A Disruptive Faith: Expect God to Interrupt Your Life

by A.W. Tozer, James L. Snyder (Editor)

The word ";faith"; is common these days, but placing one’s faith in God is a weighty action, uncommonly fraught with consequence and, by His design, inconvenience. Faith in God is reassuring and comforting only insofar as believers trust Him€”and that depth of trust is the mark of a mature Christian who has allowed faith to intrude on his life and shift his gaze away from his own aims, needs and desires. This is nothing if not a painful and disturbing process.A Disruptive Faith is A. W. Tozer’s never-before-published teaching on what he termed ";faith that perturbs";€”faith that contradicts the unbelieving man and threatens the complacency of the Christian. The renowned pastor and teacher insists in these pages that genuine faith breeds dissatisfaction with this life, by God’s design; it weans us from this temporary life and prepares us for the life to come. Readers will learn to be content with this faith-inspired

Genres: Christian, Theology, Faith, Spirituality, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Discipleship

191 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Aiden Wilson Tozer was an American evangelical pastor, speaker, writer, and editor. After coming to Christ at the age of seventeen, Tozer found his way into the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination where he served for over forty years. In 1950, he was appointed by the denomination's General Council to be the editor of "The Alliance Witness" (now "Alliance Life").

Born into poverty in western Pennsylvania in 1897, Tozer died in May 1963 a self-educated man who had taught himself what he missed in high school and college due to his home situation. Though he wrote many books, two of them, "The Pursuit of God" and "The Knowledge of the Holy" are widely considered to be classics.

A.W. Tozer and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, had seven children, six boys and one girl.

Reviews

[Poiema · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a compilation of Tozer essays from the book of Hebrews. Some of the subjects addressed include: faith rising above life's twists and turns, the unsettling nature of faith, faith produces spiritual heroes, and --- my favorite--- an in depth analysis of what it means for a Christian to enter into God's rest. Tozer contends that true rest cannot be realized unless one has lost the fear of death.

Tozer has deep insight that can only be attributed to his life of meditating on scripture. He doesn't sugar coat spiritual truth, nor does he avoid difficult subjects. I have never failed to be enriched by his writing.

Here is a sample quote:
"Evangelical fundamentalist Christianity is in the mess it is in today because we preach a painless and instant Christianity. All you do is pour hot water on it, stir twice, take a tract and go your way. . . large segments [of the church] are infected with mediocre spirituality; some of the Bible mixed in with some of the world, and there you have the average church today."

[Jbb Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soaking in, I'm soaking in what I've just read. It's only a mere 200 pager book and it took me more than 3 weeks to accomplish it. Never have I read a Tozer book before and this is my first. It's so RICH and COMPACT with so much to learn and dwell into how the Lord moves him to write as he writes.

Although the book cover and title pressing on the topic of Faith, however how Tozer start off with how a Christian is ought to live in the manner of Faith from God's perspective instead of men. It started from how carnal Christian looks at Faith and how lowly our thoughts that never would comprehend what God's original purpose of mankind in this world.

The gradual pace in each chapters from the creation of man in God's image crescendo to the all so ineffable majestic of God has been profoundly described with great points and arguments. I just can't control myself from saying how mind-blowing this book has brought me. In which, it leads me to ponder and dwell into it for so long, that I can't stop myself from enjoying this book even more.

You know how when a reader reads a book and a special quotes pops out and say "Now that's a great quote!" In Tozer's book, I practically wretched the book with yellow highlights, handwritten notations, brackets after brackets of my favourite discussion or arguments AND endless written "AMEN" in this book.



It is ever easy to read but it has so much to consume. I wouldn't call myself a staunch Christian but this book had me THINKING. I do have serious thoughts of being a Christian for the past 22 years and it is not a joke when it comes to the REAL definition of Salvation. What is it to be a Christian with Faith. God's perspective of Faith not men.

So many pointers to share and how wonderful it is to let someone knows the beauty of God's purpose behind all of His perfect plans for us. This book and genre is my first and I'm really liking it so far! Tozer, you're my new found hero in this genre!

Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars

My Blogspot Review

[Heather Laaman · Rating 2 out of 5]

You guys this is my second Tozer book, and I feel like I’m missing something. I’m not sure I agree with a decent amount in here, and something about his approach bothers me.

[Rebeca Chiorean · Rating 4 out of 5]

•) Suntem mântuiți prin credință și Domnul îmi spune: “Crede în Mine, urmează-Mă.” Credința nu este o călătorie a picioarelor, ci a inimii. Credința nu este un act al rațiunii, ci un act al voinței; iar urmarea nu e un act pe care îl faci o dată, ci un act continuu care începe la convertire. Și nu se termină niciodată, cât vor ține veacurile.
Credința este substanța; credința este siguranța; credința este temelia pusă pe stâncă; credința este cea care strămută invizibilul în vizibil, care ia lucrurile ce nu sunt și le face ca și cum ar fi. Credința strămută lumea invizibilă în cea vizibilă; și astfel, prin ochiul credinței, pot vedea ce a lucrat Dumnezeu.

•) “Sunt trei lucruri pe care le-aș recomanda mai mult decât multe altele, ca să ne facă să ajungem departe în a realiza în generația noastră ceea ce dorește Dumnezeu să facă prin noi. Iată-le: lăsați păcatul deoparte, despărțiți-vă de lume și oferiți-vă lui Dumnezeu prin credință, fără condiții.”

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very timely read for me. I have always loved Tozer's writing, and there were some things that he touched on in this book that God has really used to encourage me.
I highly recommend. If you pick it up, I would also suggest reading Hebrews as you go through the chapters.
If you are new to Tozer's writings, I would recommend starting with "Knowledge of the Holy" and "The Pursuit of God."

[Karl Ingersoll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good For You!

I have a sort of love/discomfort relationship with Tozer. It seems he was ahead of his time in a prophetic kind of way. I like him better in small doses than an entire book. But I read him because I need him to keep me from settling in my comfort zone.

[Daniel Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book I’ve read by A.W. Tozer and I Found it challenging in a way that propels me to consider the manner in which I live as a follower of Jesus Christ.
True discipleship takes time, effort and intentionality.

[Aaron Alvarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leer un libro de Tozer siempre es una bendición. Este libro nos habla de como vivir la fe cristiana. De enfrentarse con la realidad si es que no se está viviendo la fe de verdad..

Recomiendo cualquier libro de Tozer, este no es la excepción.

[Jonathan Telias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente

Comencé leyendo este libro hace mucho tiempo, la verdad no recuerdo porque le di una pausa. Pero al retomarlo empecé a leerlo distinto y fue de gran bendición. Un gran libro.

[Michael Pattison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will open your eyes!!

This is for those Christians who are committed to being like christ. God demands commitment first........then the blessings will follow.

[May Wong · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like Tozer books. But this book is really difficult to read.

[Terence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid theology that is very much needed for our time.

Highly recommend.

[Marcus Goncalves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reading as all his books that I have read. Faith is really a major disruptive force in our lives and walk with God.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Cuando descanso plenamente en Jesucristo y en su obra consumada, la fe se activa y me libra de la tarea frenética de intentar llegar al reposo por mi mismo"

[Jane Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Tozer’s writing. He tackles many areas with clarity and honesty. I loved the chapter on worship, and will read it more than once.

[Daunavan Buyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book on Faith

Whenever I read Tozer I am both encouraged and challenged . This book is no different. It was written a long time ago but the words still ring true today. If you are wrestling with what it means to have Faith and how it
Plays out in your life, this is a great place to start!

[Dean Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book brought a fresh new dimension and life to reading Hebrews, (which I had done many times before). The writer, A. W. Tozer inspired me to dig deeper in my own personal faith and look through fresh eyes at how God is not what our culture, personal ideas or philosophies define, He is Holy, Constant, Unchanged...The I Am. My attempts to describe further would pale to what this writer accomplished, suffice to say...read this book and you will be lead back to a richer, deeper and more precise walk with Jesus Christ and God the Father.

[Anca Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este es el segundo libro que leo de Tozer y, una vez más me ha sorprendido para bien 💯🙌
En este libro habla sobre cómo una vez que nosotros creemos en Dios debemos dejar nuestra vida anterior y todas las cosas que nos separan de Dios atrás y confiar plenamente en El, dejarnos guiar por El y dejar que El cumpla Su plan en nosotros, pues Dios tiene un plan especial para cada persona. Del mismo modo menciona que no debemos limitarnos nosotros a nosotros mismos, pues Dios es el que ve el potencial que tenemos cada uno a través de Cristo y, en el momento adecuado, hará realidad Su plan en nuestra vida.
Tozer también habla del gran amor que tiene Dios por cada uno de nosotros, del propósito con el que fuimos creados y de la manera en la que, como cristianos, debemos llevar una vida en la que crezcamos continuamente, deseando cada día ser un reflejo de Jesús.
Definitivamente Tozer se está convirtiendo en uno de mis autores cristianos favoritos. La manera en la que explica cada cosa de forma tan sencilla pero sin escapársele nada es simplemente impresionante y atrapador a la hora de leer💙

[Eric Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

A.W. Tozer has always been one of my favourite Christian authors. His insights were deep, his prose punchy and quotable, thought-provoking. This volume does not add much to the Tozer library. While it is gives food for meditation and challenges us to discipleship with bursts of Tozer's incisive comments about the weaknesses on the modern church, it rather disappointed me. Perhaps it was just that it caught me at the wrong time of life or something.

[Geoff Gobbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been collecting and reading books from A W Tozer since college days in 1968. These book have had a profound effect on me. If I can say that books can be friends, these books have been that for me. The first one I read was "the pursuit of God" in 1968 and this is the last one. It is obviously written from sermon message. But what a great help this has been It is an exposition of Hebrews 11 - 12. It has been brilliant and is thoroughly recommended.

[Roberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

En este libro Tozer ofrece soluciones para soslayar los obstáculos inevitables de nuestro triple enemigo: el mundo, la carne y el diablo, y nos transmite las verdades claras sobre lo que hace falta para seguir avanzando en un mundo que está en nuestra contra y para acabar bien la carrera. Su exposición de la vida de fe, extraída del libro de Hebreos, te animará a cruzar la línea de meta y alcanzar la victoria.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously Tozer is not writing any new books and this one was compiled from his sermons based on the book of Hebrews. Possible because of this, I found the book a bit choppy. However, Tozer's comments apply to our churches as much as when he was alive. I did appreciate that one in a while, when you least expect it, there is a humorous comment - just to make sure you are paying attention.

[Tony Bostic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another great read by Tozer. He discusses faith and how it is addressed in the book of Hebrews. It is hard to believe it was written over 50 years ago. So relevant.

[Edgar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!!!

[Jt]

A great read through the book of Hebrews. I love Tozer's thoughts about anything to do with the spiritual life.

[Rebekah Snyder · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've never read anything else by Tozer, so maybe this is how all of his books look, but I wasn't very far into this book before I thought, "And this is why it has never before been published." I feel like this would be the equivalent of someone taking a bunch of my journal entries and publishing them as a book. It wasn't ready. While the content may have been solid, it had not yet been formed into something that was meant to be presented beyond Tozer's mind. I found the majority of the book to be scattered and confusing, like I had missed the sermon and tried reading the notes.

[Jasmine Shadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not necessarily my favorite of his collection. However, there were a lot of truths in it's pages. There were a few times that I felt he had been repetitious, and there were a few things that I did not agree with him on. However, I would still recommend this book to others. It has enough truths to be worth the read.