God's Word Stands Forever
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the need for a reformation in modern Christianity, calling for a return to the truth of the Bible and a rejection of liberal and modernist interpretations.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the enduring truth of God's Word, arguing against the modern tendency to reinterpret Scripture in light of contemporary beliefs and societal changes. He calls for a reformation in the faith of Christians, urging them to affirm the Bible's relevance and authority rather than viewing it as outdated or mistaken. Tozer critiques the notion that the teachings of the prophets and apostles are no longer applicable, asserting that God's truth remains constant and unchanging despite cultural shifts. He challenges believers to reject the idea that the Bible needs to be reassessed and to stand firm in their faith in its timeless message.
Text
. . . Here is where we need a reformation, a purgation, a removal of the faults and a restoration again of the faith of Christians to a belief in the truth. May Christians say, without a question, "Yes, that is true." Actually, I suppose they would not like to have it put to them like that: People do not like the most realistic constructions. What would the liberals and modernists say if you backed them in a corner with the question, "Do you think God has been forced to change His mind?"
I do not think anybody would quite have the courage to say yes. Nevertheless, they do say it little by little until they have brainwashed their people. In effect, they say that the Bible must be interpreted in the light of new developments. A book that was written in the day when people rode donkeys must be reinterpreted to mesh with contemporary society. They say that the prophets and apostles mistook what God intended to do. The Bible is outmoded and largely irrelevant. Irrelevant means that it is not related to anything.
Outmoded means we have new modes of thinking and living now, so the Bible is out-of-date--a back-issue magazine. We must, therefore, reassess its teachings and rethink our beliefs and hopes. I am not overstating this at all. This is what is being taught today. It gets into the newspapers, and people are saying that the Bible must be interpreted in the light of all these changes. The apostles and prophets were mistaken. They had ideas that were good and advanced for their day, but not advanced for our day.
We know more about ourselves, human motivation and the nature of things than they did back then. Therefore a book written when people thought the earth was flat and the sun rose in the morning, crossed over the earth and went down into the sea cannot possibly be taken seriously. While it certainly contains some beautiful poetry and some marvelously inspiring thoughts about human nature and the world in which we live, nevertheless all this is to be understood and reinterpreted, reassessed and rethought.
Sermon Outline
- The Need for Reformation
- A return to the truth of the Bible
- A removal of the faults of modern Christianity
Key Quotes
“What would the liberals and modernists say if you backed them in a corner with the question, 'Do you think God has been forced to change His mind?'” — A.W. Tozer
“A book that was written in the day when people rode donkeys must be reinterpreted to mesh with contemporary society.” — A.W. Tozer
“We must, therefore, reassess its teachings and rethink our beliefs and hopes.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Christians must be willing to return to the truth of the Bible, even if it challenges their modern way of thinking.
- We must not reinterpret the Bible to fit our contemporary society, but rather allow it to shape our understanding of the world.
- A true reformation requires a willingness to rethink our beliefs and hopes in light of God's Word.