Waiting for God
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of cultivating a deep knowledge of God and warns against the dangers of the philosophy of activism, which prioritizes work and activity over a relationship with Christ.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of waiting on God and cultivating a deep knowledge of Him, warning against the distractions of a busy, activity-driven culture that often overshadows true spiritual growth. He critiques the modern church's focus on constant activity, suggesting that this 'gospel of work' can lead to burnout and a disconnect from the Lord of the work. Tozer argues that genuine fellowship and spiritual vitality come from a relationship with Christ, not merely from busy schedules filled with church activities. He calls for a return to the foundational practices of prayer, doctrine, and breaking of bread as the true essence of Christian fellowship.
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I am convinced that the dearth of great saints in these times even among those who truly believe in Christ is due at least in part to our unwillingness to give sufficient time to the cultivation of the knowledge of God. We of the nervous West are victims of the philosophy of activism tragically misunderstood. Getting and spending, going and returning, organizing and promoting, buying and selling, working and playing--this alone constitutes living. If we are not making plans or working to carry out plans already made we feel that we are failures, that we are sterile, unfruitful eunuchs, parasites on the body of society.
The gospel of work, as someone has called it, has crowded out the gospel of Christ in many Christian churches. In an effort to get the work of the Lord done we often lose contact with the Lord of the work and quite literally wear our people out as well. I have heard more than one pastor boast that his church was a ?live? one, pointing to the printed calendar as a proof--something on every night and several meetings during the day. Of course this proves nothing except that the pastor and the church are being guided by a bad spiritual philosophy.
A great many of these time-consuming activities are useless and others plain ridiculous. ?But,? say the eager beavers who run the religious squirrel cages, ?they provide fellowship and they hold our people together.? To this I reply that what they provide is not fellowship at all, and if that is the best thing the church has to offer to hold the people together it is not a Christian church in the New Testament meaning of that word. The center of attraction in a true church is the Lord Jesus Christ. As for fellowship, let the Holy Spirit define it for us: ?And they continued stedfastly in the apostles? doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers? (Acts 2:42).
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Modern Christianity
- The Philosophy of Activism
- The Consequences of this Philosophy
- A True Church Focuses on Christ
- Fellowship Defined by the Holy Spirit
- Not Merely Social Gatherings
Key Quotes
“We of the nervous West are victims of the philosophy of activism tragically misunderstood.” — A.W. Tozer
“If we are not making plans or working to carry out plans already made we feel that we are failures, that we are sterile, unfruitful eunuchs, parasites on the body of society.” — A.W. Tozer
“The gospel of work, as someone has called it, has crowded out the gospel of Christ in many Christian churches.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Make time to cultivate a deep knowledge of God, rather than just focusing on work and activity.
- Be careful not to prioritize social gatherings and activities over a genuine relationship with Christ.
- A true church should focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to define fellowship.