By Chuck Reber

For the last three years I’ve been traveling the nation conducting one-day preparedness seminars for local churches and ministries. I have found that people are deeply concerned about the trajectory of our nation and eager to learn the essential ingredients of sustaining life in times of crisis. During my seminars I’ve noticed that most folks seem to have no problem with the terms: readiness, prepper, preparedness, and sustainability. But if I interchange the words survival, survivalism, or survivalist, there is an uncomfortable reaction to those words. It seems that people have a fear of being labeled ‘survivalists’.

I wonder why that label carries such sigma? As I understand it, the term, prepper, came into being as a descriptive way to avoid being labeled survivalists. Now, even the term prepper is under fire since airing of the popular television program Doomsday Preppers. I’ve heard people say, “Yeah, I consider myself a prepper, but not one of those ‘doomsday preppers’ or one of those, ‘survivalists’.”

I don’t know what image survivalist conjures up in your mind, but I think it’s time we clear up the misunderstanding of this term, get over the fear of being labeled a survivalist, and get on with our preparations.

Defining Terms

If you think about it, there are all kinds people who enjoy various sports, hobbies and professions that are described by adding the suffix, “-ist,” to the end of the word. We have – cyclists, pianists, artists, violinists, scientists, chemists, hedonists, guitarists, naturalists, dentists, florists – and the list goes on.

The suffix, -ist, means: of, relating to, or characterized by a specified quality.

1. 1. A person who does a specified action or activity (cyclist); a person who makes or produces something specified (novelist); 2. One that specializes in an (specified) art or science or skill (geologist); 3. One that adheres to or advocates a (specified) doctrine or system or code of behavior (socialist, hedonist) or that of a (specified) individual  (Calvinist, Darwinist). http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ist
   

Here’s the definition of the word survival: the state or fact of continuing to live or exist especially in spite of difficult conditions. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/survival

Let’s look at how Wikipedia defines Survivalism:

Survivalism is a movement of individuals or groups (called survivalists or preppers) who are actively preparing for emergencies, including possible disruptions in social or political order, on scales from local to international. Survivalists often acquire emergency medical and self-defense training, stockpile food and water, prepare to become self-sufficient, and build structures (e.g., a survival retreat or an underground shelter) that may help them survive a catastrophe. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivalism

Interesting definition. I’m not a big fan of some of Wikipedia’s definitions and descriptions, but it seems they got this one right. Here’s what I find interesting:

According to this definition, American Red Cross, FEMA, and the DHS are practicing survivalism! That means they are really survivalist organizations. I’ll prove it. Let’s break Wikipedia’s definition down phrase by phrase:

1. •They are actively preparing for emergencies, (√) http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation/plan-prepare
   

2. •Including possible disruptions in social or political order (√) http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/dhs-strategic-plan-fy-2012-2016.pdf
   

3. •On scales from local to international (√) (see above link)
   

4. •Have acquired emergency medical and self-defense training (√) http://www.tsa.gov/stakeholders/crew-member-self-defense-training-program-0
   

5. •Prepared to be self-sufficient (have supplies for disaster deployments) (√)
   

6. •Build structures that may help them survive a catastrophe (√) http://www.ready.gov/shelter
   

So why is DHS so suspicious of preppers and survivalists? These .gov organizations know there are very troubling times ahead and they too are making survival preparations. So let me pose a summary question to the above data:

If by definition they are practicing survivalism, then shouldn’t they be labeled survivalists too?

They can’t point their suspicious finger at the preparedness community without having three more pointed back at them.

One reason they don’t like preparedness/survival movement is that we have conflicting values and goals from those of the government.

The government’s goal is to have the people dependent upon them for their basic needs and security, which is ultimately leads to control, and results in a loss of personal liberty.

Our goal is to be self-sufficient, within an interdependent network of like-minded people, and not dependent upon the government agencies, thereby maintaining our personal liberty.

Demonizing Words – Ostracizing People

By demonizing words like ‘survivalism’ and ‘survivalist’ they create a social stigma that sows fear in the human heart, making one “guilty by association.” Which ultimately results in people backing away from making serious plans and necessary preparations.

I know people who adamantly deny the dreaded survivalist label, so they call their lifestyle “sustainable living.” Yet when you compare what they do to so called “survivalists,” there is little difference. They live in a piece of property that is semi-secluded and large enough to have gardens, plant fruit trees, raise animals (usually chickens, goats, sheep). They have a fresh water source available and a water filtration system. They do canning and dehydrate their own food, have a backup generator in case of power outages, and most are hunters and fisherman. Oh, but they’re not survivalists!

Look at the Attitude and Motivation Behind the Label

Since there are many similarities between what “preppers” do and what true “survivalists” do, I think we need to look at the attitudes and motivations driving each to do what they do. Well, first of all, that’s a difficult evaluation to make unless you have detailed personal interaction with a person. For example, here’s what I’ve been told by some “preppers,” that shun the “survivalist” label, when asked to describe the difference:

1. •Survivalists are fear motivated. Could it be that they are looking ahead seeking to carefully navigate an ever-changing economic and political landscape, and making decisions accordingly? Interestingly, I know lots of people who are prepping simply out of the fear of not having supplies in times of crisis. Again, what’s the motive?
   

2. •Survivalists are self-centered, caring only about themselves and their family. I know some survivalists that are storing food, water and resources for the expressed purpose of charitably sharing those items with others in need during a coming crisis. On the other hand, I know preppers who have no vision to help anyone beyond their own immediate family. Mostly they say they can’t afford it.
   

3. •Survivalists have a hunker down and defend-my-stuff attitude. This judgment is especially prevalent among preppers and non-preppers alike. The Doomsday Preppers TV show sadly took the lead in selling this image of survivalists. Once again, I know folks in both camps that have this attitude, and yet the majority of those I’ve interacted with don’t carry this mindset. Here are a couple things that concern me:
   One of my concerns in the Christian community is with the naïveté of so many when it comes to safety in times of crisis. Most have never experienced the upheaval and fear that erupts in the midst of a disaster or civil unrest. Not understanding the dangers, they think they can just run in and become the rescuers, when sometimes wisdom dictates otherwise. “There is a time for everything under the sun,” says Solomon, and there is a time to hunker down and a time to run into the crisis to help others. Wisdom, discernment and sometimes the state/local laws dictate those lines.
   
   Then there is the issue surrounding self-defense. A number of preppers are pacifists when it comes to self-defense. They have never seriously considered the circumstances and issues surrounding desperate people seeking to steal your resources and possibly harm your family. Therefore they are quick to judge anyone who takes up arms and trains for the potentiality of defending themselves.
   

Some questions for consideration

Do you really want to risk the lives of your wife and children in order to do outreach? Why not find a safe “fallback zone” for them so you can run back into the fray? What will you do if dangerous people come for you stuff? Do you think they will actually just take things and not harm your family? Are you willing to risk the safety and possibly the lives of your family? Are you willing to live with the consequences of that decision?

Conclusion

We can’t afford to fall prey to the naysayers and the label makers. Let them slap whatever label they want on me; my life is not defined by their foolish labels. We don’t have time to play childish name calling games. The hour is late and hard times are on the horizon and fast approaching. The window of opportunity to make adequate preparations, and learn the skills necessary for surviving the coming collapse, is closing fast.

We need to prepare to survive with a view to help others to do the same. I am making plans, in the grace of God, to be a survivor in the coming crisis. My desire is to honor God in my life and be the protector of my family He has called me to be. I want to do that with eyes of compassion for the least and the last – those who cannot help themselves and will suffer and die because of their life situation. These are the elderly, the handicapped, the single mom’s with children and the abandoned children that will emerge in the coming crisis.

It’s time to shake off the labels and put away the trivial arguments. Get focused on the Lord and on the people in need around you. Let your life be an example of the true definition a survival-ist – one who makes plans to survive. The survival of your family members and precious others depends upon you moving forward boldly, in prayerful wisdom, free from the fear of man.

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