I was reading an article today and it referred to urban legends.  We should all recognize these as the often emailed stories about some strange event that we should concern ourselves with.  I recently received one about some gang initiation and then promptly received an email about how the email was "totally false", but the truth is people believe these legends and it stirs fear.  Perhaps, you remember the urban legend that said if you flashed your lights at the wrong car then you would be followed and killed or do you remember the HIV laced needle in the gas pump?  The article that I read spoke generally about how we need these legends and how they reflect current society. 

What I find most interesting is that people do actually believe what they hear and often pass this information as the truth.  They are easily swayed by what they read and hear.  Perhaps, we believe this because we are ignorant of the subject and feel that the legend could be true. 

In John the 24th chapter, Jesus was asked by the disciples Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? We often think of the end of the world having famines, floods and major catastrophic happenings, but Jesus said something that I have always found very interesting.  He said take heed that no man deceive you.  Like urban legends, there are many sayings and doctrines based on the scripture that is spread throughout Christianity and it is often misinterpreted or false.  We as Christians must not be as an ignorant society and believe every wind of doctrine, but follow the direction of Paul when he wrote:

II Timothy 2:14 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.