How do you respond to "God" texts & emails?

[Rita]

I'm new to FaithWriter's and I'm not sure if this is the correct forum to have this discussion but here goes. Well meaning friends and family that are not saved send me texts and emails that are chain letters about God. These texts contain a picture of praying hands or rainbows and tell of all the blessings I will receive from God if I forward the message to 10 people. The messages send the impression that forwarding the text is all you have to do to be "right" with God. My question is how do I respond in a text in a way that witnesses to them without being "preachy"? The message is usually sent while the sender is on a lunch break and the person is back at work by the time I see it, so I can't call him/her up to talk.

[deejay]

Any chain letter, regardless of content, is a scam. Politely tell them that you would appreciate it if they not send you anymore, as they are illegal--if sent by mail, they're in violation of postal laws, but in cyberspace, I'm sure the FCC, which oversees the internet in the U.S., frowns on them as well. Only if they ask do you tell them gently that no, forwarding a chain letter will not get you right with God. Neither will it bring you good luck, millions of dollars, or anything else they promise.

[pheeweed]

I ignore them. But if I wanted to respond, I would say something like: I really appreciate you thinking of me and wishing me good (whatever). I'm already incredibly blessed by God. Let's talk about it sometime.

[Sparrow]

It's a good question. I responded once to one of those with a long answer and never heard back, lol. I don't remember exactly what I said, but something like God blessing us in spite of what we do and not because of what we do, and how we will have trouble in this world but God promises strength to get through it.

However, I have typically gotten the notes from others who at least claim Christianity and haven't dealt with them from someone outside the faith. That's a good question as to how to deal with it. I don't have a quick answer but will think on it. Maybe some others will keep weighing in with their thoughts, too.

[ready2go]

Most of us probably have received similar e-mails...many from professing Christians. I especially dislike the ones that promise "x" number of blessings from God if the e-mail is forwarded to "x" number of people in the next "x" number of minutes. Of course, graphics and images are often included to provide a "good feeling" the message is godly or of God.

Often times the message is worded such that one might/would feel guilty for not quickly sharing it with others. I quickly delete those e-mails.

They promote a "name-it-and-claim-it" thinking, or a "God-won't-do-anything-for-you-until-you-do-something-for-Him" message. In many ways it promotes a works based belief. In my opinion it also toys with pagan numerology.

I have a couple of Christian friends who send out such e-mails, and I have tried to explain the fallacies to them. Sadly, they choose to not hear because their e-mails continue.

Don

[Rita]

Thanks for the comments. I do delete the texts but sometimes I can almost hear the sigh of disappointment over my shoulder because that is all I do. The opportunities to witness are ever expanding with technology but are also becoming more complicated.

[tonguethaid]

The people I get them from are my Grandma's... I think they pass them along because they like the pictures and the little messages usually included, not because they think they are getting an extra blessing or whatever it promises.

I usually roll my eyes and delete them.

[RedBaron]

I think they are only illegal if they involve sending money.

The email ones are merely an annoyance and almost spam a lot of the times. There are a few I've sent on, but only after I've deleted the emotional blackmail portions. I usually get them from my dad or mother-in-law , or her sister- or all three, when they've sent them to teach other, and then on to me again lol.

Any chain letter, regardless of content, is a scam. Politely tell them that you would appreciate it if they not send you anymore, as they are illegal--if sent by mail, they're in violation of postal laws, but in cyberspace, I'm sure the FCC, which oversees the internet in the U.S., frowns on them as well. Only if they ask do you tell them gently that no, forwarding a chain letter will not get you right with God. Neither will it bring you good luck, millions of dollars, or anything else they promise.

[Laurie]

I agree with what's been said. I usually delete any forwards before even looking at them anymore. I've asked people to stop sending them.

[RedBaron]

I recently went through some old, unread emails. Over 1000 of them were JUST from my Dad, and that doesn't count the ones I actually read lol.

[Laurie]

Oh goodness, Shari. That's a LOT of e-mails from one person.

[RedBaron]

He's retired and it had been a LONG time since I'd cleaned out my in box lol

[Laurie]

Hehe

It's a fright keeping up with e-mail maintenance, isn't it? I need to just make it a part of my weekly routine or something. But I'm not holding my breath that I'll start that practice anytime soon.

[cori67]

I normally just delete them too. Most of mine come from my mother in law who is 67 years old. I doubt I am going to be able to change her mind about sending them and she professes to be a Christian.

One thing that bugs me though is when people post things on Facebook or send emails that are false. You know the ones, "The FCC is going to ban all Christian programming' and other such things. When I post a link with the falsehood revealed they will often pooh-pooh the source (especially if I use snopes.com) saying it is too liberal! I use truthorfiction.com too, supposedly less liberal. Sorry, liberal or conservative doesn't come into the equation when spreading falsehood. A lie is a lie whether you are liberal or conservative. And one group does not have the monopoly on showing up the lies. What bugs me is some people, once they have seen the link, say something like, "But it could happen," or "it doesn't matter whether it's true or not, we need have our eyes opened." Really? Not like that! I believe we as Christians lose our credibility with non Christians when we forward those 'God bless you IF you send this to X number of people in Y time", and also when we post things about events/people that are untrue and can verified as being untrue.

[deejay]

Does anyone besides me remember back in the 80s, when there were rumors going around that waterproof microphones were dropped into the Bermuda Triangle, and recordings were made of clanking chains, screams and moans? Or the one where there was an oil exploration company in Siberia that allegedly drilled down so far they supposedly reached Hell? Incidentally, there is sea life that does make sounds like clanking chains, moans and screams.

There's also a persistant rumor that this one movie shows the ghost of a little boy and a rifle in one scene, and supposedly the movie was made in a house that was haunted by the ghost of a little boy. The truth is, the house was a sound stage, and the "boy" was a standee of one of the principal actors. The rifle was an optical illusion. My roomies C.J. and Diane believe it was the haunted version, I've tried telling them that it was a sound stage, etc., but they won't believe me.
There's a saying that a lie goes around the world before the truth can get its pants on. Maybe that's why God regards lying as such a major sin.