Do Not Hope to Win the Lost by Being Agreeable
by A.W. Tozer, Renewed Day By Day, September 3


Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

IN OUR DAY, RELIGION MAY BE VERY PRECIOUS to some persons, but hardly important enough to cause division or risk hurting anyone’s feelings!

In all our discussions there must never be any trace of intolerance, we are reminded; but obviously we forget that the most fervent devotees of tolerance are invariably intolerant of everyone who speaks about God with certainty. And there must be no bigotry—which is the name given to spiritual assurance by those who do not enjoy it!

The desire to please may be commendable enough under certain circumstances, but when pleasing men means displeasing God it is an unqualified evil and should have no place in the Christian’s heart. To be right with God has often meant to be in trouble with men. This is such a common truth that one hesitates to mention it, yet it appears to have been overlooked by the majority of Christians today.

There is a notion abroad that to win a man we must agree with him. Actually, the exact opposite is true!

The man who is going in a wrong direction will never be set right by the affable religionist who falls into step beside him and goes the same way. Someone must place himself across the path and insist that the straying man turn around and go in the right direction.