That Narrow Gate
The hope of the church lies in the purity of her theology, based on the accuracy of her beliefs about God and man.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of maintaining pure and accurate beliefs in Christianity, warning against the trend of relativism that allows personal choice to dictate religious truth. He critiques the rise of ambiguous religious literature that dilutes sound Christian thinking and encourages believers to examine the clarity and accuracy of their theology. Tozer asserts that the hope of the church lies in its adherence to the truths revealed in Scripture, which provide a clear understanding of God and humanity's relationship. He calls for a return to foundational beliefs that have stood the test of time, rather than adapting faith to fit cultural or social norms.
Text
Positive beliefs are not popular these days. A mistaken desire to maintain a spirit of tolerance among all races and religions has produced a breed of Januslike Christians with built-in swivels, remarkable only for their ability to turn in any direction gracefully. The philosophy behind this whole thing is that religious beliefs are matters of personal choice, and that the Lord adapts His saving truth to the individual, varying it according to the cultural background, educational level and social situation of each one. Whatever this is, it is not Christianity.
A number of popular religious books have appeared of late quite literally filled with swivel-words of uncertain meaning; and because these were written by persons ostensibly evangelical they have been accepted and promoted by the evangelicals. And they are having a real influence on Christian thin king; or more to the point, they are making sound Christian thinking impossible for those who read and admire them. We had better take a good hard look at these books. If the authors will not stand still to let their meanings be examined, there is probably a good reason. Great ideas have a habit of inhabiting the same great words generation after generation. To ignore or reject the word is to reject the idea.
The hope of the church yet lies in the purity of her theology, that is, her beliefs about God and man and their relation to each other. These beliefs have been revealed to her by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the sacred Scriptures. Everything there is clear-cut and accurate. We dare not be less than accurate in our treatment of anything so precious.
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Tolerance
- The Influence of Popular Books
- The Importance of Purity of Theology
- The hope of the church lies in the accuracy of her beliefs about God and man
- These beliefs are revealed in the Bible and must be treated with accuracy
Key Quotes
“Whatever this is, it is not Christianity.” — A.W. Tozer
“Great ideas have a habit of inhabiting the same great words generation after generation.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must be careful not to compromise our Christian beliefs in order to be tolerant of other views.
- We must be discerning in what we read and promote, and avoid books that promote unclear language and humanistic philosophies.
- We must prioritize the accuracy of our theology and be willing to stand by our beliefs, even if they are unpopular.