“A generation of Christians reared among push buttons and
automatic machines is impatient of slower and less direct
methods of reaching their goals. 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 (1897-1963), The Pursuit of God [1948]
A lot of times in this space I’ll expand on something I read or a thought that someone else conveyed. At times, though, there would be little of value that I could add, and I struggle with whether I should share the insight or just process it myself. This time, I decided to share.
The quotation is from A.W. Tozer and let me just say this. If the words he writes were true back in 1948, how much truer are they now?