Do you have a favourite preacher or Christian author?
If I were to compile a list of all the greatest preachers of
all time, high on that list I would have to place A.W. Tozer (1897-1963). It has been said
that, “No one could say it like Tozer.”
I would have to agree.
This morning I began a journey through a two-volume set of books that I recently acquired called, “Tozer Speaks.” So far I’m only a few short chapters in, and I’m already
thoroughly enjoying it. From time to time, don’t be surprised if I post a few
nuggets here and there that I’ve gleaned from Tozer; he was clearly a great man
of God. Having said that, here’s a sample to whet your whistle:
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THE PSYCHOLOGIST CAN
NEVER EXPLAIN THE NEW BIRTH
The miracle of the new birth was foreshadowed in the Old
Testament.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit
within me.” There was at least a hint of a miracle within the human breast. Not
the reasoning of yourself into a position, but something happened that could
not be explained. … Just as soon as psychologists can explain what happens to a
Christian believer, that believer has been unfrocked!
Just the moment that a man’s experience in Christ can be
broken down and explained by the psychologists, we have a church member on our
hands – and not a Christian! For that which must happen in the new birth can
never be explained by psychology or psychiatry. He can only stand off
respectfully and say: “Behold the works of the Lord.” He can never explain it.
…
The New Testament draws a sharp line between those who had
become Christians by any other method, and those who experienced regenesis.
In that great and terrible day, there will be those white
with shock when they find that they have depended upon a mental assent to
Christianity instead of upon the miracle of the new birth!
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"You must be born
again (John 3:7)," said Jesus. Have you been "born again," or are you simply depending upon, as Tozer calls it, "a mental assent to Christianity," which really is no Christianity at all?
"A mental assent to Christianity"? Hmm, how many people have "become" Christians because there was nothing (or little) to loose by doing so.
ReplyDeleteMany people call themselves Christians (a "mental assent") but who have not actually been "born again." Could it be to such "Christians" that Jesus was referring to when He said, "I don't know you" (Matthew 25:12)? Hmm, I wonder.
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