Sandy Grant writes a helpful essay that deals with group emails which make alarming (or sometimes charming) claims of various sorts and request that they be “passed on.”
Because I am a pastor and maintain a church email group list with large numbers on it, I receive lots of ‘pass it on’ emails. Dozens and dozens.
My kids get even more of these chain emails, urging them to pass on the contents from their friends. Some are harmless, some are enjoyable. Others are false or a waste of time. Some are more sinister.
But on the whole Christians are kind and trusting. Some of us are suckers for stories that have a sentimental aspect, especially if it has a spiritual edge, speaking warmly about love or prayer.
Others are suckers for stories that suggest we Christians are being marginalized or persecuted (often true), especially if the story contains an especially witty or powerful comeback.
Quite often the material in these emails is false.
Sometimes the same material is attributed to different people and has been drifting around the internet for years.
Sandy suggests we should be a bit more skeptical about these sorts of email and he goes on to describe some examples and provide helpful suggestions to aid our credulity, lest we find ourselves unwittingly perpetuating untruths.
The Sola Panel | Please be a sceptic.
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