How Can The Church Help?

     All of us Christians with a Biblical worldview have no trouble seeing what is coming.  We feel it in our souls and especially in our spirits.  We are neither casual or cowardly Christians, and we discern the "signs of the times" with spiritual clarity.  As individuals, we feel the urgency in communicating with non-believers to get right with God and recognize their need for a Savior.  But we have also dived deeper into our Bibles and are actively communing with God as to what our mission is among our brethren in Christ.  Notice I said as individuals… but what is the Church, as the collective Body of Christ, doing to prepare for the chaos and collapse we know is inevitable?
     To be honest, I don't see much happening.  In fact, I would venture that a majority of people in the pews each Sunday are unaware of the coming destruction.  And if they are alert to the prophetic events on the horizon, they tend to be frightened and disorganized.
     Without too much understanding, it is not hard to figure out that an economic collapse is a very real possibility.  What happens when our state and federal agencies go bankrupt and people are left without the means for basic survival?  Here are a few suggestions for ways the Church could serve God's people during the crisis that we know is barreling down on us.  It is time the Church took a leadership role, and thanks to Charisma News, here are some really worthy suggestions:
1.  Professionals need to begin preparing networks.  We should be thinking and planning right now --- pastors and individuals with expertise in the areas it will take to survive should be setting up networks and training to become emergency crisis responders.  In every church, there are professionals we can network together who can be mobilized to serve a community in the case of a disaster (folks in the medical field, emergency responders, military personnel, psychologists, community leaders, elected officials and the police).  It will take all these people to keep our communities from descending into chaos.  A network already in place will save valuable time and lives.
2.  We need to be declaring storehouses for sustainable food and materials.  We know that it is very probable that our distribution infrastructure may be disrupted.  In that case, churches can store generators, emergency equipment such as first-aid kits, flashlights and food that can serve the needs of the most vulnerable within their congregations and communities… and do it beforehand.  There is no reason to wait until the crisis has already happened to be respond.
3.  Churches need to be prepared to assist in bartering ventures.  I think it is safe to say that paper money will be the first thing that goes if we have a global collapse.  Even gold and silver will not be available to everyone.  So the churches need to be thinking about what services they can help coordinate to offer ways for people to barter for what they need.  The Church could become sort of a central clearinghouse for people to offer and get services that will sustain them.
4. We need to prepare our local congregations to lead with a biblical worldview in every area of life.   And "lead" is the operative word here.  In times of social disruption and when society has lost its bearings, it provides believers the unique opportunity to fill the vacuum of leadership in all the major spheres of culture. We need to capitalize on this opportunity by providing leadership with problem-solving ability that is informed by what the Bible has to say regarding economic and political principles, so that newly formed policy measures will be blessed of God and not perpetuate the same humanistic systems.
5. We need to have unity and communication systems in place among churches in every region.  Doesn't it seem expedient for pastoral and church leadership to have key relationships in place throughout our cities that will enable us to have practical strategic responses and galvanize help where needed?  What are we waiting for?
6. We need to have long seasons of fasting and prayer for awakening and revival.  This goes without saying!  And it is past time to educate our fellow Christians on the reasons for fasting, and how to pray in the spirit for God's protection and blessings.  Once again, I ask … what are we waiting for?
7.  We need to network with key elected officials and community leaders.  That includes teachers to help lead alternate ways of educating our children.  But most importantly, when societal unrest and a deterioration of our most fundamental necessities is staring us in the face, we need to have a system of interconnected people who can exchange information and experience, resulting in a true support system.  That also includes those willing to train people to protect themselves, their families, and their churches.
     I don't have to tell you that we are teetering on the edge… will it be economics, politics, a world war, or terrorism that will strike the first blow?  Or will we just implode on ourselves from our decaying and immoral culture?  Whatever form the destruction comes in, it is incumbent upon us not only as decent and good people, but as Christians -- God's representatives upon this earth -- to alleviate as much suffering and strife as we can.  By doing so, we can make the difference in people's lives; both in the here and now and for eternity.  We don't have a moment to lose!

Hebrews 11:7    "By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."