The idea of cultivation and exercise [of the Christian faith], so dear to the saints of old, has now no place in our total religious picture. It is too slow, too common. We now demand glamour and fast-flowing dramatic action. 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 symptoms of an evil disease, a deep and serious malady of the soul.
A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, p.65
Yes, we are far too much me and my focused and not enough Messiah and Message focused.
ReplyDeleteOur hearts cry for more of God,but the words - be still and know that I AM God do not cross our mind.
That old time religion, was good enough for me.
Anything of worth (and our faith is of utmost worth) takes time and diligence to cultivate.
ReplyDelete1 Tim 4:7-8
Our microwave and instant-gratification culture cannot be superimposed onto our walk with Christ.
We're also guilty of having unrealistic expectations of ourselves, fellow believers, and the lost. Patience, patience, patience. God is faithful.
-carolyn