Thoughts.com Blogs - the spiritual blackmail letters

   got another one of those chain mail things saying that if i didn't forward it, i didn't love God. may i say that those are the dumbest things imaginable? only people with computers can love God? gosh. not one disciple made it into Heaven. that stinks.
   in this same spammail, there was a dramatic presentation of why this country was going headfirst into the outhouse because some coin doesn't have "in God we trust." for forty years i have ben handling the coins that DO say "in God we trust," and not one soul has been saved and not one person has said, "gosh, a true believer! thank God! can we talk?" do you understand that if EVERYBODY uses the coins, their value as message boards is muted? money does not cancel the human vote. i was selling encyclopedias door to door and came to a house where the mustang in the driveway had Jesus stickers all over the bumpers. i went in praising God and asking whose car it was. this uncomfortable looking young man in the corner said, "it's my car." i asked when he had met the Lord, he said, "i didn't. i just bought the dang car that way." they didn't buy my books either.
   Paul said that we are "living epistles." do you know what that means? it means that INSTEAD OF written words, people are supposed to be able to look at us and see faith, see love, see a relationship with God so that the written word pales in comparison. but even though Scripture overrules your letter-bomb, i would like to note what JESUS said means we love Him: "if you love me, you'll keep my commandments." not one stinking word about "if you love me, you will listen to third grade letter-threats, and pass the threatening E-mails on." do you realize how moronic it is to tell me that the One Who said, "Fear not," is being sold to me in a scare tactic? how DARE you send me a letter telling me that if i don't honor your ridiculous letter, God will not honor me by knowing me in eternity? Jesus lived in perfect obedience, had His skin torn off, hung on a torture device, but the thing that will determine if i am recognized in Heaven is if i send on a spiritual blackmail letter to people i love? shame on you.
   it is a slap in the face of grace that you think i can make it into Heaven by works. it is worse yet that you aren't even saying i should use Scripture to define my works. you are saying i need to do YOUR works. send on your letter to other people and of course to you. why? only one reason. to make sure you have some mail. that is truly sad.
   i would be willing to be your friend. i am even willing to worship next to you in church. but i am not turning my salvation over to you. you don't get it. my salvation will never have to do with forwarding your mail. deal with it.