Knowledge of the Holy
So I and some thirsty friends will, through this month, September 2018, read and analyze the work of AW Tozer, "Knowledge of the Holy."
Read that piece many years ago but rereading it now, it makes more sense and I find it absolutely piercing.
In his preface, he says the aim of the book is to contribute to a better understanding of the majesty in the heavens -- a reverent study of the attributes of God, which he thinks would not have been necessary were modern Christians reading Augustine and Anselm.
By that he meant were contemporary Christians reading the old guys and ancient Christians, they probably would not have lost the concept of majesty and that high and lofty view of God.
I very much can confirm that. Those ancient Christians, although not perfect, seem to have had a depth of devotion and quality of thought that exude much of contemporary Christianity, and that they got from a high and exalted view of God. He said: "Worship is pure or base as the worshipper entertains high or low thoughts of God."
“The heaviest obligation lying upon the Christian Church today is to purify and elevate her concept of God until it is once again more worthy of Him -- and of her. In all her prayers and labours this should have first place."
By that, when was the last time your pastor preached on the great doctrine of God? Have you ever heard your pastor preach on this grave and lofty subject of God divine? What does your pastor labour upon? To bring you to the sound and saving knowledge of God or to goad you to worldly success?
By that I thus ask again, that of all the many years you've been attending that church, can you say that you have come to know God as He is in Himself, not the God of contemporary times, but the God of Israel, the God of the prophets, and better than all, the God and father of the Lord Jesus Christ? Can you honestly say, that your church has helped you grow in that knowledge of God as to lay hold of eternal life? Do you know God? Get a church and a pastor with the mission and burden to help you know God. Be awakened from deadness to God to thirstings after God, the one and true living God. Selah.