"The stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of holy desire. Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth."
"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."
"O God, I have tasted your goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want You; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Your glory, I pray, that so I may know You indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, 'Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.' Then give me grace to rise and follow You up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
“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.”
Thank you for sharing this Robin. We have chosen in this season in our lives to remove ourselves from the hustle and bustle of programs, activities, and multiple services that has seemed to replace what it means to do church together. It has been painful at times. I never realized how much I relied on my busyness of church activities and relationships at church to fill a void that needed to be filled with a stronger desire for Christ instead. This is yet another reminder that we have made the right decision.
It’s amazing how the Church was fighting these things even when Tozer was writing.
We’re in a new church that doesn’t have the resources/people for this kind of activity. That means that to experience community, we have make an effort. It is so much harder than I would have thought! Though I know this is better, I admit that sometimes I wish for something easier.
Thanks for the encouragement to focus on what matters.
Heather, OH how I hear you!! We’re in a season of church hunting, moving from the Body we’ve been a part of for seven years. It’s hard to say the least but we’re certain it’s time to move (long story I’ll never write about publicly). Your intention is impressive because I understand how hard it is! Tozer’s classic is articulating many of the reasons for our discontent…which is mostly an absence of God Himself….
Thanks for sharing a piece of your heart.
Monica, yeah, you know what Heather and I are talkin’ about :). It is NOT easy to venture outside of the comfortable, even in church. Especially in church? What we all want is someone else to make the effort, to extend friendship to us; to invite us; to reach out to us. But it’s not about us, daggum it…. I say this with a small smile, knowing that effort is HARD but right. The more I know God the more I want to know Him…and be his vessel for service to those who have hurt…just like me.