Keeping up with the news can often be a depressing and frustrating endeavor. As Christians, we know “the world is passing away” (1 John 2:17) and will one day “be destroyed” (2 Peter 3:10), yet “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). So is there any good reason for Christians to pay attention to current events? Yes! Consider the following reasons.
Current events can provide timely lessons that we can use as we seek to teach others. When some told Jesus “about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices” (Luke 13:1), He used this example, as well as the example He offered of the “eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them” (Luke 13:4), to teach a lesson on the need for repentance (Luke 13:3, 5).
Similarly, we can use current events today to show and remind people of the teachings of Scripture. The recent tsunami in Japan is one example of this. There are few examples that will leave as powerful an impression of the brevity and uncertainty of life than that kind of event. These examples can be particularly helpful in teaching non-Christians as current events can provide a way for us to direct a discussion toward spiritual things when we are speaking with someone who might not ordinarily be interested in such.
Keeping up with current events can also help us to be prepared for changing conditions around us. When Jesus sent out His disciples on a limited commission, He told them, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). They needed to be prepared for what they were going to face – opposition, persecution, and standing before civil leaders to defend their teaching (Matthew 10:17-18). Also, when the brethren in Antioch heard from the prophet Agabus that a famine was coming, they determined to send relief to the brethren in Judea that would be affected (Acts 11:27-30). They received a warning that allowed them to prepare for the coming situation.
Of course, we do not have any prophets or Jesus Himself here to warn us of what is coming in the future. But we can look at the things that are happening around us, “be shrewd as serpents,” and prepare for what may lie ahead. This principle of preparedness is seen throughout the Bible. Jesus used it to emphasize the point about being prepared for His coming: “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into” (Matthew 24:43). If we pay attention to our surroundings and what may be coming, we can prepare. Keeping up with current events helps us do this.
We do need to keep things in perspective. While paying attention to current events is important, we should not become so wrapped up in them that we neglect our other responsibilities. The wise man said, “The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!’” (Proverbs 22:13). The sluggard uses his knowledge of the circumstances around him as an excuse to do nothing. We should use our knowledge of the circumstances around us to be ready, prepare, and then deal with obstacles along the way as we do what we are responsible to do.
Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6). We must not worry over the things that are out of our control. Instead, as we hear news about what is going on in our community, our country, and around the world, we should use this information to prepare for the conditions we may find ourselves in now and in the future. As we discuss these things with others, we can use the opportunities we will find to point out any spiritual lessons that may be gained, planting a seed that may hopefully result in one with whom we discussed these things becoming a follower of Christ one day.
