‘Invasion of The E-mail Snatchers’

Until the computer age, it was an inexpensive, ready-to-serve, canned meat which was often the target of jokes even while at times keeping poorer families from entering the poor house. If you are over 50 years of age, you may have guessed right. It is SPAM, the much maligned substance that can actually be quite tasty if prepared correctly, or if one has a serious head cold.

But more recently, the term ‘spam’ has been hijacked and finds its most familiar context in cyberspace. This time, unlike with the edible kind, the internet version has few if any adoring fans. Even though the 2004 US CAN-SPAM Act tried to limit the tidal wave of junk e-mail on the internet, the flood of unwanted messages is as bad, or worse, than ever.

According to the California-based Barracuda Networks Inc., junk messaging made up 70% of all email in 2004. But shockingly, since the passage of the Spam Act, it jumped to a staggering 95 percent in 2007. The findings were based on a study using a billion e-mail messages received daily by its approximately 50,000 customers worldwide. This largely unwanted cyber-invasion has meant that anyone hoping to avoid the constant online intrusion must install defensive software to negate the annoying and sometime harmful electronic pests.

E-mail, whether good or bad, is but one of the many competing voices screaming at people through a sophisticated culture. But the computer is just one avenue for sellers to push their wares to gain the attention and bend the opinions of many disgusted and overwhelmed consumers.

For Christians, this entire issue can serve as a vivid reminder about not getting side tracked by the onslaught of competing and meaningless messages coming from a mostly godless world. It has become increasingly easy for the priorities of the faith to be lost in the midst of so many persistent voices, all vying for our limited time, attention and resources. . And part of successful hearing and obeying is to first sift through and prioritize what is good and important versus what is not.

The Old Testament warns repeatedly about the blessings of accurately hearing, and then obeying, the voice of the Lord. The consequences of failure to do the same are also clearly stated.

The New Testament also conveys the crucial nature of open ears when dealing with spiritual matters. In his last book, the writer John says in Rev 3:20-21: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." The promise is clear and sure. But the ears must be unclogged to respond correctly to God’s merciful offer.

In a modern stressful world, filled with clamoring and confusing voices, the believer’s spiritual heath can be greatly impacted by his or her ability to filter out all the constant godless and meaningless ‘spam’. And that best begins by taking to heart the brief words of God spoken through the lips of the Psalmist in 46:10, "Be still , and know that I am God."

Bill Breckenridge