It has come to my attention that a number of the congregation have received a printed form letter from an anonymous source which can only be described as a chain letter’. Every so often these things make their ugly appearance, and most of us will probably be inclined to simply trash them, treating them as they deserve. However, just in case there is anyone who may be tempted to think there might be something in them, let me make several points.
The letter’ currently doing the rounds is of the old fashioned variety. It is a paper version, and is distributed by regular snail’ mail. These days most chain letters are distributed by e-mail. I would expect that the person who distributed the current one is either targeting people they think have an e-mail account, or is more probably an older person.
E-mail chain letters are no better than the old style, exhibiting the same paganised Christian thinking, but also often trying to add a level of guilt that I have not seen on paper versions where the reader is made to feel they are not genuine about their faith if they don’t forward it on to others. The problem with an e-mail chain letter is that they are much easier to send on. My recommendation is to make unhesitating use of the delete key on them.
The letter’ that is doing the rounds is headed with a reasonable sounding title, “Prayer for Protection through the Precious Blood of Jesus.” That’s about as good as it gets because it goes downhill into superstitious paganism very quickly from there.
While faith in the merits of Jesus is apparently important, the prayer claims that we have the power to take Christ’s blood and sprinkle it over ourselves and family, and claim “total and complete protection for my life and family.”
Surely only God can do this. God’s requirement on us is to believe He does this. There is nothing we can do to take the blood or saving work of Christ, but in the act of believing God and taking Him at His word receive from Him the gift of mercy and grace.
There seems to be an assumption in the minds of most people that we are somehow meant to be without pain, trial or temptations and disease. If we are not without these things then we must ask God to rid these things from our lives because we actually deserve to be exempt from them if we name the names of God. However, sin remains a constant companion of all people while we live life here. Scripture leaves us in no doubt that when the Spirit of God effectually calls to our hearts with the saving Word of God’s grace in Christ Jesus, forgiveness, full and free is granted so that we are most assuredly bound for glory. Nothing can ever take that away (Rom 8:38-39), and yet the servant of God who assures us of God’s purposes in this, also spoke of being torn between suffering for the good of God’s people in this world or departing to be with the Lord (Phil 1:22-26), and tells us that He suffered a trial so great he called it a thorn (not a prickle) in the flesh that troubled him deeply (2 Cor 12:7-10), and not only that, he suffered many other hardships for the sake of the gospel — in weakness, insults, persecutions, beatings, hunger and sleepless nights. (2 Cor 6:4-10)
The letter’ wants to pray to be exempt from all of that. It seems however that the real purpose of the prayer is to get God on side so that you can conclude with a request for something else. For three consecutive days the so called prayer is to be recited and “after the third day the request will be granted no matter how difficult it may be”, subject to the letter’ being circulated to as many other people as possible and the one receiving the request publish the result when the powers that be come through.
This entire letter is superstitious nonsense, and except for mentioning the names of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, is utterly unbiblical and unchristian. I am pleased that so far those I know who have received it have been active in using the mechanical form of the electronic delete button — the waste bin. That’s where it belongs!