Addressing Fear

Times are rough. Preppers are being called “extremists”. Anyone who fails to agree with the prevailing narrative on either side is called a “domestic violent extremist”. God forbid, if you don’t jump in with both feet on the most extreme LGBTQ+ agenda and support the mutilation of children, you’ll be called a bigot and a Nazi.

Meanwhile, outside of the political arena, there are people who think Christians are fascists. Neighbors who think anyone who prepares is “weird” or “odd” and might report you to an increasingly authoritarian government over issues that are not criminal.

Amidst all this, we have the increasing threat of war with Russia or China, or both.

Let’s face it, it’s a scary time. That leads us to want to prepare more but makes us afraid to try and organize mutual assistance groups or to gather at all. But we all know that no man is an island, and you need community. How do we get past this and organize or gather anyway?

The answer, as usual, comes from the Ultimate Tactical Handbook:

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me..

Psalm 28:7a

Start by trusting God. Now, I know, God isn’t going to help you with the DHS. But if you step out in faith and don’t say or do anything silly, you will be fine. It’s absolutely critical that we meet, have community, and attend events/training classes.

Every time I post that I’m going to a meet-up or giving a speech, or going to a training class, I get a ton of replies about “save a table for the Feds” or “No way, the Feds will be there” or whatever. This infuriates me. This is exactly what the powers that be want – you too afraid to get out and learn to be self-sufficient; too afraid to organize; too afraid to do anything. Stop being a coward (yes, I said it) and STAND FIRM. Assert your rights. You have the freedom to assemble AND the freedom to petition your government for the redress of grievances (appearing at school board meetings to complain). You even have the right to be a Christian.

If we just have faith and get out and meet anyway, we will be OK. When someone you’ve never met walks up and tries to steer the conversation into a ridiculous area, walk away. Have nothing to do with them. If they persist, have the meeting organizer ask them to leave. NO ONE at the event, meeting, or class needs those entanglements. Be bold in your comments to them, because the “Kidnapping” plot suspects weren’t & they never said “NO” flat out to the informants.

When someone challenges that faith and calls you a Christo-Fascist, resist the temptation to fight them. Once you go on the defensive, they’ve won, and they’ll say that you are defensive because it’s true. Tell them you love them and that you’ll pray that they find the Hope of Jesus. Listen, Jesus warned us that this would come:

You will be hated by everyone because of me,

but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Matthew 10:22

There it is. We need to stand firm. Prepare anyway. Meet anyway. Don’t back down.

Now, we’re going to get to the hard part – You cannot be passive. There are some points here that need to be made. God doesn’t expect you to stand idly by while persecution happens, when children are harmed, or when oppression happens. Lose the idea that Christians are supposed to be pacificists because Jesus wasn’t one. Look at the next piece of Tactical Wisdom:

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

Proverbs 24:11

That’s not a passive statement. It requires positive action. “Rescue” is a verb, an action word. I can’t rescue people by sitting on the sidelines. Now, before you Feds get all excited, I can “rescue” folks by talking to them. I can hold them back by helping them prepare, sharing the Word, and giving them hope. But, if more active measures are needed, you are expected to act (James 4:17).

Learn to do right; seek justice.
    Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
    plead the case of the widow.

Isaiah 1:17

Again, all active. In a prepping context, this means help those who need a hand. Teach them how to can and preserve food, teach them to hunt/fish/trap, help them organize their gear. Show them local edible plants. It can mean during a crisis, check on your elderly neighbors and those with young kids. Offer assistance. More importantly, defend the oppressed.

Guys, we need to stop being afraid to meet and organize. You aren’t doing anything wrong. You’re not planning anything kinetic, and DON’T LET OTHERS DO SO. You absolutely have the right to assemble. You even have the right to criticize your government (despite what they tell you).

Time for some tough love, though…if you are still unwilling to set aside your fear and press on, you are wasting your money and time. You cannot do this alone. You need a community, and you can’t build that from behind a keyboard. Get out and meet people in real life. I will tell you what, the online folks I’ve gone and met in real life have become some of my closest friends. Braxton McCoy, Mark Sibley, and I had never met in real life, yet we spent a weekend in the mountains with a bunch of fans and had a blast.

If you have radios and you don’t know how to use them (most of you), then go and take a class from NC Scout. If you don’t have outdoor skills, go and take a class. If you don’t know other folks in your area into preparedness, go to a preparedness picnic or expo (there are WAY more of these than you know).

I hope this helps and gives you some hope, and more importantly some courage.

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