THE LONELINESS OF THE CHRISTIAN

THE LONELINESS OF THE CHRISTIANBy A.W. Tozer The loneliness of the Christian results from his walk with God in an ungodly world, a walk that must often take him away from the fellowship of good Christians as well as from that of the unregenerate world. His God-given instincts cry out for companionship with others of his kind, others who can understand his longings, his aspirations, his absorption in the love of Christ; and because within his circle of friends there are so few who share his inner experiences he is forced to walk alone. The unsatisfied longings of the prophets for human understanding caused them to cry out in their complaint, and even our Lord Himself suffered in the same way.The man [or woman] who has passed on into the divine Presence in actual inner experience will not find many who understand him. He finds few who care to talk about that which is the supreme object of his interest, so he is often silent and preoccupied in the midst of noisy religious shoptalk. For this he earns the reputation of being dull and over-serious, so he is avoided and the gulf between him and society widens. He searches for friends upon whose garments he can detect the smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces, and finding few or none he, like Mary of old, keeps these things in his heart.It is this very loneliness that throws him back upon God. His inability to find human companionship drives him to seek in God what he can find nowhere else."And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." -Revelation 12:11Borrowed with thanks from;http://www.awildernessvoice.com

This is the writing which "hit" me especially hard this morning. This is where I am at. I told someone recently I feel like an "alien"---even among those whom I attended Church with. I know there are many of us out there who just want to talk about Jesus and His Word, edifying each other and growing Christ centered relationships, but it is so hard to find them---in person. That's why I am thankful for this medium. It at least is a place where we can come and fellowship with likeminded persons. Much of what Tozer speaks of the characteristics of the lonely Christian describe me perfectly. Even my own unsaved family have noted a sort of "sadness" which was not previously a part of my personality. I didn't realize what I was feeling internally was even being noticed by those on the "outside"---as I'm usually good at masking my feelings, usually with humor.......but not so now I guess. If it weren't for my husband, I truly would be in utter "lonliness" and I do have Christian friends.......I guess what Tozer said here is what the Lord is really bringing me to:It is this very loneliness that throws him back upon God. His inability to find human companionship drives him to seek in God what he can find nowhere else.

Oh yes, I feel like exactully what this article is about. I have very few people i can talk to about "deeper" things. I can talk to my pastor (who is a couple of hours away from me because I am in college now), one friend at my church here in my college town, and all of you here at SI. Even in Christian circles I feel as a stranger.

Anyone know of any sermons that are along this same line?

I too know how you feel. I really have no one who I can personally fellowship with on a deep level. Except the ones I read on SI. My wife is a Christian but at this time she doesn't want to walk in the deeper things of God. My church has a number of good God fearing people but fellowship tends to turn in a social event. My pastor pastors 2 churches so he is so busy that is not anyone with whom I can discuss the Godly things a length. Sometimes I feel that something is wrong with me that I'm almost antisocial. But I know that I have God and just want more of Him. I'm currently praying for His guidince about a body of believers that may have some members that want the same things I do.

Acquaintances chat Friend’s talk Intimates shareI have probably 4 people id tell or be able to share anything with, that’s not many.Jesus has the same we like to stay around the outer courts with him we like to come to him when it suits us Jesus has no favorite’s just intimates; he did actually have some people that he always took with him but for a reason?Who, peter, James & john& Why, because they were intimate with him more than the others were1 of my friends & I, people refused to pray with us. They just didn’t get us.Stuff happened when we prayed.I don’t think they liked so much. I can’t control God if he turns up or answers our prayers that’s there problem.But I agree its there’s not heaps of people in churches you can really share your heart with.All my intimate friends God has given in answers to there prayers for like minded people.1 example is my mates wedding I went to but I would have had my back toward the main table so I looked at the name tag across from me, I knew that guy who was to sit there but he hadn’t arrived yet so I thought bugger it ill change it,Which I did.Simple thing no big spiritual significance just an urge to do it.Unbeknownst to me the guy next to now where I am sitting.Was going through things which he had never been able to find others, who had had the same type of experiences.As he walked into the reception he heard God say “the person you sit next to will be a divine appointmen”t.He sat down looked at the name tag & thought how can that guy be a divine appointment I rarely see him. Then I change the name tag sit down & start chatting.Enough saidI let God choose my friends now he picks well.& we have become the best of brothers in God & his family have adopted me as a second son.All because he wanted to talk the deeper things of God.I’m in the process aswel now of waiting on God for a church im not to concerned what denomination but that I will have another divine appointment with someone else who loves the things of God.So if you’re in this position he will answer ask him for the people he will answer?But it’s like when you want to talk, God his presence, his ways revival power & longing for him .I find it’s like a veil goes over peoples faces there ears shut up & they just can’t handle to talk this stuff.& my longing aswel for people who want God, his ways to know him to ponder & discuss the deeper things of Him.

I have been giving the seperateness of the Christian a lot of thought lately and just how I should share everything the Lord is doing in my heart and in my life. I have noticed that the light of spiritual truth is not something I have the priveledge of hoarding to myself. There are people around me desperate and dying and I need to reach them somehow. I am very lucky that my sister and her husband have a hunger for Christ but even they noticed that my nature is to pursue my love with zeal. I wish I could claim to feel this way only toward Christ but in my life I have pursued many things outside of God and have payed the price in dissappointment and sin. If Almighty God is the fire that burns within me everything in this world seems to pale and fade, driving me towards my Lord and away from the so-called normal life. I was praying not to long ago and the bible in front of me became like the only real thing I could see or feel, becoming the sole piece of wood in the midst of a turbulent sea to cling to and also the only solid rock to stand on over a deep and empty abyss. I don't claim to have had a vision but this image brought home to me the reality of God's Word, when nothing else on this ball of dirt seems real; the eternal Truth is all I have left. To reach into eternity and wrest the precious jewels of heaven into my grasp fills me with awe and gratitude, while at the same time convincing me that my flesh, my mind are totally unworthy. How can I tell someone else that this is really how I feel about the Word, about the Creator, about my Teacher and Comforter? It seems words are rather pitiful for this task and I am left alone, praising Him with tears of joy.We are never alone, with Christ alwaysRich 2Cor 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place

It is this very loneliness that throws him back upon God. His inability to find human companionship drives him to seek in God what he can find nowhere else.Thanks for sharing this Bro. Mike. It was a great blessing to me. God Bless,-Robert