Leaning Toward Heresy
A low view of God is a deadly and insidious heresy that destroys the Christian appeal and leads to a moral calamity.
A.W. Tozer warns against the heresy that arises when the Christian church adopts a distorted view of God, leading to a tragic decline in the understanding of His majesty and presence. He emphasizes that substituting lofty concepts of God with low and ignoble ideas results in a moral calamity for believers, ultimately diminishing the appeal of Christianity. Tozer asserts that the true nature of God must be upheld to avoid the insidious consequences of heresy, reminding us that true transformation comes only through being 'born again' in Christ.
Text
When large numbers of adherents in the Christian churches come to believe that God is different from what He actually is, that concept becomes heresy of the most insidious and deadly kind! When the Christian church surrenders her once lofty concept of God and substitutes for it ideas so low, so ignoble as to be utterly unworthy, her situation is tragic indeed. Into the life and the practices of the church comes a whole new philosophy; and the sense of the divine Presence and the majesty of God is no longer known.
Although "morality" is no longer a popular word in our world, it is apparent that such low and unworthy concepts of God's Person actually constitute a moral calamity for professed believers in great segments of Christianity.
The records of both sacred and secular history show that low views of God will surely destroy the appeal of the Christian for all who hold them! To all sinners, Jesus said, "You must be born again-from above!" He knew that the gods begotten in the shadowy thoughts of the fallen sons and daughters of Adam will quite naturally be no true likeness of the true and living God!
Sermon Outline
- The Dangers of Low Views of God
- The Records of History
- The Call to Repentance
- The Need for Spiritual Birth
- The Difference Between True and False Gods
- The Destruction of Morality
Key Quotes
“When large numbers of adherents in the Christian churches come to believe that God is different from what He actually is, that concept becomes heresy of the most insidious and deadly kind!” — A.W. Tozer
“The records of both sacred and secular history show that low views of God will surely destroy the appeal of the Christian for all who hold them!” — A.W. Tozer
“He knew that the gods begotten in the shadowy thoughts of the fallen sons and daughters of Adam will quite naturally be no true likeness of the true and living God!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must be careful not to develop a low view of God that deviates from the true concept of God's nature and character.
- A true view of God is essential for maintaining a sense of the divine Presence and the majesty of God.
- We must repent and seek spiritual rebirth to distinguish between true and false gods.