Richard Littledale's
Views on the News: August 2004

Emergency Announcement

Within the next few weeks, every household in the United Kingdom will receive a booklet from Her Majesty's Government entitled Preparing for emergencies: what you need to know. Despite the slightly Orwellian feel to the booklet, it manages to chart a careful course between practical advice on the one hand, and patronisation on the other. Its authors have tried hard to prepare people for the unexpected, without standing accused of scare-mongering. This is not an easy task. That said, the manufacturers of torches, batteries and small radios are doubtless rubbing their hands with glee. If they know who the members of the splendidly named National Steering Committee on Warning and Informing the Public are, they might just send them a Christmas card this year!

Views would like to suggest the warning and informing the public has actually been the church's job for a very long time. Ever since Jesus "left them in charge", they have been responsible for warning and preparing people to face their eternal future. Jesus made no secret of the fact that the time remaining for planet Earth was limited. There will come a time when the world as we know it will come to an end, and a new epoch will begin. The church's job, a bit like the writers of the booklet, is to warn people without scaring them. Using the booklet's three key points, there follows some practical advice on preparing for the end of …the world.

GO IN to church, principally, although the houses and homes of Christian friends and neighbours would be good too. You could even go into a pub or a restaurant with them if you preferred. GO IN to some place where you can be in touch with people who know God and can put you in touch with Him.

STAY IN touch with God and his people. They are not perfect, and once in a while they might make you wish for the end of the world - but actually they have the key you are looking for.

TUNE IN to God in prayer. This is not as hard as you might think, and certainly easier than finding a signal on a crystal set! Prayer is an open channel, and always ready for use in an emergency. However, some people find that once they have tuned in for the first time, they end up chatting on it for hours on end.

Don't forget to read your booklet (or visit the website with its text) and to put its sound advice into effect. Whilst you are on the subject of preparations, though - why not get a Bible (or visit the website with its text) and look at the long-range forecast?