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The Plague of Chain Emails

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If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1: 5-8

 

This is the very double mindedness James was warning against. The words stating that you know God takes care of you are empty and hollow if your actions are to then not believe God and forward an email such as this. But beyond that, you do not know who is receiving the email. Sure, maybe you only send it to 10 people but if they all send it to ten more that is 100 people you do not know who would not have received the email at all if you had not first sent it. You don't know which of these you are actually causing to stumble. That should be a frightening and sobering thought.

 

This is especially true for the emails that are dressed up in the glory of God but end with a caveat that is decidedly unchristian. You all know the ones. Some nice pictures of waterfalls and woodland creatures, maybe some bible verses, maybe some nice words about God. Then at the end the demand that you forward the email to everyone you know or else you don't love God. Or even worse, the dreaded verse the most abused verse in chain emails appears:

 

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9: 26

 

"So don't be ashamed and forward this email to 100 people". Folks. I have checked all commentaries, historic and contemporary, and I can assure you chain email is NOT what Jesus is referring to. He was referring to picking up your cross daily to follow Him. He was referring to not holding onto your own life but rather holding on to His. Sacrificing our lives to Christ is about thinking of everyone else before ourselves . That brings us to point number three to consider.

 

3) Does the email build others up or tear others apart? Does it strengthen faith or weaken faith? I know, it's just an email right? Consider these verses:

 

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 1Corinthians 10: 23-24 (NKJV)

 

Things may seem perfectly harmless to you but do not edify the body. God has made us all unique. What causes one to stumble may not cause you to stumble. While it may seem that nothing can shake your faith, that may not be true for your brother or sister. We are meant to build each other up:

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Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to (more...)
 
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