Generations of Christians can relate to the name Aiden Wilson Tozer, yet he was more than just a writer or pastor. A prophetic voice in a world that frequently looked deaf to God’s call, he was a spiritual giant. Believers are still encouraged and challenged to strengthen their relationship with God by his life and writings.
Early Life
Tozer was born in 1897 in the sleepy rural town of La Jose, Pennsylvania, and had a modest and difficult upbringing. But his life would be shaped by his conversion experience, which was a turning point.
He was invited to call on God for salvation by a street preacher when he was employed at a tire factory in Akron, Ohio. He answered the call that night in the seclusion of his attic room, and a deep spiritual journey began.
Ministry
Tozer served for more than 40 years. He pastored a number of congregations, including the well-known Southside Alliance Church in Chicago and a little storefront church in West Virginia. He served as the pastor of Toronto, Canada’s Avenue Road Church during his latter years.
He had a strong grasp of Scripture and a sharp sense of the human heart despite his lack of any theological training. He was a talented speaker who could explain difficult spiritual concepts in an engaging way.
His works and sermons were distinguished by their profundity, perspicacity, and prophetic challenge.
Anointed For Writing
Tozer left behind a rich literary legacy. His articles quickly attracted a large readership after he started contributing to the Christian and Missionary Alliance’s denominational magazine. Published in 1948, his most well-known work, “The Pursuit of God,” has grown to become a Christian literary classic.
Together with books like “The Knowledge of the Holy” and “The Divine Conspiracy,” this one delves deeply into God’s nature and the quest for holiness by believers.
Tozer writes in a way that is both poetic and realistic. He frequently illustrated spiritual principles with vivid images and experiences from his own life. His words have the capacity to upend complacency and arouse desire for a closer relationship with God.
Lifestyle
Tozer led a modest and straightforward life in spite of his notoriety and impact. He and his spouse, Ada, prioritized spiritual things over material belongings. Tozer’s ministry and way of living demonstrated his humility and self-denial.
But Tozer neglected his family because of his job. According to James L. Snyder, his biographer, “Tozer’s ministry’s scope worked against a healthy family life. He spent more time away from home due to speaking engagements. When he was actually in the house, he was in his bedroom study reading or writing.”
Published Books
These are some of his books:
- Paths to Power (1940)
- Wingspread: A. B. Simpson: A Study in Spiritual Altitude (1943)
- Let My People Go: The Life of Robert A. Jaffray (1947)
- The Pursuit of God (1948)
- The Divine Conquest (1950)
- The Purpose of Man (1951) – First version
- How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit (1952)
- The Crucified Life (1953) – First version
- The Root of the Righteous (1955)
- Keys to the Deeper Life (1957)
- Born after Midnight (1959)
- Of God And Men (1960)
- The Knowledge of the Holy (1961)
- Christian Book of Mystical Verse (1963)
Legacy
Tozer’s influence goes much beyond his time on earth. Many people all throughout the world are still reading and studying his books. His message of spiritual enlightenment and rebirth is just as pertinent now as it was when he lived it. Tozer’s writings provide a timeless manual for gaining a better understanding of God and ourselves as we traverse the challenges of contemporary life.
