I noticed it a couple years ago when a series of e-mails from co-workers ended with statements similar to the one below:
If you’re a true believer in Christ, you’ll forward this e-mail.
And now it’s back in an even more annoying form, the Facebook Like Button:
I Live for Christ. He is my way, my light, my strength, my savior. Who is with me?
Or
JESUS IS LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if you know this is true press like.
Or
Our GOD is an AWESOME God! LIKE if you agree!
I look at these statements (and may others like them) and as a believer in Christ, I find them troubling. The language in these statements make it seem that if you don’t forward the e-mail or if you don’t press the like button, you are ashamed of being a Christian and a believer in God; or that you are somehow against Christianity if you don’t respond. I am neither.
Having a loving relationship with the Lord isn’t about clicking a button to see how many Likes God can get. Having faith in God isn’t taking part in a popularity contest. And it’s not about sending an e-mail to someone’s that shames them into forwarding it someone else as a profession of faith. It’s about worshipping Him.
It’s talking with Him when I’m praying. It’s being still enough to hear God when He’s answering me and yet actively listening for what He’s saying throughout my day. It’s obeying him even though at times I struggle with that obedience. It’s being kind to strangers when they need it the most. It’s building relationships with others, so that when they ask me about my faith, they understand it’s a fundamental part of the woman I am.
I won’t forward the e-mails and I won’t press the “Like” button. I believe these actions lessen the impact of my personal testimony when I talk with people how accepting Christ changed me and changed my life. I am not ashamed of these changes.
Facebook
Twitter
I’ve always been uncomfortable with people who feel the need to wear their faith on their sleeve AND who behave hypocritically (unChristian) while doing so. The bumper stickers, the bracelets, coupled with very intentionally nasty behaviors: yuck.
I’m all for sincere expressions of faith. But when people put out these facebook “honk if you love Jesus-es”, it feels more like “are you in my little club or not?” or “the louder you are, the more devout you must be!” I will always be a person for whom actions speak louder than words, and I’ve met way too many folks who profess to be Christ-followers who act like anything but. (I know that no one is perfect, and I am definitely NOT, but I mean intentionally mean-spirited behaviors…I just want to go up to some of them and say, “Yeah, what WOULD Jesus do right about now? So is this a fashion statement or WHAT?”)
I think you bring up a good point when you speak about actions/mean-spirited behaviors and WWJD being more of a fashion statement. I just finished “A Jesus Year” by Benyamin Cohen and it was just an interesting look into Christianity from a Jew’s perspective. I just started “Grand Theft Jesus: The Hijacking of Religion in America” by Robert McElvaine and I see some of his points but I’m not so sure about others.
Well done! I am with you on all counts.
*whew* I passed the RedLefty Test
J/K Michael 
In the Catholic church, we always read Matthew 6 on Ash Wednesday, so its message really sticks with me.
Nate: That’s a great chapter to reference. God tells us not to sweat the little things, and how to conduct ourselves. Thanks for the contribution!
Paula, this is beautifully stated. I love my friends and relatives that send me emails such as you mention, but like you I do not forward them. Most of my friends worry about me because to a great extent I distance myself from their acts of devotion. To me it is a very personal experience that does not require an intermediary. In addition, I am just a little suspect of those that doth protest too much, too loudly. When pressed, I claim to be a George Fox Quaker, the only people that I know of that even came close to getting it right, rather than a backslid Baptist. I only wish I could be as devout as my distant ancestors that were members of the Society of Friends.
What disturbs me about Email Christianity with LIKE buttons, is that the people who participate might actually be seeing this as witnessing when it really just cheapens the entire experience of faith. It should be called Boilerplate Christianity. I get this email and I forward this email so I have performed my Christian duty. It not only cheapens, it sentimentalizes Christianity. It’s a Thomas Kinkade version of the Word. I do get angry with myself when I let it make me feel guilty so thank you for the post. It is always great to know that I may not be as odd as I think I might be. LOL
BTW: I just left a reply to your comment on the GW Images Blog
Gary:
Very well said and I appreciate your thoughts. There’s going to be a piece on witnessing soon. It’s something that I’ve wanted to write for a year now I just have to find all my reference material to do it.
Thanks for the reference to George Fox. Based on the info on Wikipedia, he led a very interesting life.
Totally agree… I often have to explain to a friend of mine Jesus doesn’t use email and he doesn’t wreck havoc on those that don’t forward emails:)
That is awesome Katie. Good to see you around by the way!
Amen, Sistah! These posts are so manipulative and passive-agressive, I just want to scream.
My personal beliefs are nobody’s business. “By their fruits shall ye know them.” I don’t give a flip about who has clicked a “Like” button anywhere. Do they have a brain, and interesrting ideas? Will they come through in a pinch? Are they people with whom I would value a relationship?
We may be burned at the stake for far less. So be it. I’m with you. No clicking on the blatant, self-serving, “aren’t we holy and really neato?” invitations. People with depth, character, and understanding aren’t keeping score here.