Reflecting on the Memoirs of Those Who Walked With God
A.W. Tozer critiques modern Christianity for its shallow state and lack of spiritual depth, encouraging believers to cultivate a deeper understanding of spiritual texts.
A.W. Tozer reflects on the current state of Christianity, lamenting that many believers prefer superficial religious experiences over deep spiritual engagement. He critiques the shift from a transcendental understanding of God to a utilitarian approach, where God is seen merely as a means to solve personal problems rather than as an object of profound love and devotion. Tozer emphasizes that true spiritual understanding requires a heart aligned with God, and that many modern Christians miss out on the richness of faith because they approach it with worldly interests. He warns that without a genuine connection to the spiritual depth found in the writings of saints, believers may resort to shallow forms of religious entertainment. Ultimately, Tozer calls for a return to the deep, transformative love of God that characterized the lives of historical saints.
Text
. . . Why do the majority of present day Christians prefer shallow religious fiction? Or uninspired Bible talks that never get beyond the "first principles"? Or one-page daily devotions? Or watered-down Christian biography? . . .
. . . present day evangelical Christianity is not producing saints. The whole concept of religious experience has shifted from the transcendental to the utilitarian. God is valued as being useful and Christ appreciated because of the predicaments He gets us out of. He can deliver us from the consequences of our past, relax our nerves, give us peace of mind and make our business a success. The all-consuming love that burns in the writings of an Augustine, a Bernard or a Rolle is foreign to the modern religious spirit. Like understands like and fails to comprehend what is unlike itself. The tortoise finds the mockingbird dull. Esau has no fellowship with Jacob. "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14).
To come to our devotions straight from carnal or worldly interests is to make it impossible to relish the deep, sweet thoughts found in the great books we are discussing here. We must know their heart-language, must vibrate in harmony with them, must share their inward experiences or they will mean nothing to us. Because we are too often strangers to their spiritual mood, we are unable to profit by them and are forced to turn to one or another form of religious entertainment to make our Christianity palatable enough to endure.
Sermon Outline
- The Shallow State of Modern Christianity
- Why do many Christians prefer shallow content?
- The shift from transcendental to utilitarian
- The consequences of this shift
Key Quotes
“The all-consuming love that burns in the writings of an Augustine, a Bernard or a Rolle is foreign to the modern religious spirit.” — A.W. Tozer
“Like understands like and fails to comprehend what is unlike itself.” — A.W. Tozer
“The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must come to our devotions with a spiritual mindset, sharing the inward experiences of the authors and vibrating in harmony with their heart-language.
- We must be willing to let go of our utilitarian view of God and Christ, and instead seek a deeper, more transcendent experience of the divine.
- We must be careful not to turn to 'religious entertainment' as a substitute for genuine spiritual growth and depth.