The following is an excerpt taken from an email I sent in response to a false forward regarding a national retailer designed to tear them down and to create a boycott on buying from them. Email forwards flood all of our in-boxes, and though some provide good laughs and occasionally give you some solid advice, the majority are "anti-something", mentioning alleged facts in an attempt to bring down a corporation, person, political agenda, etc., and then get people riled up enough to do something about it. (Usually they just forward the email on, though, content that they've now done their part. Probably not the writer's intention.)
...My real concern about these type of emails is that the majority of them are 2% truth that then distort all remaining facts, becoming nothing more than false rumors used to destroy an image, otherwise known as slander. Others have continually told people to check into the information before you send it on, (even providing a link to sites like Snopes), and it seems like they are just talking to the wind. So indulge me for a moment as I offer some biblical advice, which I'm positive is their reason for being concerned over these false emails.
EPHESIANS 4:29-32 - NIV (Click to read)
The world loves to run its mouth around the water cooler in gossip and in running others down. As a Christian, it is my job to edify and build up. Even if these types of emails were 100% true, why would a Christian send them on? Jesus' ministry and preaching didn't revolve around bringing down or replacing the corrupt Roman government or the failing Jewish leaders. Did He call out their sin and debate them when face-to-face? Absolutely. But there was no "anti-anything" in His rally cry except sin itself. Instead He stuck to building those up around Him, speaking truth to cut hearts, and did everything He could to show love to people so they could change the world from within, not by taking their "business" somewhere else.
How do these types of emails help those who hear you? How is any of this loving or edifying? It just destroys our images as Christians. If you have a forward with VALID medical advice or a good pick-me-up, then please, send away. But if you're just forwarding lies, false information, or even factual information for the sole purpose of tearing someone, or something, down, I would take a hard look at the scriptures again before sending it on. You have an educated opinion on a subject that you want to share? Great! But you need to be very, very careful about how you share it. Take it from a guy who has his fair share of soapboxes and has failed that course on more than a few occasions.
I truly hope that more people know you for the love you spread than the angry, boy-cot, "hate-these-people-emails" you send.
1 JOHN 2:4-6 - NIV (Click to read)
Brett Hibbler
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