How should Christians interpret the relentless stream of troubling news we encounter daily?

Alexander Strauch addresses the pressing issue of how believers should approach the often grim news that permeates our media. He notes that even those outside the Christian faith recognize the pervasive negativity, marked by wars and threats of greater conflict, including the looming fear of atomic war. In such times, it's easy to be overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty. However, Strauch reminds us that Christians are called to a different response. We are not to be a fearful people because our Lord is in control and is actively working, even in the midst of chaos. The trials and troubles we see may be God's active judgment, which we should acknowledge soberly.

Despite the daunting circumstances, Christians are encouraged to rejoice in the Lord and trust in His sovereignty. Strauch draws a parallel to the Israelites in Babylon, where God commanded them to build houses, marry, and continue living productive lives. In the same way, we are not to be passive or consumed by fear. Instead, we should engage with the world actively, doing good, and living out our faith in tangible ways. This perspective shifts our focus from despair to hope and action, rooted in the knowledge of God's active presence and purpose in the world.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV): "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

If you watch the news, if you read any kind of news magazine or anything, it's not really good news. Even the non-Christians say things are pretty bad out there. Wars in every part. We could even enter atomic war. We've been threatened by Russia with atomic war, we have China on the increase, like little ants flooding the whole earth and the battle right now in Israel.

And just the general malay in our country and fears, many, many fears when you watch the news in this. Well, this verse is very important. We're not to fear. In the midst of all this tragedy and drama, We are not to be a fearful people because the Lord's in control. And He's not passive.

It may look to many people the Lord's passive. Where is He? Of course, Habakkuk and the other minor prophets asked this, where's the Lord? Well, in each case the Lord says, why, I'm the one who sent the Babylonians in there. I'm the ones who send the Assyrians in there.

I've been totally active. So we may think God is not active today. He is totally active in what's happening in the United States and other countries of the world. He is very active. Some of it, what we call bad news, is actually God's judgment on the country.

It's his active judgment. And we should acknowledge that. So the Christian rejoices in the Lord at all times. He trusts in the Lord and notice he does good. And just like when the people were in Babylon, God said, Bill houses, marry, have grandchildren, go forward.

Don't be passive, don't go backwards. Don't sit around whine all the time. We have a small God if we have to wine all the time.