Friday, January 30, 2009

Are Your Emails Jesus Proofed?

I have written this same message on far too many emails lately, so I thought it important to write it as a general exhortation. During the past few weeks in particular, both my ministry and personal emails have become clogged with well-meaning and thoughtful messages. So what's the problem you ask?

Each of them have a subject line that starts with "FW", some with multiple "FWs". Ya'll know what I mean! Well, here in is the problem. Countless say "This was was just too cute not to send on". If you know its not what Jesus would do or say, why does it become too cute to send along to someone who might not have the right understanding of the Bible?

Anything that says, a nice encouraging message, nice pictures and just nice--but add the words, send this to XX number of people within so many minutes or you will break the chain and loose the blessings that you would receive with this email. STOP and delete it!

Blessings clearing and biblically come from GOD not man and certainly not from an email. We wonder why people get the wrong information about Christianity, Christ himself, and what we stand for when we do things that are contrary to the biblical teachings. When they are received from people who are young in the Lord, that's one thing--most often they truly don't know. But I am really speaking to the number of evangelists, pastors, and Sunday School teachers, women ministers, etc that send them because its cute, its friendly, and its doing "out reach". Would you send one to Jesus?

Would you expect Jesus to send the emails stating, don't break the chain or you loose the blessings attached and expect Jesus to send it to 12 of his friends? Quite obviously the answer would be no. So next time before you place names in the send to slot, make sure Jesus is the first one you send any email to, if he can get it then go ahead, but if you wouldn't send it to Jesus, perhaps it just shouldn't be sent in the manner it is written.

Jesus is THE source of all things! Philippians 4:19 ... all of our needs are met through Christ Jesus, not an email with a special blessing attached to it.

In these end-times we need to be sure about our evangelizing and that we are speaking the word of God correctly. If we're not sure, ask somebody you know has a stronger understanding. Let us be truly about the business of lost souls, encouraging each other in these difficult days, and being true to the Word of God.

5 comments:

Tracy said...

Oh, Amen, Susan! This is something that has boggled my mind and raised my ire since I first got saved 10 years ago. Even as a baby Christian I knew that was wrong. Generally when I get something like that I don't pass it on. If, on the other hand, it's something I really do want to pass on, I edit the email to take out the trash. Thanks for posting this great, and truthful message! Blessings!

Connie Arnold said...

What a great criteria for sending email, only send what you would send to Jesus! Thanks for sharing the helpful post, Susan!

Unknown said...

Thanks so much Susan... I need to come and check the Dashboard (I forget it's here) more often.... great comments also... I do like Tracy does sometimes, but most of the time I just hit the delete button... Need to come back and catch up on your other entries....

Terri Tiffany said...

Amen!! I hate those emails that have that statement about passing it on for the blessing!! Thank you for bringing it up.

Anonymous said...

AMEN!!! I read these emails and then delete them. Some of them pertain to my life or give me inspiration but many of them are not worth a second let alone a first look. Nice post.