Living outside the system (homelessness, vagabonding)

[Psalm27]

As this is now a Christian forum I'm sure many of you are aware of the end times predicted in the Book of Revelation. During these times it will be impossible to buy or sell without the mark of the beast, and taking the mark will mean you will suffer the full cup of God's wrath.

What is the mark? There are many theories, personally I think it has both a spiritual and physical component. We're now seeing them roll out the idea of having vaccine passports to access air travel and some politicians even suggested requiring them to access supermarkets and grocery stores in the UK. Maybe once this goes national and then global, it could be a precursor to the mark of the beast? Who knows, I can only speculate. But I'd assume believers might find themselves in a situation where they'd have to live outside of the "beast" system to survive while avoiding the mark.

Have any of you guys ever lived outside the system, such as being homeless or a vagabond? Personally I'd like to try it out, and see how it's like living hand to mouth, relying mostly on God through prayer and your own wits for survival. Because unless the post-tribulation rapture theory is correct and God in His great mercy spares us from what's to come, we're going to have to endure some severe hardship here on earth as followers of Christ.

What would you guys think of like a 7 day or 30 day homelessness challenge? How do you think you would fare?

Not that we'd necessarily be alone in such circumstances, believers might form tribal groups or something like that, which would increase the chances of survival.

Here are some resources:

r/vagabond

r/vagabond: An Uncensored Nomadic Community Created by Vagabonds, for Vagabonds! Hitchhikers / Trainhoppers / Squatters / Rubbertramps / Vandwellers …

www.reddit.com

r/homeless

r/homeless: This group is for advice and to share experiences and stories of homelessness. We are a tight knit community made up of formerly …

www.reddit.com

 

[dead^2]

When I was younger I saw people do this on YouTube and I had romanticized it for awhile. That ended quite quickly when I came to Christ.

It may be our future, but I do not like your framing of the question at all. If it comes to that I don't think we should be tramps or vagabonds.

Perhaps this is nothing of grand importance and it is just word play. But we should become sedentary in an advantageous spot with good hunting etc. (If that comes to happen. No one knows the time of judgement, for all we know we may be granted a modern day St Joan of Arc. )

As for the challenge, I think it may be a good use to humble oneself and have a connection to reality. Perhaps it would be a wise move to have knowledge and a little practice beforehand, but I think most of it would be wasted time.

You could spend your time training yourself in hunting techniques, learning knots, basic first aid as well as how to craft basic first aid etc. The time spent prepping like this would likely be far better than "homelessness training"

Ultimately though, I think expanding your network may be the best time sink.

 

[kel]

I've been quasi-homeless on many occassions in my life, usually while backpacking (I'd try to just squat if I couldn't couchsurf in whatever city I was), or sometimes just to save money (it's embarassing to think back on - I'd work this yuppie office STEM job making a decent salary but I couldn't be bothered finding a place to stay, that was stressful since I knew I'd be leaving soon anyways, so I just saved the rent and made due).

 

[Grow Bag]

In my 20s I vagabonded all over Europe, living hand to mouth most of the time. Something always turned up, an invitation to eat, somewhere to sleep, a job for a few weeks or sometimes a gift of money. Back then it was called "road magic", now I'd call it grace. I have the sense that God approves of living with so much insecurity and abandon whereby He can show the meaning of the Sermon on the Mount. I did spend some time in cities, but mostly steered clear, staying in or nearby small towns or villages. In cities, such as Athens, I busked for while and did reasonably well. When I wasn't busking I'd occasionally panhandle, but never liked having to beg and still feel a sense of shame at having done so.

I wouldn't recommend living rough in a city such as London, with so many predatory characters around. Certainly you'll find plenty of charitable organisations, but it'll be a depressing experience. I've seen enough of that side of life and don't need any reminders.

 

[fortyfive]

Good thread. We should definitely think about the future when this system will become unbearable for Christians or people refusing new totality.

 

[dead^2]

In my 20s I vagabonded all over Europe, living hand to mouth most of the time. Something always turned up, an invitation to eat, somewhere to sleep, a job for a few weeks or sometimes a gift of money. Back then it was called "road magic", now I'd call it grace. I have the sense that God approves of living with so much insecurity and abandon whereby He can show the meaning of the Sermon on the Mount. I did spend some time in cities, but mostly steered clear, staying in or nearby small towns or villages. In cities, such as Athens, I busked for while and did reasonably well. When I wasn't busking I'd occasionally panhandle, but never liked having to beg and still feel a sense of shame at having done so.

I wouldn't recommend living rough in a city such as London, with so many predatory characters around. Certainly you'll find plenty of charitable organisations, but it'll be a depressing experience. I've seen enough of that side of life and don't need any reminders.

I have to second above this whole post of mine. It is an interesting thread.

Anyhow, I highly doubt God approves of such a life style. I think that the inherent nature of it is probably better than most modern living situations. How it encourages humility and it requires lots of faith and hardwork. However, just because I think it is more holy of a lifestyle than modern living doesn't mean he'd approve of it.

I think the ideal life would be something akin to colonial America. Danger is a constant, which means you must cling to God, yet it isn't overbearing. Perhaps I'm too romantic and too set in my ways, but I'd think God would rather have a sedentary people who look after their own rather than adventure their whole life.

 

[Psalm27]

I have to second above this whole post of mine. It is an interesting thread.

Anyhow, I highly doubt God approves of such a life style. I think that the inherent nature of it is probably better than most modern living situations. How it encourages humility and it requires lots of faith and hardwork. However, just because I think it is more holy of a lifestyle than modern living doesn't mean he'd approve of it.

I think the ideal life would be something akin to colonial America. Danger is a constant, which means you must cling to God, yet it isn't overbearing. Perhaps I'm too romantic and too set in my ways, but I'd think God would rather have a sedentary people who look after their own rather than adventure their whole life.

To know what God approves of we must look at the scriptures. Look at Acts and also how Jesus lived with His disciples.

Luke 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Jesus also commanded His disciples at one time to take nothing with them on their journey to preach the kingdom of God.

Luke 9:2-3 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

I would say God approves of living many different types of lifestyles, as long as you are following His commandments.

 

[dead^2]

^ perhaps. I just feel like more good can be done (for the majority of us) through sedentary living. Of course the world could need some vagabond preachers rn, but society rests upon sedentary people.

 

[Cr33pin]

Wrong thread....

 

[The Penitent Man]

Awesome topic and I’ll circle back to post something more meaningful when I have more time. I like the idea of a test for living in this way. The problem is, a month long experiment with homelessness would actually just become an indefinite reality because I probably wouldn’t have a job if I took that kind of time off to bum around.

 

[Psalm27]

^ perhaps. I just feel like more good can be done (for the majority of us) through sedentary living. Of course the world could need some vagabond preachers rn, but society rests upon sedentary people.

God has a plan for each and every one of us.