A.W. Tozer

I recently finished reading A Passion for God: The Spiritual Journey of A.W. Tozer by Lyle Dorsett. As I'd read Dr. Dorsett's Moody biography twice, I definitely wanted to check this one out.

Until the summer of 2010, I really didn't know much about A.W. Tozer. I'd heard some quotations related to him, but knew little about the man's life and work. Listening to an audio recording of The Pursuit of God multiple times over the past eighteen months and reading this book more recently have helped to change that.

A.W. Tozer didn't follow a typical twentieth century path to the ministry. He dropped out of high school, and was born again at 18. Tozer had some vital early mentors in life who recognized his giftedness and assisted him in its development. As a teenager, he also began a process of self-education that continued throughout his life.

More than many pastors, A.W. Tozer had an intimate walk with God. His love for God's Word and prayer times grew throughout his life. He additionally read widely of the Christian mystics and numerous other writers. According to Dorsett, Tozer "never remained satisfied with what he knew"(94).

In the midst of much writing and speaking, Tozer did neglect to spend as much time as he should have with his wife Ada and six boys. Further, he did not support his family at the financial level that he could have(instead signing away many royalties, turning down pay raises, and even giving half(!) of his income to the church(without his wife's knowledge)). There is much to learn from this part of his life as well.

Among the other items gleaned from this text:
1. The pursuit of God was an all-consuming passion for him(163).
2. He disdained secular models of leadership in the church(134). (These have regrettably continued to creep into American church life over the past twenty years or so.)
3. He spoke out against the consumerism and materialism that had begun to infect American society, including the churches(136-137).
4. Billy Graham enjoyed hearing Tozer preach while a student at Wheaton College(102,127)
5. Perhaps the most striking quote: "If you want to be happy, never ask for the gift of discernment."(134)

There is much more that I could discuss regarding this book. Overall, I found it an intellectually and spiritually enriching read. At times, it seemed like the book could have used a bit more editing. However, despite the shortcomings, I'd highly recommend it to anyone in or considering entering the Christian ministry.