Forward This

Every once in a while, I'll get an email that tells a story that will really tug on my heart strings.

At the end of the story, there is a series of what I call 'Christian Cliches'. Then the phrase the irritates me more than almost anything else. (You've probably already guessed) "If you love God, you will forward this email." Or some variation thereof.

Before you forward that email, please stop and think for a second. King Jesus gave us a little bit different litmus test for whether we love Him or not. In John 14:15, He said that if we loved Him, we would obey His commands.

Before King Jesus made that statement, He issued a new commandment. In John 13:34-35, He commanded that we love one another as He has loved us, and that by our love for one another, people would know that we were His followers.

King Jesus said that the whole law and the prophets were tied to one thing; that we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, all our minds and all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Matthew 22:36-40)

I don't think forwarding an email will prove anything to God. I think all it proves is that there are some unrepentant pharisees out there who try to make us feel guilty for not making their email famous.