Peddling Poison

I recently received an email message concerning a new video game coming out and now for sale in certain stores. The message asked me to send a letter to the stores that were selling this game, “25 to Life”. Following is the letter they asked me to send:

We ask that you withdraw the game "25 to Life" from your stores. We detest a game which promotes the killing of police officers.

According to the website of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), "...to make money by celebrating killing cops is the sickest kind of obscenity." I agree with them.

Best Buy may say it doesn't endorse or encourage the violent behavior presented in the game.In my opinion, if you sell it, you are helping to spread the message that killing police officers is a form of entertainment.

If you refuse to pull "25 To Life," I will not be shopping with Best Buy and will share this information with others.”

As I read the letter, I could not help but to think of the church and the things that are going on in her today. This letter above contains a message that so many do not think about today.

Let me explain with a personal experience: I purchased a set of religious books in an indoor flea market, when I got home and began studying them. They were full of false teaching. I was ashamed that I had even bought the books. I did not know what in the world I was going to do with them now. A dear friend suggested that I sell them in a yard sale. I explained to my friend that I could not do this. Selling these books may cause some lost soul to believe false teaching. I could not take a chance on someone who did not know the truth to get a hold of these books. At this time I felt better that I was the one who had purchased this set of books.

Look again at the contents of the letter: “Best Buy may say it doesn't endorse or encourage the violent behavior presented in the game. In my opinion, if you sell it, you are helping to spread the message that killing police officers is a form of entertainment.”

Today we find many businesses ran by Brethern in Christ selling books, video tapes, DVD’s, lessons, etc… whose authors are now teaching error. Maybe many are unaware of this but we need to be careful what we appear to be endorsing. We may give or sell a book or other item, that at one time the author was a sound brother in Christ and today has gone astray. The book we gave or sold to them may be truth but what if they (a babe in Christ) enjoyed the author so much they go searching for more books… by this same person and then they are led away by his error?

Could the above be said of me or you. “Billie, may say she doesn't endorse or encourage false teaching. But if she sells it or gives it away. She is helping to spread the message that is sending lost souls “into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels”. (Matthew 25:41)

It takes courage to stand and obey truth! This means we must speak out and teach those who are doing things that are not right in the name of Christ and His Truth.

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)