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
monthly home cleaning Buffalo Grove ..Have you ever experienced a traumatic event? I'm sure the... Read More
Let Your Family and Friends Know That You Are A... Read More
Continued from "Origin of Certain Thoughts, Part I"If you haven't... Read More
As a Psychiatrist I spent most of my life training... Read More
You have everything you need: a miraculous body, a phenomenal... Read More
Originating in what is now modern India; Tantra is at... Read More
We are apart of all that is, our consciousness spring... Read More
In the movie "A Beautiful Mind" John Nash (played by... Read More
"We're one, but we are not the same."-Bono, U2Once I... Read More
People engaged in kissing experience information and energy transfer, although... Read More
Since the beginning of time mankind has pondered, who God... Read More
I come face to face with self whenever you come... Read More
At the start of your dream journey, one of the... Read More
Charity isn't the easiest virtue to master. And with St.... Read More
The formula for spiritual growth is given briefly in 2... Read More
Stress is amazingly persistent, even seductive. We get used to... Read More
Is it not true that only after gaining Enlightenment (Self-Realization)... Read More
Baptism and christening ceremonies are an important event that signifies... Read More
My mentor, a brilliant Ph.D, with a powerful marriage counseling... Read More
There is power in meanings of the old images and... Read More
1. Life is a precious gift given to us by... Read More
There I was living in a tiny bedroom in my... Read More
Matthew 2:19-23 The Return to Nazareth19 But when Herod died,... Read More
WHAT IS E.V.P.?EVP stands for electronic voice phenomena, some believe... Read More
But my God shall supply all your need according to... Read More
scheduled maid service Mundelein ..Connor, a man in his late 40's, has achieved everything... Read More
Forgiveness breaks all bounds of repression and depression. It liberates... Read More
Did you happen to see the made-for-tv movie, "Jesus," that... Read More
There is so much going on in the world around... Read More
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA: Of course we may never know the real... Read More
You will become as great as your dominant aspiration...If you... Read More
Since the beginning of time mankind has pondered, who God... Read More
With excitement and anticipation I jumped on a plane last... Read More
It is within us to... Read More
The Key to True Love...Do you long for love?Most of... Read More
The first gospel written by Matthew,who is Levi, is the... Read More
If you have a longing to connect with something higher,... Read More
'O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom... Read More
I still remember the scene vividly. I was getting out... Read More
I can't boast about my culinary skill, because I just... Read More
For it is written in Bible in chapter 2 Peter... Read More
While it isn't my intention to insult anyone (Alright, for... Read More
Today we do not experience great manifestations of God as... Read More
Are you at a crossroad in your life where you... Read More
The Angelic realms have been very active throughout the human... Read More
No one, not even God can make us choose the... Read More
About a month ago I opened up my bible in... Read More
(Channelled)Roy, this morning in "Roy Bits," you tried to write... Read More
Prayer from a child's simple bedtime prayer, to the prayers... Read More
Those five words are from a song that I remember... Read More
Spirituality |