Spiritual SPAM!

I realize I may be addressing several generations so I better bring some clarity to the word SPAM in the title of this post. For an older generation, the word spam brings to mind a small can of processed meat used to make sandwiches! But for a younger generation, the word spam is a computer term for (1) un-wanted and (2) un-solicited email messages. It is this latter concept of spam that I am using to make spiritual application. So lets consider what I call Spiritual Spam. SPAM is an acronym for Satan’s Pollouted Aggravating Messages! Satan (the devil) is a master spammer! He is constantly trying to download ungodly thoughts of fear, doubt, defeat, division, and lust into the computer of our minds and hearts. His purpose is to bring us under his control and ultimately destroy our life and destiny in Christ.

Remember, spam email is usually unwanted and unsolicited. Satan is not all knowing nor all powerful like God, but he does have some ability to introduce thoughts or use others to introduce thoughts into our minds. One scriptural example of this is seen in  Genesis chapter 3, when Satan used the serpent to introduce ungodly thoughts into the minds of Adam and Eve in the garden. Another example is in Acts chapter 5 in the story of husband and wife, Ananias and Sapphira. They lied to Peter and the other apostles about some land they owned and sold which resulted in their deaths as judgement for their sin. Peter, in verse 3 of Acts chapter 5, asked Ananias why he allowed Satan to fill his heart to lie (not just to man but to the Holy Spirit). Have you ever had your mind bombarded with polluting and aggravating thoughts of fear, doubt and defeat? I am not saying that every such thought you have has its origin in Satan, but it is important that you recognize and know how to deal with Spiritual SPAM.

When it comes to email spam, some spammers use research and deception to get you to open spam email. Spammers will research information about you concerning your finances, health, marriage, buying habits, employment and business; Then use that information to compose deceptive emails to get you to open spam mail even though it is un-solicited! For example, if they learn you are in debt and having financial problems, they will send you emails promising debt relief, or offer you some get-rich-quick scheme! The temptation to open those spam emails, even though un-solicited, is sometimes great because they seem to address a real need in our lives!

Like human spammers, Satan uses knowledge of our families, finances, health, relationships, hurts, and offenses to download deceptive messages into our minds! Such hurts, offenses and circumstance which are very real to us makes us OPEN to Satan’s Spiritual SPAM. This is why we must cast down all reasoning and thoughts (spiritual spam) that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God! 2 Corinthians 10:5 –“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

One of the basic and primary defenses to spam email is to configure and activate a spam email filter. A spam email filter is a computer software program designed to filter out unwanted and unsolicited email. As Christians, our defense to Spiritual SPAM is to program (renew) our minds with the word of God. So here are three(3) things you can do to build your Spiritual SPAM Defense:

1. Arm yourself with the mind of Christ!                                                                  

In other words, constantly renew your mind with the word of God and the teachings of Christ. You cannot cast down Spiritual SPAM messages without the word of God. Peter 4:1-2  – “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” Rom 12:1-2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

2. Block out all known sources of Spiritual SPAM, including some people! When it comes to our email accounts, once we discover those who spam us we have the ability to block them from future spams. We must learn to do the same with spiritual spammers! There are some people (even offended Christians) you just can’t afford to hangout with! Remember, Satan uses certain people to pollute and poison your mind with spiritual spam. 1 Corinthians 5:11 – “now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.”

3. Don’t violate your conscious! Your conscious will accuse or excuse you (your actions). How many men and women have received pornography spam email and ended up in trouble because they were feeling lonely or rejected by their spouse? Satan knows our weaknesses and hurts and will use them to tempt us! Don’t violate your conscious to meet an emotional need or otherwise. Romans 2:15 – “Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;”