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Richard Littledale

Richard Littledale's
Views on the News: October 2003

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question mark Never mind the question… question mark

...here is the answer. Many years ago, a boy in my RE class at school achieved the grand total of one correct answer in his end of year exam. How had he done thisquestion mark Simply by writing "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John" as the answer to every questionexclamation mark I wonder now whether he is working for one of the new directory enquiry services. After all, one of them has apparently reduced client waiting time by giving the same telephone number out to every enquirer, regardless of their enquiry. The only person to benefit in this has presumably been the pizza chain whose number was given outexclamation mark

Hint for Directory Enquiry Services: God's phone number is Jeremiah 33:2 - 'If you call, I will listen'            The Prisoner said 'I am not a number .... in the same way, God is the Name not a number!            Do you remember those days in Sunday School when, whatever the question, the answer was.......Jesus            There's no need to phone directory enquiries ... our telephone number is +44 (0) 20 8977 8000

If my school-friend is not working for the directory enquiry agency, then perhaps he is a Christian. Sadly Christians in general and Evangelical Christians in particular have a reputation for giving an answer without listening to the question. Television interviewers find Evangelical Christians amongst the hardest people to interview live, because they are so intent on giving their answer rather than listening to the interviewer's question. Politicians come a close second with this particular problem, although at least they have several answers they want to give - whereas Christians only seem to have one.

Hint for Directory Enquiry Services: God's phone number is Jeremiah 33:2 - 'If you call, I will listen'            The Prisoner said 'I am not a number .... in the same way, God is the Name not a number!            Do you remember those days in Sunday School when, whatever the question, the answer was.......Jesus            There's no need to phone directory enquiries ... our telephone number is +44 (0) 20 8977 8000

In one sense - they do only have one answer. The life, death, resurrection and teachings of Jesus Christ constitute an answer to life's most profound questions. However, the questions must be understood and the answer articulated if it is to make any sense. If Jesus could tell stories to one group and quote obscure Rabbinical teachings to another, his followers need to adopt a similarly flexible approach. His ability after opening his mouth lay in his discernment before doing so. A complete conviction that you have the answer should not prevent you from hearing the questionexclamation mark

Hint for Directory Enquiry Services: God's phone number is Jeremiah 33:2 - 'If you call, I will listen'            The Prisoner said 'I am not a number .... in the same way, God is the Name not a number!            Do you remember those days in Sunday School when, whatever the question, the answer was.......Jesus            There's no need to phone directory enquiries ... our telephone number is +44 (0) 20 8977 8000

Last week I had to phone for help with my computer. The line connected me, with lots of screeches and interference, to a call centre on the other side of the world. My helper was charming and polite. However, the combination of electronic interference and linguistic distance meant that we were unable to help each other. He couldn't understand me, I couldn't understand him, and the computer continued in its ill healthexclamation mark

If you want to give someone the right answer this week - make sure you have heard the questionexclamation mark

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