Sunday, 31 May 2009
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Do You Forward Christian Text Messages?
My aunt sent me a text that read: "God is going 2 fix things 4 u 2nite & let things work in ur favor. If u believe in Him forward to ten ppl. DON'T IGNORE. GOD COULD BE TESTING YOU."I hate chain text messages in general. My initial thoughts on this one were, do I really need to forward on a text message to prove I believe in God? I doubt He's going to test me through a text message. But then I thought, well what if He is? What if this really isn't a test, but rather a message that someone else in my address book needs to hear right now?
How do I know the difference between a mindless text message forward, and a calling for me to spread God's word via text message? Is a text message even a medium to be used to witness?
I mean, its not even a Bible verse, just some good words based around some verses. And what's up with the ten person minimum? Are my actions only valid if the message is sent to 10 people, no less, no more?
I dunno.
Thoughts?
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Comments (49)
I've never received one of those texts, but I would be displeased with someone if they sent one to me.
God does test us- but he doesn't not mindlessly test us, as you said.
You need to remember a fundamental element of spreading the Word of God- His word is proclaimed.
When someone sends you a text message telling you to "forwrad this txt", that is not Gods word. If someone, on the other hand, sent you a text message saying "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”- (1 Thess 4:16-17), and asked you to pass that along to a specific person with a need for that verse, then perhaps I might consider that a opportunity to spread Gods TRUE word.
Don't let gimics be confused with God's calling. His calling always bears fruit.
I say: If you feel called to spread the word of God through texts/emails, do it. If not, you shouldn't be pressured to. I really really don't like it when texts (or emails) like this say that you have to forward.. or else you don't really love God or anything like that. Like you said, I hate chain messages in general. If I find something worthy of forwarding, I usually cut out the "you must forward" part.
I hate people who forward anything. I don't care. Don't waste my unlimited text/email!
I don't even know how to text message, all though even if I did, I wouldn't forward anything to anyone. I am not a fan of forwards myself, so I wouldn't send them to others.
No, I don't. the same goes for christian chain mail. They always end with "if you love god, send this to all of your contacts!" Do you really have to affirm your faith by forwarding text messages?
@deepestrecesses -
I've never received one of those texts, but I would be displeased with someone if they sent one to me.
God does test us- but he doesn't not mindlessly test us, as you said.
I agree with this - if I was sent a kindly christian message I might send it on to christian friends. But threatening texts? Na-uh.
Is there really a difference in the same superstition that prompts people to send regular forwards or "something terrible will happen" and saying that if they don't forward something then they are showing they don't love God?
Not to mention sending a text that shows bad grammar and a Christian message in the same message is not a good show for Christianity. It perpetuates the image that Christians are stupid and blindly following what they are told.
There is also the fact that these things cost money to a lot of people, and unless you are absolutely sure that you are sending that to someone with unlimited texting, what you are doing is costing them money.
Are we called to cost people money as we tell them the good news? Does anybody take text forwards seriously in the first place?
If you know it won't cost someone anything, you know they don't mind forwards, and the message is actually truly pertinent to them and something they could truly benefit from (which is not going to be the standard "god loves you, but I'm scared of people thinking i don't love him, so I'm going to text this," it would be something that relates to something they are actually going through.)
Do not waste your time or someone else's money on something that is not beneficial and smacks of superstition.
Seriously? Do you really think God isn't going to know you love him if you don't send a text telling everyone that you do? I can see Christian text forwards like that one as being way more destructive than good.
no, i do not. I don't forward christian emails either.
Well...like most people say, "we will never know God's intentions." Maybe he's testing who's obsessed enough to forward these texts. :]
I think if you're going to send a Christian text message, make it something sincere and heartfelt, not a chain that's been going around forever. I think people will appreciate it more if you took the time to compose an honest message rather than use them as one of the first ten people in your address book that you have to send it to.
No, I try not to. I hate chains and know a lot of my friends do too.
I don't text!!
One of the Ten Commandments is "Do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
I think a text message like the one mentioned breaks that commandment is spades.
i read them, but i don't forward them. God is not going to withold my blessing because i forwarded a text to 9 people when it required 10. when i receive emails like that, i usually delete that 'send this to 10ppl)' requirement off. it annoys me.
No, I hardly get any to forward.... LOL not that I consider that a bad thing
I was reading this thinking "man, that sounds like something I wrote before" then I realized I did write it lol.
I didn't know God is into hi-tech now. I don't pass along those kind of messages unless it's a passage or a quote from the Bible written in the correct way.
I think that I may have one time but haven't lately I just delete them.
Delete it and tell your aunt not to forward crap to you.
And try to do the second part tactfully, somehow. Or just text back, "Never send forwards to me again or 18 puppies will die. Pass this along to 10 or more people or 49 kittens will drown in orange juice." Something like that.
I don't forward stuff. Not in emails, not in texts, not in snail mail. Sorry.
no. not the chain letter ones, because i don't need God to answer my prayers because i forwarded a text. he'll answer them because i prayed and believed in him. those are lame.
NEVER!
never.. it's not even biblical! God doesn't just do things in your favor because you send some stupid txt msg :( besides God DOESN"T DO anything to your favor JUST BECAUSE. He does things with reason, and planning and for His glory and for His Kingdom and for what is good for our growth in our relationship with Him.
You do bring up good points about how sometimes kindly texts do bring hope to some people. However, the way this one is formatted with the "forward to 10 more people" clause makes me doubt the sincerity of the message.
In general, I think text messages can be used as tools for ministry as forms of communication, but it cannot be the main medium of communicating the gospel as there will be a loss of the intensity contained within the gospel. The main way to do this? Dive into the other person's life and interact with them and show them the gospel.
Chain emails and texts are a waste of your time and energy and money. Don't forward it.