Religious Complexity Produces Shallow Faith

“Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations, and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of our worship, and that servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we, in this day, know God only imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all.”

So wrote A.W. Tozer—about 56 years ago.

I grew up with the Tozer name. He was a mid-century pastor/preacher in the Chicago area for many years and later in Toronto. Converted to Christ in his earliest adulthood, he lacked educational credentials, but he excelled in a hunger for God and an ability to absorb immense amounts of information through reading (especially the Christian classics from the early fathers and later Catholic and Protestant writers). His best-known books, Knowledge of the Holy and Pursuit of God (the above quote comes from the latter) are merely two of the scores of titles attributed to his authorship. His wealth of insight about the nature of God was staggering. He had a nagging way of reminding people that all of the Americanized Christianity was several cuts below a faith in which one kneels breathless before Almighty God. His poignant comments regarding worship (or the lack of it) make almost anything being said about the subject today seem like froth.

Tozer was shy when it came to pastoring people one on one. He was tough and confrontational in the pulpit. He was impatient with people whose Christian life was the sum of their doctrines and little more. But he excelled in the practice of intercessory prayer. He was known to have a set of bib overalls which he would put on over his shirt and tie. So dressed, he would prostrate himself on the floor of his study and pray. I have talked to people who shared this experience with him.

Tozer longed to see the church make a simple, repentant return to God. “History has recorded several large-scale returns led by such men as St. Francis, Martin Luther and George Fox,” Tozer wrote. “Unfortunately there seems to be no Luther or Fox on the horizon at present,” he went on to lament. “What God in His sovereignty may yet do on a world scale I do not claim to know: but what He will do for the plain man or woman who seeks his face I believe I do know and can tell others … any man who by repentance and a sincere return to God will break himself out of the mold in which he has been held, and will go to the Bible itself for this spiritual standards, will be delighted with what he finds there.” Tozer saw himself as a plain person.

Each year or two, I break out my Tozer books and let him remind me that being a child of God is no small matter. It’s been that time again, and I just had to tell you about the man.

From politics: We who live in New Hampshire have grown used to hearing political ads on TV which all end with these words: “My name is (insert your candidate of choice), and I authorized this message.” In other words, the candidate is saying that he got a second chance to make sure that anything attributed to him has been reviewed to make sure it says what he means—and believes. How convenient it would be if I could review all of my words and all aspects of my conduct before they gained the attention of others (and God) and could withdraw, modify or (occasionally) authorize them. I could almost reach the level of classical sainthood. But, alas, it doesn’t seem to work that way. That’s why I spend time repenting.

Books: You will impress people if you have a copy of George Marsden’s new biography Jonathan Edwards: A Life (Yale University Press, 2003) in a visible location in your home or office. You will grow (both smart and spiritually deeper) if you read it.

To brood on: If our generation is surrounded with every techno-gimmick imaginable, opportunities to travel the world, information piled higher and deeper, chances to communicate with a bevy of acquaintances a hundred times larger than our grandparents imagined, why is it being said that the hottest book on the shelf (14 million and counting) is Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life (Zondervan, 2003)? The New York Times reports a study that 71 percent of Americans dislike their work. Any connections?

By the way, I love my work and give thanks daily that anyone (beginning with God) gives me the chance to do what I do. But I’ve still read the book.

Gordon MacDonald is chair of World Relief and editor at large of Leadership.

Gordon and Gail MacDonald will lead a brand new, day-long seminar on “Ordering Your Private World” at the National Pastors Convention in San Diego, March 9-13, and in Nashville, May 18-22. There’s still time to sign up and join us there: www.nationalpastorsconvention.com.

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