Gospel of John Teachings Dwelt Among Us - Essay Example

Name Task Institution Date And he dwelt among us: teachings from the gospel of John Summary Dr Tozer delivers the teachings of John and Paul in an unfamiliar way. His book is made a treasure by the way he deliverers his writing with a unique perspective. The book deliverers a deeper thought into the theological work of John. He brings out the essence of Christians living in a spiritual world rather than a material world. He says that no one can be satisfied from the things which the brain desires.The heart is the part of the body that feels the satisfaction hence only everlasting things can only be satisfied in the heart. He therefore writes that Christians would better of understand or preach the word with a spiritual perspective of it. He compares this to John whom his soul was set for heavenly spiritual life away from the material things of the worldThe book highlights the teachings of the gospel according to the apostle John that were preached by Dr. Tozer in his Chicago Church. (Gerald, 14) writes that the book brings out how evangelical ministers like Tozer can bring out the abstracts from the bible and make them be preached to a larger audience though the message is crafted from nature. Tozer holds a high view concerning God and it is brought out clearly in his messages. The high view he holds of God is the one that makes his message or lectures on incarnations very unique. Tozer also has a liking for crafting the most complex ideas and making them simple profound and one would not miss his point. A chapter that was delivered on John 3:16 were so antithetical to many presentations in the ministering community. The passage is so reflective and so deep that Tozer preached it with the weight it deserved. Tozers message on the fifth chapter also shows how his theological understanding is so deep. He shows much deep understanding and familiarity with early Christian’s thoughts though he simplifies it by breaking it into manageable bits that can be easily understood by the Christians. He makes the book of John very refreshing to read through and also inspiring. Critique The book of john seems to be Tozer’s favorite book in the bible and the incarnations mentioned therein are the meanings to the Christians on how they should conduct themselves as Christians. Tozer opens to the Christians on how John preached about Christ with so much passion more than Paul did. He compares John to the bird that had a sweeter song. (Joseph, 13) says that Christians only came on earth to be uplifted into heaven and therefore people should only live with the hope of heavenly reward and not fill their hearts with material possession that never satisfies the heart. This is truly a scenario common to today’s life. (Stark, web) says that this statement could be very true in my opinion because as nature is people never get satisfied with anything. This is even explained by Maslow’s Theory of human needs. Things that are only desired can never quench the huge thirst of the heart. But everlasting things do satisfy the heart. Everlasting things are considered the endeavoring love of Christ that Christians should look upon that their life be complete. This statement also means that in a man there exists a void that cannot be filled by anything but the love of God. Loving God can only be done by the soul which is the heart. Therefore conforming to material possessions and failing to look upon the Lord, Jesus makes one have unending desires without fulfillment. He captures the spirit of John in praising Jesus Christ and therefore challenges Christians to adapt a more refreshing and an overwhelming desire for God just as John did in praising Jesus Christ.The book is written on the basis of doctrines that are sound and explains the adoration of Apostle John. Dr Tozer believes that John was a mystical thinker; a term which many still misunderstands. However, he noticed this state of misunderstanding among the people and quoted that he would not allow being robbed anything by anyone just because they felt misused. He did not have any fear of identifying the great Christian mystics which went back all away to Apostle John which Dr Tozer knew all about. Though Tozer had a great admiration to Apostle Paul’s theology, he had a more affinity for the work of Apostle John. He said that in Johns mind, God had noticed a harp that would sit at the window and want to catch the wind. Tozer explains that john’s sense was like of a bird which felt like taking flight all the time. He thinks that John was meant to grow theologically just like Apostle Paul but John was meant to soar and sing. In regards to Tozer, John is compared to a lark that arose in a day and shook the night dew away and soared up to heaven with a song. It is not because John was a higher sourer than Apostle Paul but that his songs were sweeter than that of Paul. Apostle Paul the theologian laid the foundation for John to take off easily. This is the reason why Tozer felt that it was harder to preach the Gospel according to John without a clear doctrinal foundation; he was so mystic and became really emotional with the work of John. However his foundation helped him be susceptible to make solid conclusions about his judgment concerning John. (Carson, 10) writes that with emphasis of doctrinal foundations of Paul, anyone would easily be spiritually legalistic and cold while with mystical foundations of John anyone would be more heavenly minded that there would be no hope on the earth. Tozer combines John and Paul to provide a kind of spiritual experience that helps Christians to mature and he carefully balanced the two. Tozer also talks about spiritual boredom which occurs when Christians become so much obsessed with the material possessions and activities of the world without inviting spiritual intervention in their undertakings. According to this statement Tozer views that many Christians are misled by the material possessions around them and forget to set their minds on the eternal word of God. Tozer said that spiritual boredom is caused by immaturity. He said that the immature get easily bored with anything that could be monotonous. They prefer their lives livened up with continuous excitement activities and actions. This is contrary to Christian life which should be constantly nurtured by daily life disciplines.And there might be a danger that some people repeat themselves so much that they might find themselves in a spiritual rut. Maintaining dignified Christian life is the secret to attaining maturity. Tozer believed that the evangelical church of America was affected by this boredom situation. The evangelical church in America has had familiarity that has brought boredom. He says that what is complained of is being unconsciously aware of that presence of a person who could take the familiar word to make it amazingly new. Resisting in the truth of the word is causing evangelical death by larger degrees. What is important is the spiritual part of the word without which makes evangelical world null and void to the spirit. Dr. Tozer offered a solution that Christians would use to counter the problem of spiritual boredom. He gives an example in his writing when he says that he counseled a young man in the ministry by telling him to search his soul and go before God. According to (Tozer & Snyder,12) this happens so that he would find something new in his self that he could offer to the church so that he doesn’t talk just about the familiar things that the church hears in and out every time. Conclusion In conclusion Tozer brings out a more profound teaching of the Gospel of John to Christians to challenge them have a more renewed love for God so that they fill their minds of heavenly desires rather than material possessions that will never satisfy the heart. He also talks of spiritual boredom which results from things being repeated over and over. He says it is the spiritual boredom that has majorly caused immaturity in the evangelical church of America. He says that immaturity is the major source of boredom among Christians especially among those who cannot balance their Christians life and only want excitement and actions out of their lives. Work Cited Carson, Dylan. (1999).The Gospel According to John, Pillar New Testament Commentary, New York: Erdmann Gerald, Richard. (2006). The New American Commentary, 4(7) 11-14 Joseph, Ryan. (2008). That You May Believe; Studies in the Gospel of John, Journal of Christian Studies 4 (6) 12-16 Stark, Meryl. (2010) Free Bible Commentaries, Retrieved 8th February 2013 From www.bjnewlife.org/ Tozer, Aiden &Snyder, James.(2009). He Dwelt Among Us: Teachings from the Gospel of John. Ventura: Regal Thomas, Lea. (2005). The New Testament: The Background Message, Bible Commentaries 3(6) 7-10 Read More