Beginning the week of January 22, 2007
Don’t get “phished.” The kind of “phishing” I am talking about here has nothing to do with lures or tackle boxes. It is phishing spelled with a “ph.” Getting “phished” happens when you receive what looks like a harmless e-mail asking you to click on a link or download something. But, when you do this, your identity is ultimately stolen via the internet. Identity theft rocketed to an estimated 56 billion stolen in 2006.
But, cyber-crime is not the only kind of “phishing.” There is also a kind of spiritual “phishing” that takes place. People or groups send what look like reasonable messages. They ask or even dare us to click on them. But, if we are not careful, our spiritual identity is stolen.
Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians at a time when they were in danger of spiritual identity theft. Paul encouraged the Colossians to protect themselves against getting spiritually “phished.” He told them that he was working agonizingly hard to see them mature and grow as believers so that they would be protected.
I suppose that many of you have installed firewalls on your computer and some kind of security program. But, what are you doing for your spiritual life? Are you continuing to grow and mature in your knowledge of the faith so that you don’t have your spiritual identity stolen. If you are not consistently hearing the Word preached and proclaimed, and growing in your relationship with Christ, then you are at risk for spiritual identity theft. And, the stakes are far greater than your social security number and bank accounts.
