1).In his writing on God's sovereignty, Tozer says that God is "absolutely free...to do whatever He wills to do anywhere at any time...Were He less than free He must be less than sovereign."
(p. 108). How do you respond to this statement (return to the context)? Why do you think Tozer links God's freedom to his sovereignty?
I agree with Tozer. God is above everything, and he has no limits, he has absolute freedom. If God were any less free, then he, like us, would have boundaries. He would have rules to follow, and if there are rules, then there must be some higher order where the rules came from. Rules are given by those in power to those with less power. If God had rules to follow then it is implied that there is someone with more power than Him, and we know that God is the most powerful being ever. God's sovereignty implies total and complete power, which means no boundaries, and complete freedom.
2).Tozer uses the analogy of an "ocean liner" (p. 111) to try and elucidate (make clear) how he sees the interrelationship between God's freedom & sovereignty and the human free will. Does this analogy help you? Why or why not?
This analogy actually does help me, because it was always hard to understand how God gives us free choice even though he knows where we will end up. The destination is the end of this world, while on the boat we can do whatsoever we please, it is our choice. Once we reach our final destination, it is our choice to join God, or to stay on the boat, which is eternal death.
3).In the chapter, "The Open Secret", Tozer renames what he believes is the "most critical need" of the church of his time. To address this problem, he offers 6 imperatives or conditions that need to be met in order to experience a remedy. Do you tend to agree or disagree with Tozer on these points? Why or why not? Which of the six do you believe to be the most necessary? Why?
All are undoubtedly important, but I believe that the Second is the most important. In order to stand firm in our faith, we need to be fully committed to God, we need to give our life to Him. The Bible says that there will again come a time when those who follow Christ will be persecuted, and in order to hold firm to our beliefs we need a strong relationship with God, and by first giving our lives over to God, we can then build until we are solid in our Faith.
Thank you for your thoughts, Celine. You are clear, straightforward, and honest. thank you for developing your thoughts here, more, too.
ReplyDeleteAs to the ocean liner, I believe Tozer was saying that the liner itself is the world, if you will, and that he is bringing it to a final goal (in biblical terms: new creation). We have the choice to follow God or not while on our life's journey. Based on how you stated, "staying on the boat" would result in death for us makes it out like we must choose between the world and God, creating a dichotomy. Do you think Tozer is saying that with the analogy? Or do you think he is bringing the world to a place of redemption in and of itself, and we are thereby not forced to choose between the two, but that we will just be a part of the whole renovation? Just some thoughts...
Thank you, Celine!