We all get multiple lying e-mails. Most of those I see are forwards from Christian friends, and presented as "Christian" viewpoints.
I really get tired of replying to each of those, showing proof the e-mail's untrue, and reminding my friends that Jesus said He is "the truth"...and that it's unworthy for Christians to be spreading falsehoods.
I get tired of replying to every lying e-mail: but I think we're scripturally commanded to correct any "brother taken in a fault," as a first step in reclaiming fellow-believers who have been seduced and misled.
A form-letter seemed necessary. But it's important that its tone be one of gentle correction. As any of us could be, our brothers and sisters are deceived by, and used by, the "father of lies." We have to be merciless against the lie, but merciful to those who've been deceived by it.
If the following meets those criteria, you're welcomed to use this form-letter.
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Dear ---------:
An e-mail I recently received from you makes a statement that is untrue.
(quote statement)
Here's (Snopes, etc.) research on this:
(give applicable URL from Snopes, etc.)
If your understanding of scripture is that Jesus is "the truth" (John 14:6), as He said He Is, you can understand why it's important to challenge this false statement. In doing so, I realize the lie didn't originate with you: that you were deceived, as any of us might be, by "the father of lies" (John 8:44);
Fortunately, we don't have to be victims of Satan's schemes, and the deceivers who do his work. There are a number of reliable websites available to help us check out ideas Satan is trying to slip into our thinking.
Snopes has a long track-record of sorting out e-mail lies:
http://www.snopes.com/
Politifact measures the truth of politicians' and commentators' claims on its Truth-O-Meter; and also researches the truth of "chain e-mails," and "other groups" (such as Scientology):
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/
FactCheck researches the assertions made by partisans on both sides of public issues.
http://www.factcheck.org/
Truthorfiction is a new one a reader called to my attention, and seems to be honest.
http://truthorfiction.com/
You and I know how critical it is to our personal walk that we accept no operative ideas but truth. Equally important, we know that by faithfully rejecting the lies Satan aims at us, we avoid becoming his tool to infect other Christians' hearts and minds with operative lies.
I know you believe as strongly as I do that Jesus is "the truth," and that "no lie is of the truth" (I John 2:21). I’m sure you'll want to witness against the falsehood in your recent e-mail and warn everyone you sent it to, before they spread that lie further and mislead more Christians.
In Jesus, (your name)
