DAY 8

The National Security Agency in the US reportedly is using technology to monitor keywords contained in emails. Of course, it has been believed for many years that telephone conversations are also monitored for keywords, which would indicate threats against the country or president. We see the progression: telephone conversations, email communications and next? It may be that spy satellites can nearly read the lips of those in its sights but how long before they can listen in? Or are they already? We can only hope and pray that they can listen in on Osama Bin Ladin and his leadership team!

We fear the ability of government to intrude on our most private moments. Sometimes we think out loud and don’t really mean what we say. Or, maybe we do and we wouldn’t want others to hear! Sometimes we click the send button when we haven’t really thought carefully through every word we have written.

The possibility of someone, somewhere, monitoring every written and spoken word does appear to be a suppression of free speech. However, as Christians we should always be careful as to what we say, and as to what we write, and even as to what we think. Because we know God has had the technology for a long, long, time to listen in all He wants and it’s all recorded! “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:36-37).”