If you love Jesus.....

First off let me say, I am not a big email forwarder (you are welcome). I will forward the occasional email that is interesting or downright funny and when I do it is typically to the select people that I am pretty sure will find said email interesting or downright funny. But I absolutely refuse to forward any email that ends with:

This is a simple test: IF YOU LOVE JESUS, SEND THIS TO AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE PERSON WHO SENT IT TO YOU!

(or any variation of a similar vein)

And now it appears that email isn't enough: now you have to repost your Facebook status to exalt His name.

But really what does forwarding an email or now reposting a Facebook status really prove?

Many of these emails/posting pleas say it takes "guts" to admit you love Jesus publicly - and yes that can be true, but when you forward this message to those 10, 20, 30.... people to whom are you forwarding it? Most likely it is your family and friends who believe the same as you - how much "guts" does it take to admit it among your fellow Christians? In the company of Jesus and his fellow Disciples, Peter was eager to say he would die for Christ, yet mere hours later he was denying him in front of strangers. How many boldly forward an email, but remain silent out in the world?

Even if you were to boldy forward such messages to your unbelieving friends and relatives - are you really being the most effective witness? Most likely it is just another email amoung the hundreds that get deleted and they are certainly not going to forward that on to their 10+ friends.

You show you love Christ by trying to be more like Him. By loving others they will see Christ in you. Is it easy? No, it takes a lot of discipline at times, but the more time we spend with Him the deeper our relationship and the more naturally it comes. Hitting send doesn't take much to do and you certainly don't need to lean on Him to do it - but isn't the relationship one of the things Christ wants the most from us?

So if you love Christ, post this blog....... Just kidding.