Cheap Religion
A.W. Tozer warns against the dangers of cheap religion, which prioritizes external appearances and quick results over a deep, personal relationship with God.
Charles Simeon emphasizes that true wisdom is a gift from God, tracing all wisdom back to Him as its author. Spiritual wisdom, in contrast to worldly wisdom, involves living in light of God's revealed will and applying this knowledge to specific situations. Paul highlights that human wisdom is insufficient to comprehend God's plan for salvation, as it is the Holy Spirit who imparts spiritual wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to judge correctly and follow the best course of action based on knowledge and understanding, ultimately coming from God.
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What passes for Christianity in our day is cheap religion! To listen to the current concepts of Christianity, we would conclude it is little more than bits of beautiful poetry, a man-made bouquet of fragrant flowers, a kindly smile for our neighbor and a couple of good deeds on behalf of a brother or sister. When I consider some of the elements now offered in Christianity as acceptable religion, I have to restrain myself lest I speak too disapprovingly. I fear my words would be so strong that I would have to repent of them! And I read in the Scriptures that there are some things God does not want us to say even about the devil. What do we find surfacing in much of our Christian fellowship?
The complaint that God takes a long time to work out His will.
We do not want to take the time to plow and cultivate. We want the fruit and the harvest right away. We do not want to be engaged in any spiritual battle that takes us into the long night. We want the morning light right now! We do not want the cross-we are more interested in the crown!
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Cheap Religion
- Characteristics of Cheap Religion
- A Man-Made Bouquet of Fragrant Flowers
- A Kindly Smile and Good Deeds
Key Quotes
“What passes for Christianity in our day is cheap religion!” — A.W. Tozer
“We do not want to take the time to plow and cultivate. We want the fruit and the harvest right away.” — A.W. Tozer
“We do not want the cross-we are more interested in the crown!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must prioritize spiritual growth and development over external appearances and actions.
- A deep, personal relationship with God is essential for a true and meaningful faith.
- We must be willing to engage in spiritual battles and persevere through difficult times in order to experience true spiritual growth.