The Theology of Readiness: Faith, Stewardship, & Witness

The Theology of Readiness: Faith, Stewardship, and Witness {PLEASE NOTE: With the introduction of our newer initiatives from the Christian Readiness Project (CRP), we also are adding a regular blog to our website. It will issue at least once or twice a week depending upon schedules of other events. It may also have comments on different schedules about real-time events. So, please look here often, and, THANK YOU for reading.} Some have seen the television shows that display, and sometimes mock, the people who call themselves "preppers." Sadly, those programs and the copious literature they seem to have helped generate only exhibit part of what is needed for life to continue after great tragedy befalls. CRP does not mock or scold preppers and prepping. They have developed some good concepts that others would do well to learn. Rather, we offer what we believe to be a more prudent way, a way that is not only in keeping with God's Word, but thoroughly grounded on it and steep with it. Christian Readiness is not about digging a hole and hiding in it as a long-term solution to serious emergencies, disasters, wars, and those serious negative life-altering events that beset us in this world. But we are not blinded by the fact that within the believing community, there is push-back to any form of serious activity that might both save lives and provide a shining witness for Christ before, during, and after the time of crisis. Why? Many Christians believe that taking steps to prepare for earthly trouble shows a lack of faith. They wonder if storing food, securing water, or planning for emergencies means they do not trust God to take care of them. This point of view creates a false choice. It makes people think they must choose between trusting in the providence of God or exercising biblical wisdom. The truth is that these two things belong together. True Christian readiness is not an escape from faith. Instead, it is a direct expression of faith, stewardship, and our witness to a broken world. It is a biblical lifestyle that honors God and protects the vulnerable. Readiness as an Act of Faith True faith does not mean we ignore the realities of a fallen world. It means we listen to God and obey His warnings, even when the danger is not yet visible to our human eyes. We recognized He has already placed warnings in front of us in His Word, the natural senses with which He has created us, and the technologically sourced information that often comes our way. Noah is the ultimate biblical example of this principle. His faith did not make him passive. His faith moved him to take immediate, massive action. In the Book of Hebrews, we see exactly how his faith and his actions worked together: > Hebrews 11:7 – "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Noah did not build the ark because he doubted God. He built it because he believed God's word completely. The sky was clear, and there was no visible sign of a flood, but Noah took action anyway. For Noah, physical preparation was an act of worship and obedience. In the same way, our practical preparation today is an active response to what God has already told us about the future of this world. We prepare because we believe Him. Watch for more about Noah's example later. Readiness as the Duty of Stewardship God has given every believer a holy responsibility. We are called to manage our homes, our resources, and the lives of those placed under our care. This is called stewardship. The scriptures teach us that a prudent person looks ahead to avoid unnecessary disaster. Wise people do not walk blindly into danger. King Solomon warns us about the danger of living without foresight: > Proverbs 22:3 – "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished." Foresight is a spiritual gift. It allows us to protect our households so that we do not become a burden to others when hard times arrive. If we know that storms, economic trouble, or societal changes are possible, we have a duty to prepare for them. When we fail to complete these practical preparations, we neglect our family duty. We also compromise our ability to serve the Lord effectively because we will be trapped in the same panic as the rest of the world. Readiness as a Platform for Witness The ultimate goal of our preparation is not isolated survival. We do not prepare just to hide in a bunker and watch the world burn. The true purpose of Christian readiness is to create opportunities to share Jesus Christ during times of deep crisis. When a community experiences a sudden emergency, people who have no spiritual foundation are immediately consumed by fear. They do not know where to turn. Christians should be the most stable people in any crisis. We can be calm because our souls are saved by Christ, and our physical households are prepared for the storm. This inner peace is itself a powerful witness for our Lord and Savior. This unique stability provides a powerful platform to speak the truth of the Gospel to those who are completely desperate. The Apostle Peter instructs us on how to maintain this posture: > 1 Peter 3:15 – "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." When people see your calm spirit in a dark hour, they will ask you where your hope comes from. Our physical readiness ensures that we have the food, water, and tools to help our neighbors and the household of faith. Our emotional resilience helps us maintain an attitude of inner peace that derives from our personal relationship with Christ. Our spiritual foundations ensures that we have the message of eternal salvation to save their souls. Remember Noah? There he is, busy building the Ark with his three growing sons at his side. Surely, with the inquisitive nature of the average human, his neighbors often asked him what he was building and why. Perhaps they even teased him, mocked him, or hurled insults at him. Now, we don't know exactly how long he worked on the Ark. God had established a time limit of 120 years, but he may not have started at that moment. He did have to take time to gather materials, have his sons, and get things going. So let's establish a tentative window of 50 to 120 actual years toward building, provisioning, and making the Ark seaworthy. What else was Noah doing? Sounds like enought, right? The second letter written by Peter has an interesting comment that is often missed. > 2 Peter 2:5 - "And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;" Now, remember that Noah has been told by God that he and his little family were all the human population that would be saved. Everyone else would be destroyed. Yet, he still witnessed righteousness to those that might listen so that perhaps in their physical death they might experience spiritual life. He wasn't just thinking selfishly about himself and his nuclear clan. He had a heart for others. A Lifestyle for Today Christian readiness is a lifelong commitment to holiness, responsibility, and faith. We do not place our ultimate trust in our supplies, our skills, or our cleverness. We trust completely in the living God who told us to be wise. By embracing this lifestyle today, we honor God as faithful stewards. We protect our families as Scripture commands us to do. Most importantly, we position ourselves to be bright lights in the coming darkness, ready to minister to anyone within our circle of personal influence.