Pursuit of God

A. W. Tozer's most influential work emerged from his growing concern that American evangelicalism in the 1940s had become satisfied with a shallow, experience-poor Christianity. Writing as pastor of Southside Alliance Church in Chicago, Tozer observed believers who possessed correct doctrine but lacked the experiential knowledge of God that marked the great mystics and revivalists of previous generations. The Pursuit of God was his attempt to call the church back to a more intimate, transformative encounter with the divine.

Tozer argues that the fundamental human problem is not simply sin but the veil of self that separates us from immediate fellowship with God. Drawing on mystics like Meister Eckhart and Bernard of Clairvaux while maintaining evangelical orthodoxes, he contends that God has made himself accessible to every believer, not just an elite few. The work moves through themes of spiritual hunger, the necessity of seeking God with the whole heart, and the removal of hindrances to divine communion. Tozer insists that religious activity and biblical knowledge, while good, cannot substitute for direct spiritual experience. He calls readers to move beyond mere intellectual assent to active pursuit, arguing that God rewards those who diligently seek him with increasingly rich manifestations of his presence.

The book's enduring appeal lies in its fusion of mystical spirituality with accessible evangelical language. Tozer succeeded in making the deep wells of Christian mysticism available to ordinary believers without compromising doctrinal integrity. His poetic prose and prophetic urgency continue to challenge comfortable Christianity across denominational lines.

Who should read this: Believers hungry for deeper spiritual experience who find themselves dissatisfied with routine religious practice will find Tozer's call irresistible. Those content with Christianity as mere moral framework or intellectual system may find his mystical emphasis unsettling or impractical.