Friday, September 22, 2006
SPAMMING OURSELVES BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES
The number of spam emails I received has increased lately and I have given thought to the impact of the whole phenomenon on civility and social interaction.
We have been used to advertising claims that stretch the truth and sometimes lie. But there are business and regulatory controls on most advertising. We are used to occasionally dealing with an unscrupulous salesperson, but we can walk away and never return to that outlet.
With spam email we are now inundated every day with blatant lies that are absolutely shameless. These messages:
- address intimate sexuality in the most crass terms.
- lie in their use of the names of co-workers as if the message were coming from them.
- pretend to come from legitimate financial institutions and taint all such communication.
- play on noble human traits and emotions such as love and care.
- play on human greed pretending you accidentally received an email with proprietary information.
- even pose as Christians trying to get me involved in some financial scheme.
What is the personal and social impact of being attacked by such blatant deception on a daily basis? Cynicism, apathy, detachment, assuming the worst about others, etc. I wonder if sociologists will look back on the introduction of spam as another signifanct tick downward in human civility.
What puzzles me is that there must be some kind of payoff to all this spam or it would cease. Who are the multitudes of simpletons who respond to these messages? Are we really that gullible? I think that may be even more depressing than the spam itself.
We have been used to advertising claims that stretch the truth and sometimes lie. But there are business and regulatory controls on most advertising. We are used to occasionally dealing with an unscrupulous salesperson, but we can walk away and never return to that outlet.
With spam email we are now inundated every day with blatant lies that are absolutely shameless. These messages:
- address intimate sexuality in the most crass terms.
- lie in their use of the names of co-workers as if the message were coming from them.
- pretend to come from legitimate financial institutions and taint all such communication.
- play on noble human traits and emotions such as love and care.
- play on human greed pretending you accidentally received an email with proprietary information.
- even pose as Christians trying to get me involved in some financial scheme.
What is the personal and social impact of being attacked by such blatant deception on a daily basis? Cynicism, apathy, detachment, assuming the worst about others, etc. I wonder if sociologists will look back on the introduction of spam as another signifanct tick downward in human civility.
What puzzles me is that there must be some kind of payoff to all this spam or it would cease. Who are the multitudes of simpletons who respond to these messages? Are we really that gullible? I think that may be even more depressing than the spam itself.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
PATRIOTIC CHRISTIANITY?
Tomorrow is 9/11. That date is now the November 22 of my generation's collective experience. Just as everyone remembers the exact moment they heard of JFK's assassination, so everyone remembers when and how they first heard about the twin towers.
I preface my comments with a personal relfection, because I don't want the motivation of my point to be misunderstood. Not only has 9/11 changed our world, created collective angst, and divided our country over the response, but I have personal memories connected to the towers and a sense of loss. My wife and I celebrated our tenth anniversary at the Windows on the World restaurant. It was a magical evening. Having lived in Connectictut we spent special times in NYC and at the towers. In 1998 we took the girls back. For some reason, this picture of them on top of one of the towers surfaced at my home computer desk just weeks before 9/11. The very thought of them on the top of the tower is now chilling.
But...
Several Christian ministry web sites have been promoting "Patriot Day" and offering sermon materials and videos to commemorate 9/11 in church today. I want to ask you to think very carefully about mixing patriotism with Christian worship.
The United States is not the kingdom of God. America is not the new Israel. Christianity is global in scope and intent and practice. We do the kingdom of God great harm when we wrap it in an American flag. Church is not an appropriate place for overt patriotism.
There is a valid need to relate the gospel to the contemporary world. There is a place to speak of 9/11 in reference to evil, misguided service to God, and in addressing issues like fear and security as a Christian.
But I am so glad we did not do a patriotic church assembly today. We have believers in our church body who hail from at least 20 countries. Today we had a guest visiting family who was here from Pakistan. Imagine how patriotic Americanized Christianity closes doors to people whose life orientation is not originally, or necessarily even now, American.
I love the US. I am grateful I was born and raised here. I would not choose to be born in any other place or time in history. 9/11 brings tears to my eyes as does the state of the world since. But the gospel is for all and must be seen and celebrated through universal eyes.
Don't confuse tears over 9/11 with tears over the cross. In fact, you might do a heart check and see which more readily brings tears to your eyes - and what news more readily brings joy!
Friday, September 01, 2006
DELAYED GRATIFICATION
I got new wheels. The 13 year old van broke down one too many times. My reaction to the new car has me thinking about delayed gratification.
The truth is, I am enjoying this even more than I expected. There is something about waiting and about the time being right that makes a joy in life even more enjoyable.
Delayed gratification is a crucial life principle, but one that is so hard to instill in kids (and adults) today. Our culture is driven by instant gratification. "Get it now." "Here's another one." "Why wait?"
Almost all good things in life depend on up-front cost for later pay-off. Education certainly operates that way. Job success depends on it. Or how about maintaining sexual purity for marriage?
The truth is that waiting, planning, sacrificing and then receiving at the right time multiplies the reward.
Spiritual maturity and the God-life are impossible without understanding, believing and practicing this principle. Paul planted; Apollos watered. God gave the increase in his own due time.
Sacrifice and doing without are also blessings in their own way. Here is a portion of an email from one of my kids that expresses what all three said in one form or another. (Some of this is in "email-ese.")
Man....that is one
beautiful car. Perfect for Dad. Seriously, I am so
happy for you. No one deserves his/her dream car as
much as you, Dad. You have put every one of ur girls,
including mom, before yourself when it comes to cars
(which is just ONE of the examples i can think of!).
While you worked on insurance and car payments for all
of us to have nice cars, you drove that nasty ol van
around and that is SUCH a testament to your character
and the selfless love you have for your family. It is
about time u get to indulge and really have the car
you deserve. That picture of u with ur arms up in
triumph is now my computer desktop and it really
brought tears to my eyes...i wish you could have had
your car a lot sooner, but praise God that He made it
possible for you to have now!!! Enjoy it dad, u
seriously earned it 100 times over.
There are different kinds of pay-offs and that one is special. In fact, I was debating whether I was more blessed by the new car or by my kid's email. But why debate that question? I got both! --by waiting.
The truth is, I am enjoying this even more than I expected. There is something about waiting and about the time being right that makes a joy in life even more enjoyable.
Delayed gratification is a crucial life principle, but one that is so hard to instill in kids (and adults) today. Our culture is driven by instant gratification. "Get it now." "Here's another one." "Why wait?"
Almost all good things in life depend on up-front cost for later pay-off. Education certainly operates that way. Job success depends on it. Or how about maintaining sexual purity for marriage?
The truth is that waiting, planning, sacrificing and then receiving at the right time multiplies the reward.
Spiritual maturity and the God-life are impossible without understanding, believing and practicing this principle. Paul planted; Apollos watered. God gave the increase in his own due time.
Sacrifice and doing without are also blessings in their own way. Here is a portion of an email from one of my kids that expresses what all three said in one form or another. (Some of this is in "email-ese.")
Man....that is one
beautiful car. Perfect for Dad. Seriously, I am so
happy for you. No one deserves his/her dream car as
much as you, Dad. You have put every one of ur girls,
including mom, before yourself when it comes to cars
(which is just ONE of the examples i can think of!).
While you worked on insurance and car payments for all
of us to have nice cars, you drove that nasty ol van
around and that is SUCH a testament to your character
and the selfless love you have for your family. It is
about time u get to indulge and really have the car
you deserve. That picture of u with ur arms up in
triumph is now my computer desktop and it really
brought tears to my eyes...i wish you could have had
your car a lot sooner, but praise God that He made it
possible for you to have now!!! Enjoy it dad, u
seriously earned it 100 times over.
There are different kinds of pay-offs and that one is special. In fact, I was debating whether I was more blessed by the new car or by my kid's email. But why debate that question? I got both! --by waiting.
