A.W. Tozer put it this way: "If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference."
With all the talk of late about being "seeker sensitive", here's a daring thought: how about being "God sensitive"? Instead of catering to what people want, perhaps we should consider what God wants? Rather than conducting human-centered surveys to discern direction and mission, shouldn't we be asking the Holy Spirit to lead us? Instead of inclining our ears to church marketing consultants, might it not be better to consider the way of the Lord? Rather than brazenly, openly, and without shame trying to please men, why not aim to please the Lord?
If we turn our focus from men to the Lord, perhaps He will really show up in our meetings. If He does, a few people might get uncomfortable, but those who are truly seeking Him will run with delight to be in His presence.
Or, if we think it a better approach, we could just continue in the sleazy, man-made, humanistic, God-absent tricks and techniques of the "church growth movement" that would work just as well for the Mormons (or any other cult).
1 Thes 2:3-6 (NIV) For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.
Gal 1:10 (Jer) So now, whom am I trying to please--man or God? Would you say it is men's approval I am looking for? If I still wanted that, I should not be what I am--a servant of Christ.
2 Cor 4:2 (NRS) We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
Eph 4:14-15 (NIV) Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
2 comments:
Never saw that quote by Tozer before but I think he's probably right. We're so busy creating flashy programs and looking for the 'next move of God' that we can't even see when God moves!
We can't see the forest for the trees!
I like your question about being God sensitive- amazingly if we start being sensitive towards God we might actually find ourselves being sensitive to people instead of surrounded by a culture of pretention.
Yes, Alex, thanks for the comment. Probably there is "nothing new under the sun" since Tozer must be addressing things that were happening in his day too!
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