I have recently dusted off the covers of a couple of Christian classics. When I do this, I never regret it. I am currently rereading “The Knowledge of the Holy” by A.W. Tozer and “Orthodoxy” by G.K.Chesterton. I read “Knowledge” back when I was in college and I found it very encouraging back then. But for some reason, it is hitting different a few decades later with some years of ministry experience under my belt.
The simplicity and brevity of each chapter dovetail with a humility on the part of Tozer to bring forth a jaw-dropping vision of the God we can never fully know. This simple, humble, awe-inspiring vision of God is something that has been missing from the American church. I would be so bold as to suggest that many of the ills that plague the church in America come from an anemic view of God and His Holiness. We don’t know Him, so we don’t fear Him. We don’t know, Him so we don’t worship Him. We don’t know Him, so how can we think rightly about Him in our daily decisions, in our overarching ethics, in our imparting Him to the next generation?
“The Knowledge of the Holy” is a great short read that I commend to all who desire to think better thoughts (Biblical thoughts) about the Almighty.
My verdict isn’t in on “Orthodoxy” by Chesterton yet. I listened to it on Audible and it just wasn’t easy to follow his logic. He will say a lot only to turn everything on its head with one very important sentence. If you miss that sentence, you will misunderstand the point. I am combing over it again in paper copy. I am finding his writing style to be a challenge! Yet even in this challenge, I find something I need that classics often offer. I need to be challenged to think more deeply.
What are you reading that is making you think deeper and better thoughts?
