aspects. Some so-called “urban survivalists” that have written books about “urban survival” have neglected proper coverage of this critical topic. My book does cover it.

(7)   Those who believe rapid fire fully automatic firearms are the way to go, you will find my suggestions to go against your current engrained beliefs or preconceived ideas of what you may have witnessed in TV, movies, or video games in America (or elsewhere) for that matter. Firearms do play an absolute critical role in survival preparation, and the full auto option is not prudent and I explain why. My previous experience in Iraq and other similar places (military, government, and private consulting sector) have led me to my conclusions. Vain glory is not a part of the package!

(8)   Those who believe that Muslim Terrorists are the biggest threat to our security in America will find what I say to be offensive. That is correct, I do not uphold Christian or Jewish Zionism or its assumptions. Those of you in this category are deceived and there might not be much I can do to help. However, if you are open-minded enough to reexamine some of your current beliefs, then my book could indeed help you understand what the bigger threats are that we are facing.

(9)   Those of you (at least those living in urban areas) who are storing massive amounts of oil, gasoline, and propane or who are wholly dependent upon these fuels, may want to make some changes in your plans…particularly if you are living in an urban area. Those following my suggestions will save yourself some pain, and you will have a good bit more storage space for other survival items. Those disagreeing with me on this point might not necessarily want to disqualify my book on this point alone.

(10) Those of you who believe that in order to maintain good health, you must either be a marathon runner or a bodybuilder. You are believing the hype in the establishment-backed “health” magazines, the TV, movies, or all of the above. I myself am a former marathon runner and I can tell you that there are better ways to maintain basic health and fitness. My suggestions are counterintuitive to what many would ever expect, and yet very basic. However, if you continue down the road as a marathon runner (or similar type sport), the “medical establishment” will love you, because of the amount of money that they will likely make treating your “sports injuries” or other health problems. Those who disagree with my point may not like what I say (initially), but you might find my admonitions to have been correct later down the line. Again, vain glory and arrogance are not a part of this package. There is so much more to life than conforming to the image that “mainstream” establishment-backed sources say you should conform to in order to be physically healthy.

Overall, I wrote this book for those who are “truth seekers.” I am not the clean-cut guy that you will see in public places (or malls) wearing a shirt/tie handing out “Come to Jesus” pamphlets, much like you would see from denominations like the Mormons or the Latter Day Saints. I violate many of the typical stereotypes of what many believe a good Christian should be! And, I speak out against Pharisitical Christianity (i.e., “liberal legalism”) in my own book.

I am not “religious!” As my late grandmother used to say, “You can be religious about anything…. You can even be religious about going to the bathroom!” That trite statement basically implies what the term “religious” really means – merely a mundane activity that one can do on a boringly routine basis day after day or week after week….e.g., going to church every Sunday (or Saturday), and doing so in a lukewarm manner. That is not to say all church goers are lukewarm. However, many are.

If anyone had told me (20 years ago) that I would write a book pertaining to the Holy Bible and to physical survival preparation, I would have thought they were crazy! At that time, I would have thought I would be crazy to write about such “boring” topics! That was then. NOW, my perspective is so very different! I thank God that He did not lead me through life in a sheltered manner. I have had my butt kicked (literally) in high school, in the military (literally and figuratively), and in other life situations (not literally, but figuratively). Such experiences make one a humble person…just the way God wants us to all be! Sadly, many people do live sheltered lives, and therefore, rarely have to deal with life’s tribulations. Those people need to have their butts kicked so they will wake up! My book restores the proper mindset that people have moved away from and need to return to.

I hope you have found this blog posting to be of use!