True religion confronts earth with heaven and brings eternity to bear upon time. The messenger of Christ, though he speaks from God, must also, as the Quakers used to say, ”speak to the condition” of his hearers; otherwise he will speak a language known only to himself. His message must be not only timeless but timely. He must speak to his own generation. The message of this book does not grow out of these times but it is appropriate to them. It is called forth by a condition which has existed in the Church for some years and is steadily growing worse. I refer to the loss of the concept of majesty from the popular religious mind. The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshipping men. This she has done not deliberately, but little by little and without her knowledge; and her very unawareness only makes her situation all the more tragic. The low view of God entertained almost universally among Christians is the cause of a hundred lesser evils everywhere among us. A whole new philosophy of the Christian life has resulted from this one basic error in our religious thinking. With our loss of the sense of majesty has come the further loss of religious awe and consciousness of the divine Presence. We have lost our spirit of worship and our ability to withdraw inwardly to meet God in adoring silence. Modern Christianity is simply not producing the kind of Christian who can appreciate or experience the life in the Spirit. The words, "Be still, and know that I am God," mean next to nothing to the self-confident, bustling worshipper in this middle period of the twentieth century.
This loss of the concept of majesty has come just when the forces of religion are making dramatic gains and the churches are more prosperous than at any time within the past several hundred years. But the alarming thing is that our gains are mostly external and our losses wholly internal; and since it is the quality of our religion that is affected by internal conditions, it may be that our supposed gains are but losses spread over a wider field. The only way to recoup our spiritual losses is to go back to the cause of them and make such corrections as the truth warrants. The decline of the knowledge of the holy has brought on our troubles. A rediscovery of the majesty of God will go a long way toward curing them. It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate. If we would bring back spiritual power to our lives, we must begin to think of God more nearly as He is. As my humble contribution to a better understanding of the Majesty in the heavens I offer this reverent study of the attributes of God. Were Christians today reading such works as those of Augustine or Anselm a book like this would have no reason for being. But such illuminated masters are known to modern Christians only by name. Publishers dutifully reprint their books and in due time these appear on the shelves of our studies. But the whole trouble lies right there: they remain on the shelves. The current religious mood makes the reading of them virtually impossible even for educated Christians. Apparently not many Christians will wade through hundreds of pages of heavy religious matter requiring sustained concentration. Such books remind too many persons of the secular classics they were forced to read while they were in school and they turn away from them with a feeling of discouragement. For that reason an effort such as this may be not without some beneficial effect. Since this book is neither esoteric nor technical, and since it is written in the language of worship with no pretension to elegant literary style, perhaps some persons may be drawn to read it. While I believe that nothing will be found here contrary to sound Christian theology, I yet write not for professional theologians but for plain persons whose hearts stir them up to seek after God Himself. It is my hope that this small book may contribute somewhat to the promotion of personal heart religion among us; and should a few persons by reading it be encouraged to begin the practice of reverent meditation on the being of God, that will more than repay the labor required to produce it.
This chapter reflects on the supreme importance of one’s concept of God, arguing that what we think about God shapes our entire spiritual and moral life. It warns that low or false views of God lead...
This chapter delves into the profound mystery of understanding God's nature, emphasizing that while humans are compelled to seek knowledge about Him, true comprehension remains beyond our grasp. The...
This chapter explores the profound mystery surrounding the knowledge of God's nature through prayerful reflection, theological insights, and spiritual contemplation. It emphasizes that while God...
The chapter "The Self-Existence of God" delves into the profound theological concept that God exists independently and eternally, with no origin or beginning. It contrasts the divine nature of God...
The chapter delves into the theological concept of God's self-sufficiency, emphasizing that nothing is necessary for God's existence or actions, as this would imply imperfection. It begins with an...
The chapter explores the concept of everlastingness as a central tenet in both Hebrew and Christian theology, asserting that God's eternal nature is fundamental to understanding any Christian...
The chapter begins with an opening prayer seeking divine understanding and presence amidst a world perceived as spiritually lacking. It describes a retreat of God's conscious presence from the...
The prayer opens by acknowledging Christ as a constant refuge throughout generations, contrasting God's unchanging nature with the fluctuating circumstances of our human lives. It highlights that...
The opening prayer acknowledges God's omniscience, expressing a desire for childlike simplicity in the believer's relationship with Him. Recognizing that God knows all aspects of human life...
This chapter explores the infinite wisdom of God as the foundation of all truth and creation. It begins with a prayer of humility, asking Christ to protect us from the pride of human wisdom and guide...
This chapter opens with a humble prayer acknowledging human weakness and dependence on God’s divine power, setting the tone for a profound reflection on His omnipotence. It explores how sovereignty...
This chapter opens with an exalted prayer and moves into a profound reflection on what it means for God to be transcendent — infinitely above creation in nature and being. Tozer explains that...
This chapter unveils the doctrine of divine omnipresence, affirming that God is present everywhere — close to everything and next to everyone. Tozer explains that God’s infinitude means there is no...
The chapter “The Faithfulness of God” reveals the unchanging reliability of God as an inseparable aspect of His divine nature. It emphasizes that all of God’s attributes are perfectly unified—His...
This chapter explores the boundless goodness of God—His constant, self-caused desire to bless, comfort, and redeem His creation. It distinguishes divine goodness from holiness or righteousness,...
The chapter emphasizes that God’s justice and righteousness are inseparable attributes of His divine nature. Unlike human justice, which operates under external laws, God’s justice flows inherently...
This chapter explores the infinite mercy of God, presenting it as an eternal, unchanging attribute of His divine nature. Mercy is not a temporary disposition or a conditional response; it is inherent...
This chapter explores grace as an attribute of God, highlighting its inseparable connection to mercy and its expression through Jesus Christ. Grace is the divine goodness that reconciles sinners to...
This chapter emphasizes the profound and personal nature of God’s love, clarifying that while God is love, love is an attribute of His being and not a replacement for His other qualities. His love is...
This chapter reflects on the awe-inspiring holiness of God, emphasizing the shock and moral awakening experienced when confronting His divine perfection. Human beings, accustomed to imperfection and...
This chapter explores the sovereignty of God as the absolute ruler of all creation, emphasizing His omniscience, omnipotence, and absolute freedom. It explains that God’s sovereignty allows Him to...
This chapter emphasizes the need for personal revival within the Church by returning to an intimate knowledge of God. Individual Christians are responsible for restoring the Church’s glory, and this...
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