Hello Everyone,
This blog is very different from my usual blogs, however, there’s so much regarding this out there, that I had to write.
We’ve all gotten them – an email where the words are lovely. Tears come to our eyes, and then, at the very end it says – If you love Jesus, forward this to ten friends…….HUH? All the nice words get swallowed up with fear, guilt and condemnation if you don’t do it.
What a predicament! If I send this to my friends, they would not be happy with me – and rightly so! I’m putting them in this same position of pressuring their friends! How can I do this to them? If I don’t put pressure on my friends and ignore the email, then guilt comes in that I’m not loving the Lord or taking a stand for Him – whatever the case may be.
You’re asking me to put pressure on my FRIENDS??? Let’s see now, who can I send to that I don’t really know? Come on, you know this is what goes on in your mind when you get one of these.
Let’s look at this rationally. Should I put pressure on my friends just to relieve my conscience?
But wait a minute! All my friends ALREADY KNOW I love Jesus – so what does forwarding this “religious chain letter” actually accomplish for the Lord? It’s really being used as a tool of the devil to rob people of peace and make their friends mad because of it! The devil is a sly one. He knows he can play with our minds as “good Christians” to think that everything that sounds good has a good purpose and therefore he can play on our guilty feelings – even if unfounded. We don’t want to be labeled as not being “a good Christian”, afterall.
I don’t think Jesus has that kind of “love” for us. Jesus gave us His freedom – not bondage. Yes, we need to take a stand for Him when and where it counts and when it’s an important issue -not by sending a manipulative tool of the devil to people who already know where we stand! Does doing this really make us think we are doing something good for the Lord?
Because I love the Lord, why would I put people under this bondage? Why would I let the devil use me in this way?
For those of you who have been caught in this trap and sent out these, not knowing what to do – don’t feel guilty. You did not realize what was going on. Now you do.
I’m not speaking here about sending prayer requests, important news articles or other factual info and are passing along this info. These don’t end with an ultimatum. These don’t require you to do something and they are not controlling. See the difference?
Remember, have discernment. If you get one of these and fear, and guilt comes in – then you know it is not of the Lord. Manipulation, control and condemnation are not of the Lord.
He already knows your heart!!!
By the way, if you send one of these to me, it will be deleted and not sent to my friends – for love.
Blessings, Evelyn
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