Subtitle: The Spiritual Journey of A.W. Tozer
"Tozer's messages pierced hearts and illumined minds with a profundity uncommon among Bible teachers and preachers. Indeed, spiritually alert people recognized that he possessed unique charisma - a sacred anointing."
- Lyle Dorsett, A Passion For God, Chapter 1, pg 16
A man whose books have become a source of great blessing to me personally over the past two years, is a man named Aiden Wilson Tozer. After reading a couple of his books, I felt the strong desire to learn more about the man himself, and so I read through the book "A Passion for God: The Spiritual Journey of A.W. Tozer" by Christian biographer Lyle Dorsett. In this biography, Dorsett takes you through Tozer's life, from his birth in 1897 until his death in 1963. Tozer is considered one of the most profound and insightful Christians authors of the 20th century. Though Tozer has always been regarded as a very gifted author, Dorsett points out that it was actually Tozer's strong biblical preaching that most people were blessed by in his own time. Particularly among Tozer's admirers were youth and young adults who would flock to hear him preach God's Word in ways that struck them meaningfully and convictingly (unlike many preachers during that time).
One fact that Dorsett focused on about Tozer's life which is especially meaningful to me as a Christian, was that Tozer was completely untrained theologically. Tozer absolutely loved reading as many books as he could, but he was completely self-studied, having never attended Bible college or seminary. Yet God used him mightily for the great benefit of the world-wide church, both then and now. For people like myself, who have never gone to Bible college or seminary, Tozer's life is a great witness and testimony to God being both able and willing to use those whom the world often deem's as "unworthy" for the work of the Lord. Tozer himself once said "To serve God you need neither a title, an office or a business card." That truth is perhaps the greatest blessing I've taken from Dorsett's biography on Tozer.
In addition to recommending Lyle Dorsett's insightful book on one of the most important preachers and authors of the last century, I would also recommend the books of Tozer himself. Both his life and his writings can be a tremendous blessing to those who have not yet had the chance to enhance their hearts and minds under his enduring legacy as they continue to serve God with all their life.
"Tozer's messages - whether written or spoken - caused people to thirst for Living Water, hunger for the Bread of Life... In the final analysis, those who imbibed Tozer's fare were spiritually enlivened and hungry for more of Jesus."
- Lyle Dorsett, A Passion For God, Chapter 6, pg 112
