Author: A.W. Tozer
Editor: James L. Snider
Publisher: Regal
224 pages
INTRODUCTION
The twentieth
century pastor and author, A.W. Tozer, is known for being one of the greatest
Christian authors of his time. It would be accurate to say that he had a heart
of pastor and a voice of a prophet. Being an author of many books, he proved to
be an effective and extraordinary writer. For this critique, his
thirteen-chapter work, And He Dwelt Among
Us: Teachings from the Gospel of John, will be both summarized and analyzed
for a further understanding.
SUMMARY
Starting his work
with John 1:1, Tozer speaks about Christ being since the beginning and Christ
did indeed come to dwell among those in the world. With this, he speaks heavily
on how the heart of mankind longs after everlastingness. Regardless of their sin
nature, they seek an everlasting even if they do not fully grasp what it is
they are longing for. Along with man seeking for everlastingness, the
everlastingness of Christ is greatly expounded on. Speaking the time before
time ever began, the nature of the Lord is enunciated. Tozer shares how God is
self-sufficient, self-existent, and how all things were created by Him and for
Him. God does need mankind in order to make Him God. He merely made mankind out
of his goodness and grace.
Although
God is a God who does not need mankind to make Him who He is, Tozer speaks on
John 1:10 of Christ coming into the world. Here, the author speaks on a twofold
understanding of the world. The world is the created nature, which includes the
plant life, animal life, universe, etc. The second meaning of world is mankind.
This was the world that rejected Christ. It was mankind that rejected him as
demonstrated in 1:10, not the nature. With mankind rejecting him, there are
five reasons behind why they did so: they could not keep from compromising with
the world, they could not change their way of living, they did not want to
cleanse their lives, they could not change the direction of their life, and
they did not want to step out of their comfort zone where they could not see.
Although
humanity rejected Christ, God the Father still used him as a channel for His
grace. Whether one is a committed follower of Christ or not, the blessings of
God are poured out among all men through Christ. Both the saving grace and
common grace of God is poured through Christ. Yet this channel—Jesus Christ—is
the promised Messiah that is found in the Old Testament. Tozer speaks that
Christ is the Lamb of God that was promised by John the Baptist and the one
promised throughout the Old Testament.
In
spite of humanity’s sin, God cares for all people. Although he does not care
their sin, he cares for them as individuals and their souls. Speaking on John
3:16, Tozer speaks on the goodness, love, and mercy of God. How Christ, the
atonement of mankind, was given that they may be reunited with their heavenly
Father. Following this verse, Tozer emphasizes how Christ was sent in order to
condemned the world but to save it. Speaking on the election of some to heaven
and some to hell, the author is eager to speak on how God does not elect any to
hell but desires all to come to repentance.
Along
with Christ being the atonement for all men, Tozer speaks on the Godhead.
Although the Trinity is something that is questioned or denied, it is certainly
found in the Scripture. One is not more superior to the other because they are
all God. Being a part of the Godhead, Jesus is the great judge. However, in
order to be a judge of humanity, there are requirements that are to be met.
Jesus, of course, meets these requirements because He is indeed Lord. Although
in the flesh as a man, Christ was fully man and demonstrated the God-man when
he stepped on earth. This was how God reached to man—Jesus Christ. This was how
God chose to come to man and to demonstrate His love for them, through Christ.
Christ,
being the God-man, he brings about transformation in the believer’s life. Tozer
speaks on how a mere belief is not enough when it comes to Christ. The demons
even believe in Christ, yet they are not saved. If one is truly repentant and
have submitted to Christ, their beliefs will change them. It is not a matter of
a belief, but the belief in them that brings a transforming work. It is only
through a proper concept of God that one can have true conversion. Without it,
one cannot have genuine relationship and be saved.
ANALYSIS
Although a brief
summary has been given on Tozer’s work, an examination of the text will be
given in order to have a greater understanding from a reader’s perspective.
Some of the things that will be included in the analysis are the strengths and
weaknesses, the appropriate audience for the composition, the assistance that
the writing gives to an individual to help understand the issues it presents,
what this reader appreciates from it, the issues that are found within the
text, what the author’s perspective is, how readable and applicable the
composition is, and what should be added or taken away from the work.
Strengths
There are many
strengths found in Tozer’s composition, more so than weaknesses. First, the
work is written in such fashion that a layperson or unbeliever could read from
it. Tozer does not use words that the average person cannot understand. He
writes on a level that any individual would write, although it is not written
as though a pastor or scholar could not learn from it. One would assume that
because the author wrote in the early to mid 1900s that the writing would be a
hard to understand. However, Tozer does exceedingly well to keep the
composition user friendly so essentially anyone, from young teenager to an
elderly adult, a background in Christianity or another world religion, can pick
it up and read it and have a great understanding.
Along
with the writing being easy for essentially any individual to read, Tozer
writes as if someone who is a not a Christian or is a false professing
Christian, they can have assurance on how to inherit salvation. Throughout his
writing can be found how one can come under the lordship of Christ, through
repentance and faith. An example is found at the end of the chapters where he
says, “Look back and see the burden Jesus bore, lay your hand of faith on His
holy head and confess your sins, and the curse will be removed…”[1]
Tozer is certain to make sure the gospel is presented in order for those who
may be not be converted may hear the hope that is found in Jesus Christ.
A
third strength found in the work of Tozer is the beginning of each chapter has
not only an informative title but also a verse or passage to complement it. The
verse or passage that greets the audience coincides with the title of the chapter.
Moreover, the verse and or passage is expounded on throughout the chapter to
give the one who is reading it a greater understanding. An example includes
chapter eight, where Tozer uses John 3:17, “For God sent not his Son into the
world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Through the chapter, the author explains verse in a threefold manner: “God sent
His Son into the world,” “He did not send Him to condemn the world,” “He sent
Him in order that the world might be saved.”[2]
Throughout all thirteen chapters of the writing Tozer is certain to properly
and concisely explain the verses he builds the chapters around.
A
long with the great use of scripture and the proclamation of the gospel
throughout, the author does a great work not “running down rabbit trails.”
Other words, Tozer does not talk about a certain topic and then throw another
idea that has nothing to do with the topic he first presented. Throughout his
entire work he carefully explains and uses analogies to go with the topics that
he presents. He is careful to keep with the topic and the properly present so
the audience does not leave the chapter confused or baffled by his
carelessness.
A
final strength of composition is the source of the writing. Not only is it written
based of the Gospel of John, but it was written by a man who was a longtime
pastor. Although this is not the greatest of attributes of the writing, his
background in both the pastorate and being a Christian author makes the writing
one that is biblically based. It is this strength that allows any person to
pick up and open its covers with confidence. Carefully written and presented,
the pastor-author background gives one assurance that the source of the writing
is one that is shows legitimacy.
Weaknesses
As formerly
mentioned, there are more strengths in Tozer’s work than there are weaknesses.
However, with every work from any author, there always seems to be weakness. As
for Tozer’s work, the following weaknesses given are not detrimental to his
work. They do not take away from the meaning of the work nor disprove anything
that he asserts.
One
of the weaknesses that are found in his work are the hymns or poems he includes
to elaborate on a particular issue. What he uses are snippets of older writings
dated from the 1700-1800s. An example of this is from John Milton’s poem, On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity.[3]
Although any Christian can enjoy this God-honoring poem, it can be difficult
for individuals of modern times to understand some of the older terms used or
even find it appealing. However, this is certainly not an issue of Tozer, since
his composition was completed back in 1900s. It makes sense why he would have used
the selected snippets that he gives. It can be a turn off to those who are not
interested in reading older poetry or hymn, but it certainly does not take away
from what he writes.
A
final weakness, which does not take away from the book, is the several personal
experiences he uses to prove an assertion. An example of this is his story
about the usage of John 3:16.[4]
Some may take some of these personal experiences as the author being
self-centered or too good to use examples of others. With the life of Tozer, it
is highly improbable that he sought to elevate himself or sought to say, “Look
at me!” Some would rather hear someone speak of him or herself in a negative
light or use others as examples.
Suited Audience
With both
strengths and weaknesses formerly given, it helps establish an idea of who the
text is and is not suited for. First, the audience that is best suited for this
is both the Christian and non-Christian. For the former because it gives the
believer a deeper understanding of the text with precise exposition, while for
the latter it is written in a way that is simplistic, along with being
gospel-centered and having parts that explains how one can become born again.
Although
both the saved and unsaved are suited for this writing, the ages from teenage
to the elderly are able to understand it. It is written simple enough that is
easy for someone of those ages to read. Although it is easy enough for those
sorts of ages to read, it is not proper for anyone younger than a teenager to
read, as it is both a lengthy text and places much information in a single
chapter. With that in mind, any one from the ages of teen to elderly, rather
saved or unsaved, is the suited audience for Tozer’s work. It is an overall excellent
work and is certainly fruitful in learning about the One who dwelt among us—Jesus
Christ.
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