'Christian Entertainment In The Church' A.W.Tozer

CLICK 480P RIGHT ABOVE360P FOR HIGH QUALITY.Do we want carnal flesh inspired services or Spirit inspired godly worship that exalts God and preaching that includes "reproof, rebuke, correction, and exhortation"? Do we have to lower God's holy standards in order to draw a crowd of false converts who are lovers of pleasure and yet ignorant of the attributes of God? Do we want carnal candy from the pulpit or solid biblical preaching that feeds the flock? Do we want to be comfortable in our sin sitting on a nice padded pew, or are we hungry for the Truth?

A.W. Tozer is considered to be one of the godliest pastors in the last hundred years. A man who deeply loved God and deeply loved the truth. Tozer was used in his day and now in ours through his books to call us to turn back to biblical Christianity and to worship God according to the truth from a heart that longs for Him alone. Tozer is quoted often by men of God in their own sermons and writings. He was a man who spent hours in worship and was a close friend of Leonard Ravenhill. Reading any of his books will challenge you and stir your soul.

Here is a short biography on Tozer's life.

"Hailing from a tiny farming community in western Pennsylvania, his conversion was as a teenager in Akron, Ohio. While on his way home from work at a tire company, he overheard a street preacher say: "If you don't know how to be saved... just call on God." Upon returning home, he climbed into the attic and heeded the preachers advice.

In 1919, five years after his conversion, and without formal theological training, Tozer accepted an offer to pastor his first church. This began 44 years of ministry, associated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), a Protestant evangelical denomination; 33 of those years were served as a pastor in a number of churches. His first pastorate was in a small storefront church in Nutter Fort, West Virginia. Tozer also served as pastor for 30 years at Southside Alliance Church, in Chicago (1928 to 1959), and the final years of his life were spent as pastor of Avenue Road Church, in Toronto, Canada. In observing contemporary Christian living, he felt that the church was on a dangerous course toward compromising with "worldly" concerns.

In 1950, Tozer received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Wheaton College. It was May 1950, when Tozer was elected editor of the Alliance Weekly magazine, now called, Alliance Life, the official publication of the C&MA. From his first editorial, dated June 3, 1950, he wrote, "It will cost something to walk slow in the parade of the ages, while excited men of time rush about confusing motion with progress. But it will pay in the long run and the true Christian is not much interested in anything short of that." In 1952, he received an LL.D. degree from Houghton College.[2]

Among the more than 40 books that he authored, at least two are regarded as Christian classics: The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy. His books impress on the reader the possibility and necessity for a deeper relationship with God.

Living a simple and non-materialistic lifestyle, he and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, never owned a car, preferring bus and train travel. Even after becoming a well-known Christian author, Tozer signed away much of his royalties to those who were in need.

Tozer had seven children, six boys and one girl. He was buried in Ellet Cemetery, Akron, Ohio, with a simple epitaph marking his grave: "A. W. Tozer - A Man of God."[3]

Prayer was of vital personal importance for Tozer. "His preaching as well as his writings were but extensions of his prayer life," comments his biographer, James L. Snyder, in the book, In Pursuit of God: The Life Of A.W. Tozer. "He had the ability to make his listeners face themselves in the light of what God was saying to them," writes Snyder."

Scriptures:

2 Timothy 3:4-5 "...Lover of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"

Amos 5:21 "I hate, I despise your feast days and I do not savor you sacred assemblies. vs 22 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard you fattened peace offerings. vs 23 Take away from Me the noise of you songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments."

Revelation 3:15 "I know your works, that you and neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. vs 16 So then, because you are luke warm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. vs 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked...vs 20 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent."

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Tozer
• ravenhill
• apostasy
• revival
• reformation
• worldliness
• last
• days
• worship
• church
• entertainment
• lukewarmness
• repentance
• reverence

[Beingraylb1967]

Bishop J. Delano Eliis, once told me (a new Pastor) something I will never forget. He said "Preach the church up; No gimmicks." Unfortunately gimmicks are what people want, who has the best choir, the best dance team, the most charismatic preacher. Some of these things are fine if they are done with a pure heart and they give all glory to God. But more and more churches have resorted to gimmicks and/or taxing the people to accomplish their corporate goals. When that happens God gets no Glory.

[aflame4God]

@Beingraylb1967 Excellent comments !!!! You are right on in all you have said and I agree %100 !! Wise advice from your Bishop !

[aflame4God]

Dougmeekins..you seem to miss the main point which is carnal entertainment and a distorted gospel in many churches,that is the local church Tozer is speaking about.A YT video presentation can not be compared to the local church.Read every word of what Tozer said.I AGREE with his message.Not every 'new thing' or modern thing in the church is a proper presentation of the gospel.

[bucaneromax1]

Oh yes, we have this kind of church right here in Vienna: they offer low class entertainment, they repart invitations in which they advertise free food or something to attract people to come instead of mention Jesus. So one must not wonder when in these cheap effect shows the Holy Spirit is hiding completely, because they are celebrating themselves and not our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

[aflame4God]

@bucaneromax1 Excellent comments and so sad to see churches replace the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit with "so-called spiritual entertainment!" If it is spiritual and God-centered it is not to be called entertainment...but alot of things in the churches grieves the Holy Spirit and is fleshly entertainment. The attraction is the person of Jesus not men.

[Beanmachine91]

tozer would keep to his word on the topic.

[terryintoledo]

I am both enlightened and admonished by Tozer's unconditional love for Jesus!!!! May we all LOVE JESUS that way too.

[Christian4everish]

My church is trying to raise 30 million dollars to expand buildings on our church. Its fine that thier expanding but the things they are adding into these buildings is crazy. They are trying to make the new disney world. Kids are gonna want to come in cause of the worldly things, not getting saved cause of Jesus Christ. I realize attractions can bring people to Jesus Christ, but the majority would be too distracted

[sidebarr7]

@ConfederateGypsy And its so loud! in many places.One older believer said I only have one good ear and they are trying to make it go bad too!

[sidebarr7]

@robert77793 Same here and remember YOU are the church,,,no building has anything to do with it.pray to meet like minded believers.

[sidebarr7]

today for a long time now the church is nothing but entertainment with Jesus name attached to it.It was that way 20 years ago when I first got saved and I seemed to be the only one who noticed it. 2Thess 2;3 the church is falling away and than the man of sin will be revealed (anti-christ)

[sidebarr7]

today for a long time now the church is nothing but entertainment with Jesus name attached to it.It was that way 20 years ago when I fist got saved and I seemed to be the only one who noticed it. 2Thess 2;3 the church is falling away and than the man of sin will be revealed (anti-christ)

[malikzzzzz]

@robert77793 Pray to God that he leads you to a church HE wants you to be in. :)

God bless you