 Posted Friday, January 08, 2010 9:17 PM
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Anonymous January 8, 2010 @ 8:54:44 PM,
Or medical care.
Done any research on that?
Yes, I have and urge anyone to carefully and diligently consider the professional qualifications and experience of any care provider.
As I've said many times, medical care should be treated as a consumer issue with patients seeking the highest quality of care possible through informed decisions.
Like any profession, the quality of physicians varies. Some graduated at the top of their classes from the best schools, served challenging internships, and maintain their professional credentials. There are also those who graduated at the bottom of their classes.
Contrast the qualifications of physicians to Christian Science practitioners. According to christianscience.org, qualifications to become a Journal-listed Christian Science practitioner engaged in public practice include:
- Deep, private study of the Bible and of the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, as well as her other writings
- Available to respond to calls for help from the public
- Complete a course of intensive instruction on healing and improving mankind, from an authorized teacher
- Be certified by the Church as qualified for the public practice
- Meet basic Church standards
- Give evidence of effectiveness in healing
- Have high moral character
- Prove themselves ready to meet the challenges of the task they are undertaking
The course of intensive instruction is the two week course in Christian Science referred to as class instruction. Responsibility to maintain a high standard for accreditation is held by the church.
Intensive instruction for physicians represents about four years of college, four years of med school, and a year or more of residency - nine years or more as compared to two weeks. Responsibility for accreditation include licensing and review by peers, governmental boards, insurance companies, and consumers.
In spite of all the horror stories we could share about medical care, the accreditation and oversight of Christian Science practitioners is neither equal nor superior to that of physicians.
Do Go Be Man
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Posted Saturday, January 09, 2010 2:45 AM
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Perhaps ann and nomorecs are the same person, but that doesn't reduce the validity of her point or her credibility. This entire site is set up by people who represent one lock-step view with no variation up, down, left or right. Which worries a lot of us who feel that the real message of Jesus is in no way being represented here by so-called Christians. I don't mean to insult all of you here who so adamantly insist that you are right and everybody else who isn't in total agreement with you is wrong and we're going to hell and you aren't and you have the books and websites to prove it; but Jesus Christ was not a Christian. Christianity is man's feeble attempt to make sense of a Bible and a world of complexities far beyond their (or anyone else's) ability to understand. Since the Christian's on this site speak with such "authority" and in one voice and they are so cock-sure that they have the only clear understanding of God and Life and all the rest of us who don't agree can just go to hell (LITERALLY) that is what I call extreme arrogance while claiming to be humble.
The Christian Church was not founded by Jesus; it was founded by people who didn't even like each other; by people who killed each other because they were so bloody sure that their way was the right way, and that the other guy was in the wrong. Jesus is way too big to fit into the Christian bubble that Christians try to put him in. If Christians were really following Christ our world history would have been a picnic, instead it was a blood bath. Even in the more recent history of America (ie treatment of Blacks in the "BIBLE BELT" etc.
Christianity has never been about Jesus, the God who spoke about love thy neighbor as thyself! Christianity is about broken promices, false advertising, oppression and "onward Christian soldiers, marching off to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before." Talk about blasphemy! And six hundred years after Jesus's resurrection Christians conquered other converts through the sharp end of the sword (not through reason, love or Faith). Christians were so out of control that not much earthly progress was even embarked upon:The world was a horror story for all but the males of the ruling class and even they weren't doing so well either! Women were disposable property with nothing but slavery, sexual slavery, treated as unclean second-class citizens on the same level as animals. Young girls were given into marriages with old men/strangers just to provide them some protection from a culture so rotten that it made hell on earth for the majority of human beings. Higher education? For whom? Thou shall not steal? Thou shalt not kill? Are you kidding! It was mass-murder and mayhem!
God had to send Mohammed (and you think Mohammed was a fraud) to lay down the law to a totally decadent, destructive filthy, theiving murderous society, and society was in those days Christian, insisting that they were so much better than the Pagans and the witch women that they massacred! And you claim that the USA was founded on Judaic Christian principles? That isn't anything to be so proud of. Besides which, some very educated historians would argue that point with interesting "proofs" that our founding fathers were basically Rosicrucians.
But you definitely can bet your Bibles it most assuredly was Christians who sent people to work farms, poor houses, set up debtor's prisons, taxed new imigrants who wanted to move from NY to another state, who put children to work in vermin infested freezing cold or boiling hot factories that were deplorably lacking in sanitation, clean air, or safety standards. It was the Christians who masacred the "Savages" by the millions, Christians who set up English Schools to make captives of Indian children and extracted their culture from them by force, torture and pedophilia other wise known as child rape. You can bet it was the Christians who stole the entire nation from the Indians through broken treaties, and genocide and to this day never bothered to inquire into the beautiful cultural/spiritual heritige that most tribes represented! And never to this day have bothered to made amends to them for the evil that the Christians in this nation perpetrated upon the parents and grand parents and great grandparents.
You "Christians" live in an itsy bitsy thick-walled self-styled BUBBLE! ... A bubble that you think is God's Truth. Truth? You ain't seen nothin' yet (because reading the Bible has made you afraid to do anything but stroke each other for your self-styled prowess of "theology." Ostriches!
Personally, I love Jesus too much to keep my mouth shut when I see his name used by people who refuse to take His REAL message seriously. And no, I do not hate Christians. I just hate the way they keep themselves blind and bigoted.
You see, you have done EXACTLY what you accuse MBE and the rest of the non-Christians of doing.... Cherry picking through the Bible! and cherry picking through History. You are the hawks calling the doves black.
You lived inside a bubble as CSists and just jumped from one bubble to another.
The world is HUGE, you guys! Spiritual truths were never denied any race of people! God didn't ignore the Asians, the Africans. The Aborigines, the East Indians or the West Indians and only shower the Jews and Christians with love and promises! He sent spiritual teachers to every corner of the globe because we are all His creation. No culture owns God as their exclusive Father. Spiritual truths were preached within every single ancient culture on the globe. Christianity does not have the patent on God and salvation. God is not that pathetically small. There is something very dangerous about the cock-sure attitude that you little tiny Christians represent!!
And what the blazes does this mean? Quote: "But Judeo-Christian values are at its core even if many of the founding fathers were not "professing" Christians." unquote. (I should be ashamed to admit it if I were you because this country is what it is today off of the backs, blood, tears and broken families of blacks, Mexicans, Indians, Chinese, Irish slaves and abused women of all colors.
And now we have this Christian Way forum talking to us about freedom of religion as if we non-Christians were a little group of ignorant hell-bent little school kids.
just being me
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Posted Saturday, January 09, 2010 10:10 AM
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just being me,
...we have this Christian Way forum talking to us about freedom of religion as if we non-Christians were a little group of ignorant hell-bent little school kids.
From my perspective, your latest message talks to us as though we are the "little group of ignorant hell-bent little school kids" that you accuse us of being. Was that your intent?
Here's the deal. We disagree, right? According to the law of non-contradiction, one or both of us is wrong. You have your opinion about who that is and I have mine. Someday, we will find out for sure. As I said, I don't think I could ace God's theology exam. In the meantime, I try to do my best and follow His word to the best of my ability.
You have a perspective on Christianity and history that I do not believe is entirely accurate. You allude to the Crusades. Those ended more than 700 years ago. I wasn't there and renounce them. I also renounce slavery and the racism to which you allude. On those three issues, we agree. They were horrible, wrong by any measure of civility, and blasphemous to conduct in God's name. They were wrong then and remain wrong today, regardless of who practices them.
Some of the worst abuses of "Christianity" were committed against Christians who disagreed with the theocracies falsely established in God's name. I think of people such as Martin Luther, John Wycliffe, John Hus, William Tyndale, and Joan of Arc. "Christians" burned Christians at the stake in God's name. The anger I feel towards the leaders of those institutions that did so is not at all Christlike.
Throughout history and today, there have been and are many kinds of Christians ranging from those who merely call themselves such because of tradition to those who study Jesus Christ's word and follow it. Not all "Christians" are or have been well grounded in the Scriptures. I think that was an important point made by Thomas Jefferson in his letter to his nephew. I believe he counseled his nephew to reject human opinions of God and to discover the truth for himself.
Like the Bereans, I encourage everyone to examine Scriptures every day to see if they are so. There are far too many "Christians" and others who have failed to examine Scriptures at all for themselves. They rely upon preachers and others to tell them what is so without checking it out themselves.
Like Jefferson, I agree that our study should exceed our cultural and theological boundaries to the point of discomfort - break out of the bubble, as you say, If such study results in following a different path, that's what happens. God is sovereign and I do not always understand His plan. My path exceeded my cultural and theological boundaries to include New Age and Eastern philosophies. I embraced what I found true, but ultimately find the Bible to be the most reliable, credible, and consistent representation of God's intent for my life. If you have found something else in your life, embrace it, bear witness to it, be prepared for what God has planned for you. I am merely a sinner whom I believe God has forgiven through His Grace and the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Perhaps there are other or many paths to Heaven. Perhaps there is no Heaven. I just haven't seen any evidence that indicates to me that Jesus was wrong. I can only bear witness to my life as my testimony.
Do Go Be Man
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Posted Sunday, January 10, 2010 5:58 PM
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Perhaps relevant to the original topic of this thread, I received the text below as an e-mail. Do you know what your state Constitution says about God?
I verified only about 20% of them myself, but found someone who claimed they did:
The Fifty States Reference God in their Constitutions
Do Go Be Man
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Do You Know the Preamble for Your State?
Alabama 1901: We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution...
Alaska 1956: We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.
Arizona 1911: We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...
Arkansas 1874: We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to [i]Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government... [/i]
California 1879: We, the People of the State of California, grateful to [i]Almighty God for our freedom... [/i]
Colorado 1876: We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the [i]Supreme Ruler of Universe...[/i]
Connecticut 1818: The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.
Delaware 1897: Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences.
Florida 1885: We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...
Georgia 1777: We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...
Hawaii 1959: We , the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish this Constitution.
Idaho 1889: We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.
Illinois 1870: We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
Indiana 1851: We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.
Iowa 1857: We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution.
Kansas 1859: We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.
Kentucky 1891: We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties..
Louisiana 1921: We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.
Maine 1820: We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity... And imploring His aid and direction.
Maryland 1776: We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...
Massachusetts 1780: We,the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction
Michigan 1908: We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this Constitution.
Minnesota, 1857: We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:
Mississippi 1890: We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.
Missouri 1845: We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness. Establish this Constitution...
Montana 1889: We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution...
Nebraska 1875: We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . Establish this Constitution.
Nevada 1864: We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...
New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V: Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.
New Jersey 1844: We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
New Mexico 1911: We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty..
New York 1846: We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.
North Carolina 1868: We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those...
North Dakota 1889: We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...
Ohio 1852: We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common.
Oklahoma 1907: Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this
Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2: All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences
Pennsylvania 1776: We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance....
Rhode Island 1842: We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing...
South Carolina, 1778: We, the people of he State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
South Dakota 1889: We, the people of South Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties.
Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III: That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...
Texas 1845: We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.
Utah 1896: Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.
Vermont 1777: Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man.
Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI: Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other.
Washington 1889: We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution
West Virginia 1872: Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God...
Wisconsin 1848: We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility...
Wyoming 1890: We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution...
After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong! If you found this to be 'Food for thought' send to as many as you think will be enlightened as I hope you were.
(Please note that at no time is anyone told that they MUST worship God.)
GOD BLESS AMERICA
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Posted Sunday, January 10, 2010 6:00 PM
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You mentioned earlier the idea of endangering children (which Linda later snipped and highlighted) and my comment was about that. I’m not sure why you would switch gears, but it seemed to me that you were taking a noble and benevolent stand for children, which is commendable. But now it appears that your comment was merely an opportunistic ploy to cast aspersions at Christian Science.
Also Linda stated,
“The point is that people shouldn't be allowed to physically harm their children in the name of religion (any religion).”
If you have done any research at all you would very easily find out that medical care physically harms a large number of children each year. So, if you and Linda are sincere in your regard for the safety of children your efforts would be much better served in exploring the medical care angle. Personally, I’ve found that precise numbers are a little hard to come by though. This in no way means that I think modern medicine is bad. Doctors are doing an incredible job considering what patients lay at their feet. I have nothing but the utmost respect for them.
Then you bring up “qualifications of physicians to Christian Science practitioners”. So then I’m wondering. How long did Jesus instruct his disciples to qualify them to take patients? How long did the disciples teach their students? How long did Paul and Silas teach their pupils? Was the eunuch qualified after his brief meeting with Peter?
Paul said that knowledge shall vanish away, so where should our focus be? Matter based knowledge, or spiritual based understanding? What will stand the test of eternity?
Assuming that you would choose the later, I certainly would, maybe we could consider this.
Jesus said, John 17:20 (New Living Translation)
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.
Wow! Jesus prayed for you and me. That’s special. How effective is his prayer? Is the effect of his prayer based on his expectations or ours? If ours how much time is an acceptable amount to you to increase our expectations, and serve him?
Have you ever had a physical problem and wished you could pick up a phone and call Jesus to pray for you? Well, he already has. Before we call, he has answered. How much time should we spend discovering his answer?
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Posted Sunday, January 10, 2010 7:15 PM
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Anonymous January 10, 2010 @ 8:00:31 PM,
If you have done any research at all you would very easily find out that medical care physically harms a large number of children each year.
Why do you insist on that about which you know nothing? You have no sense of the amount and kind of research I've done. As I said earlier, we could come up with a large number of horror stories about medical care. I have personal experience with the horrors of medical care as well as those of Christian Science care.
In many cases, believe it or not, I agree that parents should have the right to choose Christian Science care for their children. I would probably not personally agree with their choice as the most effective means of care. I would, however, certainly prefer a child be cared for by a legitimate Christian Science practitioner following the actual teachings of Mary Baker Eddy to care by some unqualified medical quack on the verge of having his license revoked.
There are far too many illegitimate practitioners and students of Christian Science at large these days and too little evidence of effective oversight. There are also too many poorly qualified physicians still in practice. Fortunately (providentially), doctors have generally effective oversight that practitioners and students of Christian Science lack along with empirical evidence. Ain't perfect by any means, but at least it's there. I have more objective oversight as a certified first aid / CPR provider than I did as a Christian Scientist.
A doctor once told me that until the beginning of the modern age of medicine, around World War II, that it's likely Christian Science might have been able to demonstrate almost or as good a rate of effectiveness as medicine. It had not been that long since the work of Dr. Semmelweis was ridiculed by the medical community.
Good question about how long did Jesus instruct His Disciples until they could heal as quickly, effectively, and readily as He did. What does the Bible say about that? Also, what does the Bible say about the ability of His Disciples to teach their students to heal as quickly, effectively, and readily as Jesus?
In the context of Christian Science, was Mary Baker Eddy able to heal as quickly, effectively, and readily as Jesus? How about her students? The students of her students? Can you document any living practitioner or student of Christian Science equal to Jesus' actual ability to heal or even Mary Baker Eddy's alleged ability to heal? How effective is your healing ability? Can you heal as well as Jesus did? Please note, I am not talking about anecdotes in the Sentinel or Wednesday evening claims of healing colds with a week to ten days of diligent prayer and study.
Yes, Jesus prayed for "the people whom (The Father) gave (The Son) out of the world" and "those who will believe in (The Son)". It is special. That there remain those who are with Jesus and believe after two thousand years prove the High Priestly Prayer He prayed is effective. His word shall not pass away.
How much time should we spend discovering his answer?
I've shared the apocryphal story of the man and his flooded house a couple of times. How long did he wait for God's answer to his prayer? Too many Christian Scientists would stand next to a waterfall praying for water to relieve their thirst while ignoring the water fountain next to the trail.
Do Go Be Man
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Posted Sunday, January 10, 2010 7:49 PM
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| Anonymous, Anonymous (1/10/2010)
Jesus said, John 17:20 (New Living Translation)
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.
Wow! Jesus prayed for you and me... Standard modus operandi for the Christian Scientist & believers in universal salvation in general- to quote single verses in an effort to get the text to say something it is not saying. Despite the appearances of this single verse, it is invalid for just anyone to assume that Jesus "prayed for you & for me". The true seeker will read the chapter containing the verse. the book containing the chapter, & the bible as a whole before thinking that he has the blessing of Jesus' prayers. The context, just 11 verses prior in this same prayer: John 17:9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. How do we know of whom He is speaking? This question brings up another CS "fav" verse to disambiguate by context: "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." This time, the CSist can't even quote a complete sentence! John 8:31-32 (ESV) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." The true disciples, the ones Jesus was actually praying for, both then & now, are the ones abiding in His complete Word, instead of just a scattering of verse intended to make them feel good about themselves. zoarean
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Posted Monday, January 11, 2010 9:29 AM
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“Why do you insist on that about which you know nothing?”
Huh? What ever are you talking about? I clearly said, “If you have done any research at all you would very easily find out that medical care physically harms a large number of children each year.” Now, I realize that “If” is not a big word but in this instance it’s pretty significant.
“In the context of Christian Science, was Mary Baker Eddy able to heal as quickly, effectively, and readily as Jesus? How about her students?”
So then you must obviously agree with the old adage to stay out of the water till you learn to swim.
How silly. Just exactly how and when do we follow Jesus commandments and actually trust him as our Savior?
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Posted Monday, January 11, 2010 9:42 AM
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Surely you’re not suggesting that snipping phrases out of context is solely a practice of Christian Scientists. Is this what you’re suggesting? Seems that Jesus used this method of teaching as well as Paul. And my goodness, but I’ve heard some pretty high powered preachers do this as well.
And thank goodness they do and did. After all, the Bible is the “word” of God and not the “phrase” of God, or “chapter” of God, or the “passage” of God. Of course all this is true, i.e. word, phrase, chapter, passage, etc. and I don’t know about you but as I go about my day and listening for God’s direction what often comes to my mind are the pertinent messages, either a word or phrase that guides me. I can’t think of a single time when I heard the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation as an answer to my prayer. If that’s how you do it, fine, good for you. But this by no means allows you to set the standard for me.
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Posted Monday, January 11, 2010 10:34 AM
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Anonymous January 11, 2010 @ 11:29:02 AM / 11:42:22 AM,
Huh? What ever are you talking about? I clearly said, "If you have done any research at all you would very easily find out that medical care physically harms a large number of children each year." Now, I realize that "If" is not a big word but in this instance it’s pretty significant.
Oh my. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Did you not intend to imply that I had done no research of medical care? Please accept my apologies for finding your surprise somewhat disingenuous.
So then you must obviously agree with the old adage to stay out of the water till you learn to swim.
Please refrain from making false assumptions about my beliefs and putting words in my mouth. What does the Bible and the historical record say about how long Jesus instructed His Disciples until they could heal as quickly, effectively, and readily as He did. Please be sure to address what the Bible says about the ability of His Disciples to teach their students to heal as quickly, effectively, and readily as Jesus. As a result of your documented healing, how many of the blind now see? How many lame now walk? How many lepers have you cleansed? What was it like to raise the dead? Can you document any living Christian Scientists able to heal as quickly, effectively, and readily as Jesus?
Based on my experience with Christian Science and Christian Scientists, My questions are, as you indicate, silly. I should know better than to expect a Christian Scientist to answer something according to what the Bible states.
Surely you’re not suggesting that snipping phrases out of context is solely a practice of Christian Scientists.
Surely you're not suggesting that snipping phrases out of context to the exclusion the full context and intent is a valid approach to Bible study. My, my, my. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Is that what you're suggesting?
Yes, Jesus and Paul referenced many Scriptural passages. They did so, however, respecting the original meaning and context. Redefining the language aside for now, Christian Scientists and even some high-powered preachers often ignore the original meaning and context. Zorean provided an excellent example:
John 8:31-32 (ESV) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
To whom was Jesus speaking and what was the conditional phrase? Have you noticed that at the end of that chapter that the Jews to whom He was speaking picked up stones to throw at Him? They didn't get it except they understood that Jesus claimed to be God. They were going to stone Him, not because they were frustrated with His words but because by stating, "I am", He invoked the name of God for Himself.
Do Go Be Man
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