Today with the ease of the Internet we can find a plethora of information on just about any subject. What we must remember is to consider the source and do the research to be sure that the information that is out there is correct and not just dreamed up by someone. The folks at Koinonia House had a great article on urban myths that have been circling around the internet.
Which of the statements below is true?
a) Madalyn Murray O'Hair is attacking Christian
broadcasting.
b) Billy Graham led crowds to spread the gospel through the
streets of New Orleans.
c) President George Bush visited inner city children
at Christmastime.
The third statement is true. The others, while having been
circulated to thousands of people via email, are not. Madalyn Murray O'Hair has
been dead for over 10 years, and never petitioned the FCC to ban religious
programming. While Billy Graham's son Franklin Graham did lead a Celebration of
Hope crusade in New Orleans in March of 2006, Billy Graham did not lead crowds
on an impromptu evangelistic walk. President Bush did, however, visit inner
city children during a Christmastime Angel Tree event sponsored by Chuck
Colson's ministry Prison Fellowship in 2003.
Urban legends zoom around the Internet with great speed and
tenacity. Some stories are true and others are not, and still others are just
outdated. Yet, millions of people read email stories and send them on to others
without first checking to see if they are true. Here are a few more that you
may have read recently:
The New US Dollar
Coin:
"This new coin came out
this month. The U.S. Mint hopes the redesigned $1 coin will win acceptance with
consumers. It does not have In God We Trust on it. Another way of leaving God
out. Send this on and let consumers to decide if it will win acceptance or not.
I wonder who was behind this change!!!!"
The Truth:
The new $1 Washington Coin was released in February, 2007.
The coin's design does have "In God We Trust" included, but not on the front or
the back. "In God We Trust" and "E Pluribus Unum" are both printed on the edge
of the coin. A large number were accidentally released, however, without either
"IN GOD WE TRUST" or "E PLURIBUS UNUM" printed on them, and have been snatched
up by collectors.
The Center of the Bible:
"Which chapter is in the center of the Bible? Answer -
Psalms 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118. There are
594 chapters after Psalms 118. Add these numbers up and you get 1188.
What is the center verse in the Bible?
Answer - Psalms
118:8 "
The Truth:
Psalms 118:8-9 are in fact the center verses of the Bible,
but the center chapter of the Bible is Psalm 117.
Steve Irwin's Conversion?
"I want to inform Creation Ministries International, that
Steve Irwin became a born again Christian two and a half weeks ago at the Kings
Church AOG Buderim, Queensland Australia, going forward publicly before the
congregation to ask Christ to become his Lord and
Saviour…"
The Truth:
A spokesman for King's Christian Church in Buderim, however,
said that while Steven Irwin and family had attended the church in the past,
they had not recently visited prior to his death.
God Smells Like Rain
One of the most popular stories on the Internet is the one
of Little Danae Blessing. Danae was born premature at 24 weeks gestation. If
she survived, the doctors did not expect her to walk or talk. They said the baby
might be blind and would probably face retardation. The family could not hold
her or touch her in the hospital, but she slowly grew stronger. Despite the
odds, little Danae eventually went home, where she grew into a perfectly
healthy, happy, feisty little girl. One day when a thunderstorm was
approaching, Danae asked her mother:
"'Do you smell that?" Her mother replied, "Yes, I think
we're about to get wet, it smells like rain. Still caught in the moment, Danae
shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly
announced, "No, it smells like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on
His chest.' Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Danae then happily hopped down to play
with the other children…."
The Truth:
This story is true, and comes from a collection of
inspirational stories called 'Miracles In Our Midst'.
There are several Internet sites dedicated to determining
the truth or fiction of Internet rumors, sites like Truthorfiction.com or
Snopes.com. Before sending emails on, first check an urban legends site to make
sure you are sending a true story, and not simply perpetuating an e-myth.
The Bible teaches us that we are to put away lying and speak the truth with our
neighbors (Eph 4:25).
There are better ways to build up and encourage the Body
of Christ - without propagating a falsehood.