[RedneckCatholic]

OK--by my handle you can tell I'm a Church Guy, so this is a post in earnest.

How do I, as a Man with Family and Responsibilities, plan for and balance preps for the kin against the Duty of Charity? How will I make the decision of who I can help, and who I can't?

My religion teaches me that I am to give alms, fast and pray, and that really, any beggar you give food to is Christ, and that any you turn away is Christ. To be honest--If survival mean perdition--I'd rather die. But yet I must still balance this with my duties towards family.

This is the hardest part of planning for me, and I haven't resolved the theory or the practice.

[PAPA G]

that is a tough one, i guess whats needed is careful reading of the Bible, and Vatican rules.

my rule is God, Country, Family in that order. anyone else would have to be on a case basis.i also have a hard time trusting anyone, that includes family.

[Cross Hair]

Just keep to yourself and take care of your family. I believe in helping out, but at what point does another persons unpreparedness become my families problem? Dont advertise what you got or that you and your family is in any better shape than anybody else and maybe you wont be put in position to turn people away or have to defend yourself against them taking what you got.

I just cant see the Lord condemning a man for looking after his family. I just cant see the Lord wanting you to also give everything that you worked hard to prepare for yourself and your family to just anybody off the street who did nothing to prepare! Let the Lord provide for them as he has provided for you in the fact that you have provided for yourself. Think about it as you and your family are one more family that he doesnt have to worry about! He will have enough to deal with!

[Gray Wolf]

There is a parable in the Bible about the wise virgins and the foolish virgins.
If you study it, it will help you to resolve your dilemma.

[petrol]

Can't speak for anyone but myself here. If someone asks mr for change who am I to judge if they need it or not. If I feel I have more than they do I'll give what I can. I know some, maybe most will buy drugs or beer. Sometimes I offer to buy a sandwich instead. I don't think Im a christian, Jesus is the son of god, I just don't do that worship thing.
I do think helping those less fortunate is a duty. But each to their own.

[arvetus]

You may have heard this story...
A believer sat upon a rooftop during a flood and prayed to God, "God I believe in you and I am faithful, please save me!" A few moments later a boat comes by and the men aboard say "hurry we will save you!" But the man replies, "No! God will save me!" A half hour passes and again the man prays. Just then a helicopter comes by and lifegaurds call out to him "Climb onto the rope, we will save you!" To which the man replies, "No! God will save me!" Then the flood waters rise and the man is carried away and drowns. In heaven, he goes up to god and says, "Why God? Why didn't you save me?!" And God replies to the man, "Who do you think sent the boat and the helicopter?!"

Yes, we rely on God in our lives...it is what He asks and wants of us. It's not easy to do this by any means, but it also does not mean you should be negligent or stupid. While I'm not necessarily of the mind that "God helps those who help themselves" (which is not in the Bible), I am inclined to believe that God unlocks the door, but sometimes, we must walk over and open it.

That being said, I don't think that preparing for "survival" means abandoning your family. You are charged by Him with that responsibility and that is your second most important task in life next to your relationship with Him.

You definitely want to ensure your family is cared for, so that is your primary responsibility. However, if you have the means to do it, you may want to look into preparing a little extra so you can be charitable and share the love of God with others as the opportunity arrises.

As far as deciding who to help and who not to help, I can't answer that...that is a decision that God will empower you to make when the time comes. He does ask us to be charitable, but he doesn't tell us to be stupid, which is why I don't give rides to hitch-hikers...

Don't know if that makes any sense... $0.02

[22cowboy]

Maybe dislocate yourself, so that no one ACTUALLY comes to you for charity?

but then again, I woulden't know much on the subject, I am a christian but I don't believe in public area's of worship.

[Brandhard]

Interesting that you should post this. I have thought quite a bit about this subject in the last week or two. I actually am not very much of a prepper/survivalist, but have a very little bit of food and some ammo stashed. I believe that as a Christian "Bible believer" there is very little question about what should be done. Matthew 5:42, "Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away." I try to practice this in the present, and I don't see how a major calamity would change things. I can't say that what I would do if it looked like my family would starve because I was helping others, but I know what I plan to do! And that is share whatever I have with those who come across my path who need.

Watch the movie "Defiance." Towards the beginning of the movie that is a dilemma that the brother face.

I have almost 8hrs. of windshield time tomorrow just to get to my service calls, so I'll think about it some more tomorrow!

[Ten Man]

I would treat it as tithing.

Whatever percent of my monthly income that I donate to the Church, that is what part of my "preps" would be available to help others.

When that percent is reached, all who come after are on their own.

Jesus said there will always be the poor. One man/family can not remedy that by any amount of self sacrifice.

[Ninja Piper]

A rule that comes to mind is "without injury to yourself." I will give all I can, as long as I can without hurting my own family in the process. I will gladly give knowledge any time and work when I have the time.

[High Noon]

While I'm not a religious man by any means, I do believe the saying that God helps those who help themselves (weird how ironic it is).

If I am accosted by a pan-handler, I always ask twice what they will use the money for. Most fess up and say they are going to buy a beer and their truthfulness is rewarded. If they lie, well, I'm only carrying a debit card at the time.

Although my family comes first, I would have a hard time not helping good people in need. Who knows when you will need it?

[Mooseman684]

Jesus second coming will be in Spirit / Angelic form and he wont be In a Human Body...he won't want or need your food. When I see bums in food lines that have cell phones or Blackberrys , it just makes me want to scream.
If there is No food are you gonna give up yours for someone who drank and did drugs and didnt prepare so that You starve too ? I'm Not...
The same reason animals store food for winter for themselves, they got off there butts and did it... to survive !

[M14man]

Do the same as you do now. There are plenty of people in need, but obviously you can't help them all. What ever your 'method' is now. should be the same then.

[BarryHalls]

As far as I'm concerned the Bible is pretty clear that your wife is to be the most important person in your life, and your children are closely behind her. Giving to the poor and beggars isn't to be done at the cost of your life. It is to be done even when it's hard, but not when it would mean that you or your loved ones would die from it. The bible commands us to be good husbands and fathers. Preferring strangers to our own children doesn't fulfill that command.

I think this is why our "preachers' kids" have such bad reputations. It is the fatal flaw of many preachers everywhere to allow themselves to reach so far and wide to bring Christ and charity to everyone, and they stretch themselves so thin, that their own families are left out. Their own wives and children KNOW that the rest of man kind is more important than his own family, and they resent their husbands/fathers for that and rebel by resenting God.

My point is, God expects you to take care of your family first. If they will be healthy, the rest is excess, and should be given to the church or the needy.

That said, I also believe in planning for retirement and investing. I'll give my excess at the end of my life when I'm sure that my family won't need it. Perhaps that's selfish of me, but I'm very cautious, and I consider it good stewardship.

[BarryHalls]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Gray Wolf

There is a parable in the Bible about the wise virgins and the foolish virgins. If you study it, it will help you to resolve your dilemma.

PERFECT!

I couldn't come up with examples. Thank you.

Parable of the Ten Virgins - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Ten Man]

Yup.

If that parable were to take place in the USSA, today, the five virgins without oil would run to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who would call a Presstitute conference to gather support against the five virgins that were smart enough to bring extra oil.

The five virgins with oil would be convicted in the press, their oil confiscated, and they would be fined or imprisoned for inflicting hate crimes on the five lazy/stupid virgins.

Which brings me to the moral of this version, others reap what we have sewn.

[Cross Hair]

I would like to think that a natural disaster or calamity of some sort would bring out the best in most folks that live around small town America where I live. The big cities may bring chaos and riots and such but I believe small town country folks like myself will work together and make it through. Most of your small town folks are god fearing people... does that make a difference? I would think so.

If you around and I kill a deer... with having little rifrigeration capabilities, you better believe I am giving meat away to my neighbors and those without.

[petrol]

Is there a parable about extra virgin olive oil?
Any way, I don't think anyone expects one to starve themself or thier family for the sake of providing for strangers. The word here is spare, can you spare a dime without starving yourself.?

[Idaho Dave]

I dont want any one to think of this as preachy this is a decision each person would have to make for themselves, and i feel there may be many right and worng answers for people, here is my solution for me, just me.
Funny because I have thought a lot about this too lately and about how i have changed over the years. I don't live where a lot of people will/do/would come begging this is the destination many probably think they would head for in a shtf situation but unlikely many would make it this far. but if they did I have already decided that I will give to them what can. I try to think of that when we plan ahead do we have enough for our neighbors to share? just the other day me and my friend were talking about this and I told him I have several .22 and lots of ammo that i figure I could loan out to friends and neighbors to help them get food and protect themselves. would I give them to some nut job? of course not but neighbors or freinds yes what good are a dozen 22 rifles gonna do me.
when I go to cities for business or other I try to always give if I see a begger or pan handler, like some one else said I know what they are doing with it but it isnt my place to judge them. sure glad none of my bad habbits have left me in thier shoes. I also stop for many hitch hikers and broken down cars. I am probably a fool
mathew 25
"33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my bretheren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."


Food, water, ammo, shelter, information, friendship i can share. Take the coat from my back if you need it.
But try to hurt my family or those in my care and I will defend them.

[JESSEDR]

I be leave this. What will be, Will be. As a GUNNY in Nam told me Crap in one hand and pray or wish to the other and see which one fills up the fastest. When the S.H.T.F and it will in time and if your still on this earth at that time Take care of you and yours first. Then you help them around you....!