What Message are we Sending?

Lately, I was sent an email saying it was a secret clip having to do with the Obama administration that had something to do with his stance regarding the Middle East.  I deliberately did not go to the link connected to this email right away; rather I waited.  For one thing, I have received so many bogus emails and forwards that after checking out snopes, I have learned not to trust such sensational-driven emails.  And in addition, they do absolutely nothing to add to my life.  In fact, what is detrimental is that they tend to stir fear rather than inspire faith.  I did finally check the link, and also other sources, and I discovered it was bogus.

 For individuals who promote such here-say and fear-mongering emails and forwards, I would caution them to first of all, check their sources to see if there is any validity to the message they are sending.  Secondly, if it is a valid piece of news, I'd strongly encourage them to pray about the situation before ever sending off such an email.  If the situation is true, then they should always pray for the individual/s involved. Then pray and ask God if sending the email/forward is part of His perfect will for their lives, and for the people receiving such emails/forwards.  I wonder if a person took these necessary steps, if such emails/forwards will be reduced or stopped altogether? 

We are to trust God for everything. We are not to look to man.  We are to trust that God is in control, and we are to worship Him and glorify Him. We are not to glorify ourselves, or abuse any form of media by sharing the negative news we hear.  By spreading it around, we are giving glory to the devil.  We are told to pray for all those in authority – not slander them, or spread vicious or fearful news about them. This includes bosses, companies, government heads, ministers/ministries, pastors, priests, teachers, well-known people, dignitaries, and so on.  What does Scripture say? 

1Ti 2:1    I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;1Ti 2:2    For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 

If a person is in a position of authority, wouldn't they covet all the prayer cover they could get?  Would criticism and spreading rumors about them benefit them or anyone under their authority? 

If someone has committed a crime, then that is a different story.  We leave that up to the police force and the army and the judicial system. Still, when someone has fallen, or done something contrary to God's Word, the first thing we must do is pray for them, and if necessary lovingly confront them, and if God so leads, we will encourage them to repent. 

Sending negative messages about people can and does create a stir when it comes to trusting people in general.  The media do it when it comes to politicians, for example (like the email that was sent to me).  It can also happen on a personal level, and you can end up not trusting anyone.  I had this happen to me, and it created a feeling of anxiety when it came to trusting people.  I didn't know if they would do what they said they would.  It seemed that some people would want something from me, but when I needed something from them, they wouldn’t comply, or they would come up with excuses.  What I really failed to see was faithfulness, and I began to doubt if some people were true to their word.  I felt at times that I had been duped, betrayed, told off, taken advantage of, treated poorly when I needed help, or even ignored altogether even when I was talking directly to someone.  Even though people had blessed my life, I felt that what I had sacrificially given to them was not really appreciated, so it was not reciprocal.  In fact, at one point, I didn't realize that I so much mistrusted people, that I was choosing to spend more time alone than I was with other people.  Instead of feeling blessed being with others, I just felt a lot anxiety.   I felt very much what the Psalmist David said: 

Psa 27:13    I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 

So somehow, through these negative experiences with certain people, I started to lose faith in God too.  I couldn't understand how He could allow some people to come into my life who would cause me so much trouble and pain.  I was sure I hadn't imagined it either, and I wasn't looking for trouble in relationships.  Then one day it crossed my mind how cynical I had become, and a verse came to mind: 

Pro 29:25    The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. 

Then another verse came to mind: 

Jer 17:5    Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 

Look at the result of trusting in man! 

Jer 17:6    For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 

The Lord showed me that I had actually cursed myself because instead of looking to God, the giver of all good things, I had been looking to people!  So it is no wonder I had become so cynical.  I had failed to see that the goodness of God works through people, and that in each case, it is a very individual thing.  It all depends on how I LOOK AT THINGS, whether I am trusting God to meet my needs, or trusting someone else, or even something else!  Look at the next two verses: 

Jer 17:7    Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.Jer 17:8    For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 

It suddenly dawned on me that I must begin to look for the goodness of the Lord everywhere I go rather than look to man, and to look for it in spite of the failings of people.  People will fail us at one time or another, but Jesus never will.  I began to see that everything that is good is from God. It says it in Scripture: 

Jas 1:17    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

So when it comes to spreading gossip and putting people into a negative light, it really only contributes to creating a dark cloud of mistrust towards other people.  And this affects our faith in God as well.  One of the reasons it is so important to pray for others is that we will start to see God working, and this will INCREASE OUR OWN FAITH.  Prayer is to see God at work.  If God shows us something is wrong with someone, what is the first thing we should do?  Is it to criticize and point a finger?  Or is it to pray, really pray with the heart, and have compassion on a fellow human being who is also struggling?  In my case, I had to really humble myself and start praying for the people who had caused me trouble and pain.  I also had to forgive them, and move on. 

Also, rather than spread the negative news, Scripture tells us to do just the opposite! 

Psa 45:1   My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. 

Isa 52:7    How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 

Gal 4:18  But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. 

Eph 4:29    Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 

And finally, if we are a Bible-believing Christian, we must not forget our first priority. 

Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

What are we preaching? What is the message we are sending, texting, emailing and forwarding?  Does it point to Jesus and His Gospel, and does it stir in us faith and draw us closer to God?  Or is it just some fake rumor designed to stir up fear?  Let's be very careful to overcome what is evil with what is good, and before we press "send," ask God if this news passes His test of exhortation, stirring up faith in Him, and drawing us and our readers closer to Jesus.