Internet rumors and hoaxes

My computer-illiterate husband called me from work the other day. It seems that one of his co-workers got an email warning about a new virus hitting computers everywhere. His co-worker insisted that it was truth and my husband called me to warn me about it.

I try to keep up with the current hoaxes and rumors getting spread through email, so I said, “That’s a hoax.” Really, most warnings about computer viruses are hoaxes — essentially harmless and written by someone with a distorted sense of amusement just to see if it catches on. I went to one of my favorite de-bunking sites just to be sure and, sure enough, it was a hoax.

The reason rumors of viruses catch on is because our home computers involve a hefty investment, can be fragile, and most of us who rely on them to do their day-to-day work don’t understand how they work. After having one get fried in a lightning storm, the word “motherboard” now strikes fear in my heart.

There are other things we’re nervous about, though. We’re nervous about safety and health issues, so warnings about the latest gang initiation rites and cancer-causing chemicals also fly like wildfire.

As we do computers, we rely on our bodies but don’t have an educated knowledge of them, and most of us are law-abiding citizens who know next to nothing about gangs, so these things are scary. It’s natural to pass on warnings to our friends and family.

For the most part, I just dismiss these things for what they are: well-intentioned cautions sent by someone who cares about my welfare. However, there are some rumors that appear to be a Christian witness but in reality is a false witness.

Here’s what Greg Hartman writes on the “Focus on the Family” Website: “Sadly, some Christians have embraced urban legends, developing a whole catalog of fables that are often used as affirmation of our faith in the Bible or to warn of a threat against religious liberties. The problem is that by uncritically forwarding some of these emails, we often violate the command against bearing false witness, and we hurt the church’s credibility when we then try to preach a gospel of truth.” (www.focusonthefamily.com)

Exodus 20:16 says not to bear false witness against our neighbor. However, that the false witness reflects our witness for Christ is even worse! The commandment against taking the name of the Lord in vain is found several verses earlier, in verse 7. The RSV reads “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

The Message, by Eugene Peterson, reads thusly, “No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of his name.”

In spreading rumors about things like scientists finding a missing day in time (false) or the one about Madalyn Murray O’Hair (also false), we break two commandments simultaneously! We are taking the name of the Lord our God in vain AND we are bearing false witness against our neighbor.

It’s beguiling to forward emails to 10 of our friends in order to “take a stand for Jesus,” but in reality, clicking a mouse button is pretty lazy.

We do much more to build up the body of Christ by modeling his caring and love than we do by forwarding emails.

How about baking a batch of cookies and taking it to a neighbor?

When you eat at a restaurant and the server brings your food, ask if they have anything they’d like you to include in your prayer over your meal.

When you see your neighbor raking leaves, grab your rake and go pitch in! These are the things that witness to Christ, not sitting behind a computer screen forwarding emails.

Whether your fears are about religious liberty, your personal safety or health, it’s easy to check them out. My two favorite sites are www.snopes.com and www.truthorfiction.com.

When all is said and done, people are going to believe what they want to believe. That’s why these rumors persist — and they do persist! I recently got the one about not blinking your headlights. I first got that one over a fax machine in the ‘80s before the internet!

However, I want my life to be lived in Christ and to give a faithful witness to him. I pray you do, too.

Sally Oakes is pastor of Bethany United Methodist Church, 607 Rivers Road, Fayetteville, GA 30214. Phone: 770-964-6999 or 770-964-6992, or e-mail bethanymnc@bellsouth.net.