Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/1890

1890 Spiritual flattening.... earthly violence....

April 17, 1941: Book 28

The most unmistakable sign of spiritual shallowness is the inclination and desire for the goods of this world. If humanity only knows this striving, spiritual wisdom can hardly be spread among it, for it has nothing to do with earthly success and is therefore not desirable. But it can never be assumed that spiritual striving could be utilized in an earthly way. Only where all desire for matter is suppressed can spiritual endeavour be crowned with success, i.e. the working of the spirit in man can also become visible. However, if humanity is only interested in increasing earthly prosperity, the working of the spirit in the human being is forbidden of its own accord, and the consequence of this is spiritual darkness, often to such an extent that the working of the spirit is regarded as human machination instead of a divine manifestation of strength and is therefore given little attention or faith. There are only very few courageous children of God who nevertheless represent what they have become aware of through spiritual experience, but these few will speak as if with the tongues of angels, even though they will be called to account by the earthly authorities for their opinion.... Nothing else is to be expected at a time when people are almost on the brink of destruction. And so the believers alone will not be able to do anything about them and will almost become despondent until the lord Himself unexpectedly expresses Himself, and this in an obvious way. People's spiritual shallowness is recognizable by the ignorance that speaks from every word, providing they take part in a conversation that digresses into the spiritual. They lack all concepts and they do not dwell on what they have heard for long either but regard the time spent on it as a waste of time. Consequently, they will never make any progress as they lack any knowledge, but in their stubbornness they do not accept any instruction either. There are only a few exceptions who immediately recognize the truth when it is offered to them. The desire for earthly possessions will not dominate their thoughts as much, even though they still regard it as the most important aspect of earthly life. These are people for whom earthly possessions, however great they may be, are no longer enough and who therefore, of their own accord, occupy themselves with thoughts which reach into the kingdom of the beyond. If spiritual truth is then presented to them, the good forces in the beyond will help them by influencing their thoughts and thus guide the person towards realization. The word of God must be proclaimed everywhere, even if the resistance is very great and seemingly no progress can be achieved. Where the divine word is offered, people with good will can also recognize it as the word of God because it speaks to them themselves. There the spiritual low is also not so alarming, i.e. not completely hopeless, because these people are willing and accessible to an instruction coming from above....

Amen

Translated by Doris Boekers