Mrs. Dixon the famous prognosticator and psychic to the stars talked for several hours as my friend sat in the audience and took notes. Although she didn't believe that Jeanne Dixon was a legitimate source of prophecy she wasn't listening as much to her predictions, as she was to her choice of words. She counted the personal pronouns Dixon used like, I, me, and mine. The list of pronouns was in the hundreds. She also listed the times Dixon used words like God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit. That list consisted of about a dozen mentions. I remember that I was somewhat shocked by what I thought was a hyper critical assessment of Dixon's presentation. My friend was one of the mildest and most helpful persons I had ever known and this seemed so out of character for her.
I've had over three decades to ponder her critique and ponder it I have. In fact, now I use this same kind of observation without giving it a second thought. I have listened to countless speakers and preachers since then and I noticed that some use all too many personal pronouns while others refer to God, Jesus Christ, the Apostles or the scripture in general. The other thing I noticed, is that I am always far more edified or inspired by the speakers who use the latter method.
In the last ten years or so another type of preaching seems to have emerged. I call it the "you" gospel. Preachers plug the word you in some cases at a rate of a ten to one against words like God or Christ. Its how you feel, or what you accomplish, what you are learning or how you are succeeding. In a success worshipping culture like ours it works very well and preachers taking this approach are not lacking adherents or followers. Many have become more like gurus than preachers of the gospel. I have often wondered why they don't just forget the gospel entirely and move over into the motivational speakers' circuit.
I can hardly fight off the temptation to borrow a familiar phrase that the late John F. Kennedy used. Modified for present use it would sound something like this. Ask not what God can do for you, but ask what you can do for your God. Oversimplified? I think not. The last time I read my bible it still said that we are bondservants to our Lord Jesus Christ. I still take this to mean we are serving him and not the other way around. The gospel is to be obeyed, not just used as sensitivity training.
On a recent nationally syndicated TV newscast I listened to several people discussing the chances the believer has to stand up for their beliefs in this difficult place in time. Among them was my former Pastor, Dr. Richard Land who is heard daily on over 600 radio stations around the country. One of the guests speaking along with Richard was a well known U.S. senator. What he said in one breath was more poignant than anything I heard in any sermon for a long time. He said that this is a time of great opportunity for Christians throughout the US, not for proving what God can do for us. It is a time, he said, for us to prove to God that we are thankful for his salvation and ready to prove to him that we are his sons and daughters. Coming from a politician, and yet this statement should be engraved on the minds of every believer from Maine to California.
Jesus said, So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Mt 25:30 KJV How have we managed to twist this simple teaching to mean something almost the opposite of the way it was given? The preachers of the "you" gospel would have us to believe it should read?When God has done everything for us that He has promised to do, it will be very profitable for us.
I thought the "me" generation was only for the eighties but perhaps it has spawned an entirely new generation that might be referred to as the "Me, Myself and I" generation. Oh, those pesky pronouns!
Rev Bresciani has written many articles over the past thirty years in such periodicals as Guideposts and Catholic Digest. He is the author of two books available on Amazon.com, Alibris, Barnes and Noble and many other places. Rev Bresciani wrote, Hook Line and Sinker or What has Your Church Been Teaching You, published by PublishAmerica of Baltimore MD. He also wrote a book recently released by Xulon Press entitled An American Prophet and His Message, Questions and Answers on the Second Coming of Christ. Rev Bresciani has his own website at http://americanprophet.org
town car ride to ohare Bethalto .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareI am not enlightened, and yet,... Read More
Until recently, miracles were usually credited to a supernatural power.... Read More
It seems more people today are using the Christian god... Read More
Since my departure from the traditional "Corporate Life" almost 8... Read More
One of the first steps toward understanding the Tarot lies... Read More
In life, sooner or later, we come to the midnight... Read More
There is no shortage in the abundance of blessings we... Read More
Your mind-body team is made up of your mind and... Read More
I was recently asked how I interpreted the Mayan and... Read More
What purpose does keeping a journal serve?Do you write down... Read More
Animal spirit totems can be viewed in different ways according... Read More
Before the movie "Finding Nemo", came out Steve Jobs the... Read More
Good morning beloved,I always feel a need to let people... Read More
What does it mean to be comfortable in your own... Read More
Good morning Roy, good morning JosethWhat about me, were do... Read More
The 'As Above, So Below' law that is the combination... Read More
Are you always looking for bargains, especially something that you... Read More
In Corrogue I am finding it's a wonderful life.Let me... Read More
The Evil Eye has been around since the beginning of... Read More
Yes, we are living in a world where we are... Read More
It seems to me that our moment to moment relationship... Read More
The human nature means the soul and the body. A... Read More
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as... Read More
I finally went to the dentist today. I had been... Read More
It's amazing how - even when we're working from a... Read More
Gurnee Lincoln Stretch rentals ..Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, "Go, assemble... Read More
Does this ever happen to you? You ask God for... Read More
Every soul that is currently experiencing life on any level... Read More
In the last 2 weeks or so, I have been... Read More
Almost every spiritual and religious teaching exhorts its followers to... Read More
You will become as great as your dominant aspiration...If you... Read More
There's a Native American belief that before we are born,... Read More
The fundamental aim of spiritual study is to get facts... Read More
Some of us might hear from time to time that... Read More
Do you know where your current path is taking you?Education,... Read More
Maybe once in a lifetime, we find ourselves seeking spiritual... Read More
Some may ask what is the true will of God... Read More
Recently it has come to my attention people are noticing... Read More
Make no mistake about it, change is challenging whether it... Read More
Years ago a commercial ran for eggo waffles. It showed... Read More
(Channeled) Spirituality is about everyday life, which includes getting up... Read More
Many of us have been taught that it is wrong... Read More
The following fragment was found in Qumran along with the... Read More
We know that David did much to stabilize the Kingdom... Read More
"What does it profit a man to have gained the... Read More
Imagine yourself marooned on a vast deserted island. You have... Read More
A year ago, a beautiful woman came to see me.... Read More
Have you heard the saying that; You have a friend... Read More
As more and more alternative and spiritual healings are being... Read More
We are all here on this plane, thinking to ourselves... Read More
Spirituality |