The Preacher's We

There is a fallacy that has the name The Preacher's We. It is a fallacy because the preacher says We when he / she really means You. One gets the preachers who play it safe -- the gospel applies rather to us: "Do we not agree, dear brothers and sisters, about these things?" Or, the gospel applies rather to them there: "Do you see, my friends, what the Corinthians were doing?" And then, one gets the preachers who hardly apply the gospel at all. OBSERVATION: My style as a minister has been to say You -- this gospel applies to You. But this must be done redemptively and compassionately and kindly. I dislike preachers who play it safe -- however, I think it is true to say that they play it safe -- it is a hazard to be direct -- whether it be about salvation, money, equality, sexuality, ministry, anything.