This week Tozer puts into play the other three causes of religious confusion: Lack of Love; Unbelief; and Nonobedience
1. LACK OF LOVE - "The humble loving heart intuits truth as the Scriptures reveal it and the Holy Spirit illuminates it. The Spirit will not enlighten an unloving mind; and without His enlightenment the mysteries of Christian truth must forever remain a stranger to us."
It is quite clear throughout scripture that God loves the meek heart; meekness being the inner strength of confidence, certainty, and clarity in such measure as to be comfortable in who one is before God. It is at its core confidence in God to do and to act in accordance with His perfect knowledge such that we do not have to insist on our own way, bellow what we feel is necessary, but to live a life of integrity and witness, suffering, as necessary the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, all the while knowing "God's got this!" In that quiet strength we find true love for others, not some sappy emotional, feel good, disneyesque, pollyanna sort of love. But of a desire for that which is in the best interest of the other, faith, joy, peace, righteousness. Not necessarily what they want for themselves, but what God would want for them. And loving them enough to risk rejection... Love clarifies our motivation.
2. UNBELIEF -
"But the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that hear it."
Too many people within and without the church lack the confidence that true faith brings. Too many genuinely doubt whether or not God is able to do something rather than simply questioning why God would want to do something or how He might do something. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1). It is absolute confidence in God's willingness and ability, without any sense of doubt. It is complete trust in Him. Conversely it is also, therefore, doubt in our own ability to fully comprehend why or to adequately understand how it may be God's will.
The arrogant are puffed up and prideful, acting as if they are gods, believing they know better what constitutes justice, or who should receive grace (and who shouldn't), or how things should be. God has clearly revealed, in His word, the answers if we would but trust in Him. Belief trusts God...
3. NONOBEDIENCE -
"Truth is given to be obeyed" not factual truth but directive truth. Jesus is Lord is a factual pronouncement. Making that known to all ethnicities is a truth we are directed to obey. Our failure to act on the directive truth, those things which God has clearly commanded us to do in scripture, prevents us from ever developing the full knowledge of this truth. We must act upon that which scripture compels us to do if we are to rid ourselves of the confusion. When we learn to trust in Him, to obey His word, the way becomes so compellingly clear. But a life lived in fear WILL prevent us from stepping out, thinking we have to manage everything, that God may not provide as we think He should, and keeping us from ever developng the confidence, the certainty, the personal knowledge, of Him. Obedience is truth in action...
TRUTH
Truth is a spiritual reality that is not subject to intellectual reasoning or understanding but is a gift of the Spirit. It is may be shared with the intellect as well as the simple but it is only perceived by illumination of the Holy Spirit to the humble, loving, meek ones, to those dare to hope, to confidently believe and to trust, and who, accordingly, respond boldly, confidently, and obediently.
Truth: He who is the Truth, erases religious confusion, builds character, and changes the world!
There is no excuse for confusion, except arrogance, lack of love, unbelief, and nonobedience. Where do I need to be more open to an outpouring of the Holy Spirit?