Suffocated by Generalities

With a doff of my cap to those who read Tozer's daily devotional, I am compelled to quote today's entry in it's entirety. It is simply too appropriate to overlook. It is way too easy for us (Pastors included) to sink in the mire of generalities when it comes to living the Christian life. We may be able to answer many biblical questions, but that does not mean that we understand or love the Lord Jesus. Knowledge is no doubt vital, but never was it meant to die in the pit of objectivity. Each truth is meant to introduce us to God in a more exact, might I say, intimate manner? See what Tozer says and ask if this does not apply to you. 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  --Hebrews 11:1

The voice of unbelief says, "Yes, I'm a believer. I believe the Bible. I don't like those modernists, liberals and modern scientists who deny the Bible. I would not do that for the world. I believe in God, and I believe that God will bless." That is, He will bless at some other time, in some other place and some other people. Those are three sleepers that bring the work of God to a halt. We are believers and we can quote the creed with approval. We believe it, but we believe that God will bless some other people, some other place, some other time-- but not now, not here and not us....

If we allow the gloomy voice of unbelief to whisper to us that God will bless some other time but not now, some other place but not here, some other people but not us, we might as well turn off the lights because nobody will get anywhere....

The average evangelical church lies under a shadow of quiet doubting. The doubt is not the unbelief that argues against Scripture, but worse than that. It is the chronic unbelief that does not know what faith means.

Rut, Rot or Revival: The Condition of the Church, 152,157.