Hello, my friends.

On Sunday 23rd April at 3pm, the UK Government will send out a nationwide test of the new Emergency Alert system. It will appear on most mobile phones with a loud alert sound.

While the government says this is to warn people about life-threatening emergencies (flooding, fires, extreme weather, etc.), many are concerned about this level of intrusion into our phones and privacy. Some worry it could be the start of greater government control over information and technology.

There are also practical concerns:

• It may cause distress to people with autism, learning disabilities, or those in vulnerable situations (e.g., domestic abuse victims who have been advised to turn off their phones).
• The timing at 3pm on a Sunday will interrupt many church services.

As Christians, we are called to submit to governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7), but we must always obey God rather than men when there is a conflict (Acts 5:29). Our first loyalty is to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray for wisdom in these days, and that technology would not be used to control or manipulate people, but that God’s people would stay alert spiritually as we see the times unfolding.

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42)

God bless you,

Peter