Title: A Passion for God: the Spiritual Journey of A. W. Tozer
Author: Lyle Dorsett
Publisher: Moody Press, 2008; 189 pp. $14.95
Recommendation (4-star scale): 
Shortly after beginning seminary, I purchased a small anthology of A. W. Tozer’s works. I did not need to read long before I was taken by this writer. I knew virtually nothing about him or his ministry, but I still felt a kinship of sorts with Him. He was bravely saying things about my heart and my culture that were insightful and penetrating. He helped me understand the nature of both my inner man and the outer world.
Reading that book stimulated me to read more, and I suppose I have read a half dozen or more of his books (my favorites, along with many other readers undoubtedly, are: The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy). And I have never failed to be encouraged and challenged by his writings.
So it was with a measure of excitement that I picked up this biography. What stimulated this man to a deep love of God and what insights might stimulate me to emulate him as he followed Christ?
From a literary and informational standpoint, I enjoyed this book very much. It is well-researched and well-written. It was for me a compelling and interesting read. For that, it deserves four stars.
But having read the book, I am also now conflicted. For Tozer the preacher and pastor was used in powerful ways both in his generation and the succeeding generations (Tozer was born in 1897 and died in 1963). He was a pastor for the better part of 45 years and the argument could be made that his influence grew (through many of his works that were published posthumously) after his death.
As the biographer notes, “Spiritually alert Christians said that the ‘bouquet of the Holy Spirit’ was all over A. W. Tozer.” That evaluation would largely remain true to this day.
Yet there was an inconsistency in his life that obviously puzzled the writer, and thereby leaves the readers puzzled as well. The recurring refrain of both Tozer’s life and the book was: a great preacher who was a failure at home. (I hesitate to use the word “failure” because the book attests to the ultimate spiritual success of the children, who all walked with God and there is no indication that any of them offered any significant rebellion against God; yet repeatedly the book speaks of his distance from his wife and children — the picture is one of an aloof, unconnected father and husband. Thus, I can think of no better word than failure, for that is antithetical to what a godly husband should be.)
Mentioned several times in the book, Tozer’s wife Ada was asked long after Aiden W. Tozer’s death whether she was happy. She responded by contrasting her ten-year second marriage with her marriage to Aiden — “I have never been happier in my life. Aiden loved Jesus Christ, but Leonard Odam loves me.”
Tozer’s lack of love for his wife was evidenced in his insensitivity to her physical and financial needs (e.g., turning down raises, giving away large portions of his salary, refusing to purchase a family car — making the family dependent on rides from others), making family decisions without consulting Ada, and generally being so immersed in his own concerns that he was at best inadvertently inattentive to her and the children, and at worst he was intentionally aloof and cold.
The question of course is, “how can a man whose heart beat so strongly in passion for Christ be so distant and unloving towards his own family?” How could he preach the love of Christ and fail to love his own wife in the manner which Christ loved him? How could he be so effective in the pulpit and yet treat his children like an unbeliever?
The answer is complex (and not satisfactorily answered in the book). But on reflection it seems that the life of A. W. Tozer serves as both a caution and an encouragement. The caution for all believers (not just pastors) is to be attentive to both the inner and outer life. It is possible (though not the mark of maturity) to cultivate a dichotomous life — one wherein the spiritual is disassociated from the natural, so that as one grows in knowledge of the truth of God, he does not grow in the grace (and application) of the truth of God.
In reality, every believer does that to some degree — that’s called sin. But at various times and in various people, there is a significant disconnect between fellowship with God and some particular weakness of the flesh. For Tozer, that weakness was manifested in his awkwardness with and aloofness from people — particularly and especially his family. The wise believer is the one who is not only aware of his spiritual deficiencies, but actively and purposefully addresses those areas of sin (something that Tozer apparently did not do with his family relationships).
But there is also an encouragement in this revelation about Tozer’s private life: like all men, he was flawed. And the amazing demonstration of grace is that God uses flawed men in such a way that He is still glorified and His work is still accomplished. Tozer, failures and foolishness and all, still was used by God — and even in substantial ways. In this regard, Tozer was not unique; God has always used flawed men (Christ being the lone exception) to accomplish His purposes. And that is the hope and encouragement for me — yes, I like Tozer, am a failure in far too many ways; yet I like Tozer, am still able to be used by God for His glory and honor.
Maybe this story also serves as still another caution: it is wise to have spiritual heroes, mentors, and disciplers. But be careful to follow them only as far as they follow Christ. So Tozer still offers a worthy example to follow — but as with all men, there are limits to the extent that we should emulate him.
For more information about Tozer —
- Two audio sermons by Tozer and the recording of his funeral
- A large collection of Tozer audio sermons
- Daily email devotionals by Tozer
- Tim Challies’ review of this book
Words of Grace 