Americans Need a Savior Not Another Guru

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

---

Lost is a Spiritual Problem

Lost, but you don't know where you're going.Lost is a... Read More

Time Changes-- Spring Forward Or Fall Back!

In the game of billiards there are two things you... Read More

God - A Thousand Words Wasted

Who is God? This question would sound awkward to 80%... Read More

Picture This (Part Two)

In part one, I described an existence that is absolute,... Read More

The Power of Ritual

As humans, we are the species that operate with symbols.... Read More

Getting Results

We desire to understand the world by giving names to... Read More

Spiritual Surrender: Living a Peace Filled Life

Are you at a crossroad in your life where you... Read More

Zen and Peace (The Road To Lasting Harmony)

Presently, many of us live in uncertainty. Due to the... Read More

Overcoming Burn Out

Burn out, it can happen to anyone. Some of the... Read More

Is America Losing Its Religion?

Has America known its finest hour? Are we losing our... Read More

Catch A New Lover With DIY Magic!

One night, whilst watching TV, I understood a very useful... Read More

A Medical Intuitive Look at Past Life Wounding

In my work as a Medical Intuitive, I come across... Read More

The Power of Myth to Transform Your Life

Irish myth has the power to transform your life into... Read More

Anam Cara - Life as a Box of Paints

Lonely Song"a box of paints - lament for my da"It... Read More

Controlling What YOU Hear By Watching What YOU Say

If you're going to listen to anyone you're going to... Read More

God Drives a Harley, a Bus and a Taxi

God rides a Harley, God drives truck, God is a... Read More

New Century; Same Old Story

In His graciousness, God has blessed us to enter a... Read More

An Illuminatus Speaks

An Illuminatus Speaks:You will have to decide if this Illuminatus... Read More

Affirmations for Emotional Hygiene

Last week I talked about the need to practice emotional... Read More

Theory on PRAYER

Oxford dictionary defines PRAYER as "a request for help or... Read More

Just Learning To Cope

I have been thinking about this all night. I am... Read More

Readjusting Our Eye Focus

Peter is a man after my own heart. I feel... Read More

Change Your Beliefs -- Change Your Health

To many people in the Western world Metaphysical Healing is... Read More

Ancient Wisdom: Can it Still be Applied Today?

*Advice on living a humane and compassionate life.According to text... Read More

Understanding the Gospel of Matthew and Why it Matters - Part 6

Matthew 2:16-18Herod Kills the Children16 Then Herod, when he saw... Read More

Prayer - The Ultimate power

There is an prayer process in every religion and everyone... Read More

A Testimony of an Ex-Mormon

Mormons like to give testimonies. Unlike Mormon testimonies, I will... Read More

The Success of Servanthood

"Who being in the very nature God, did not consider... Read More

Trust Jesus (and Stress and Fear will Disappear)

Everything was going wrong.The weight of the world had decided... Read More

Loving Your Neighbors

If I speak in the tongues of men and of... Read More

Ego, Duality, and Paradise (Why You Cant Get to Paradise on an Ego Trip)

If you've been on a conscious spiritual journey for any... Read More

The Winds of Change

Humanity is entering a very critical time in its path... Read More

Are You Following Your Knows Or Your I Dont Knows?

We have all heard the phrase, "follow your nose". This... Read More