p. 11 | LEARN TO SAY "I." by G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Oct 11, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 41.

LEARN TO SAY "I."

By G.

How MUCH better a confession of faults would sound if the personal pronoun "I" were used instead of "we." It would be more pointed, more influential, more exemplary, and would not have the appearance of trying to hide under the real or imaginary faults of others. For instance, we read in a contemporary, over an individual signature, "We live far beneath our privileges." Why did he not say, "I live far beneath my privileges"? An individual confession can be reached, and helped; it shows a desire for help. But to lump all the brethren into an individual confession is simply a general accusation. The "accuser of the brethren" is Satan. How often we hear the complaint, "The whole church is dead;" or, "The whole church needs converting;" or, "We, every one of us, are backslidden"! If the personal pronoun "I" comes in at all, it comes apologetically: "I can't live a Christian life in such a church; I just feel like going off by myself, where I can live right;" or, "I can't do any good where the church is in such a deplorable condition," etc., etc. The judgment is a personal matter between the individual and God. "Every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom. 14:12.