AW Tozer still kicks my tail

I spent a couple of hours reading Tozer’s Man: the Dwelling Place of God today.  The whole thing smacked me upside the head.  Here’s a little taste…

A CHRISTIAN IS ONE WHO BELIEVES on Jesus Christ as Lord. With this statement every evangelical agrees. Indeed there would appear to be nothing else to do, since the New Testament is crystal clear about the matter.

This first acknowledgment of Christ as Lord and Saviour is usually followed by baptism and membership in a Protestant church, the one because it satisfies a craving for fellowship with others of like mind. A few Christians shy away from organized religion, but the vast majority, while they recognize the imperfections of the churches, nevertheless feel that they can serve their Lord better in the church than out of it.

There is, however, one serious flaw in all this: it is that many-would I overstate the case if I said the majority?-of those who confess their faith in Christ and enter into association with the community of believers have little joy in their hearts, no peace in their minds, and from all external appearances are no better morally than the ordinary educated citizen who takes no interest whatever in religion and, of course, makes no profession of Christianity. Why is this?

I believe it is the result of an inadequate concept of Christianity and an imperfect understanding of the revolutionary character of Christian discipleship.

Certainly there is nothing new in my conclusion. The evangelists are loud in their lamentation over the bodies of dead church members, as well they might be, and many thoughtful articles and books appear from time to time dealing with the serious hiatus between faith and practice among Christians.

Why then add another feeble voice to the many? Because many who lament the condition do not seem to know what to do about it, and because I believe that the way is plain, if hard, and that there is no excuse for going on at this poor dying rate when we can enjoy abundant life in Christ Jesus. True faith brings a spiritual and moral transformation and an inward witness that cannot be mistaken. These come when we stop believing in belief and start believing in the Lord Jesus Christ indeed.  (ch 15: True Faith is Active, Not Passive)

…little joy, no peace…no better than those who make no profession of Christianity…

…the way is plain, if hard…

…true faith brings a spiritual and moral transformation…

We spent some time today in our pre-staff meeting talking about discipleship, going deeper in our faith and relationship with Jesus, Calvary’s culture, our approach to making disciples.  It was a good conversation.

I don’t think that the problem with discipleship starts with a lack of information.  We live in the information age.  There is more good Bible teaching out “there” than ever before (along with a truckload of bad Bible teaching…buyer beware.)  It’s not difficult to find quality instruction, a sharp mentor, or a small group of like-minded Jesus followers to do life with.

I believe the problem is with us.  Tozer states that an inadequate concept of Christianity and an imperfect understanding of the revolutionary character of Christian discipleship are at the heart of the matter.  I dont believe that he is advocating for more/better teaching (though we can never have too much sound instruction), but that our understanding of the subject matter leaves much to be desired.

The Good News about Jesus is not simply information; it’s transformation.  If I do not breathe in, absorb, embody, and respond to the teaching of Jesus, then I am missing the point.  It would be like starving to death in a grocery store.  Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ must lead to action in my life.  The teachings of Jesus are meant to transform me, to put to death the things that belong to my sinful nature, and to bring to life the things which are from God.

I don’t think we have an information problem.  We have an application problem.  That leads to a transformation problem.

OK, this is long, so I’m going to close and go read some more.  And apply what I read.