The Tragedy of Lost Devotion
A. W. Tozer
Back in the 1970’s I can remember many preachers thundering in their pulpits about the dangers of the “Deeper Life” movement. They declared it to be at odds with the spirit of soul-winning and evangelism. Yet, the preponderance of the lack of any depth of modern-day believers has become the present strangler of soul-winning. As with any theological point, it is easy to “go to seed” and miss other important issues.
In his book The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer addresses the problem that is produced by those who fail to have depth in their walk with the Lord. He writes. . .
“We have been trying to apply machine-age methods to our relations with God. We read our chapter, have our short devotions and rush away, hoping to make up for our deep inward bankruptcy by attending another gospel meeting or listening to another thrilling story told by a religious adventurer lately returned from afar. The tragic results of this spirit are all about us. Shallow lives, hollow religious philosophies, the preponderance of the element of fun in gospel meetings, the glorification of men, trust in religious externalities, quasi-religious fellowships, salesmanship methods, the mistaking of dynamic personality for the power of the Spirit: These and such as these are the symptoms of an evil disease, a deep and serious malady of the soul.” [A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, 1948) pp. 69-70]
Since this classic book was written in 1948, and what Tozer saw the church of his day, what would Tozer think of much of the church of our day? Although Tozer has passed away, what about the One who will never pass away? How does God view His church today? He yearns for intimate fellowship with His people. Do we have the same yearning for Him?
Tags: Communion, Deeper Life, Devotion, God, Pursuit, Soul-Winning, Tozer
