I’ve recently been re-reading two shorter books that were invaluable to me in my early days in ministry. One is A.W. Tozer’s Knowledge of the Holy, and the other is Arthur Pink’s The Attributes of God. These books are of comparable size and even more impressively comparable subject matter, both dealing with God’s attributes in short, what some might call “bite-sized” chapters. The difference in personality and temperament of the two men are on display in how they vary in dealing with the topic of God’s attributes. Nevertheless, these two studies are so helpful, clarifying, and God-exalting.
Arthur Pink, Brit though he was, had a ministry that was mostly (though not entirely) confined to American soil throughout the first half of the 20th century. Because he was Augustinian/Calvinistic in a day when American churches were almost unflinchingly not, he was, as one biographer called him, “an unwanted preacher."* He eventually undertook a life of Christian writing, and died reclusive with only his wife by his side. But after he passed, his writing gained a more and more prominent following. You can read about him online easily. His postmortem following has spawned numerous biographical efforts.
His Attributes of God study of God’s supremacy contains a quotation that I feel is worth the price of the book. Let me embed it below:
The “god” of this twentieth century no more resembles the Supreme Sovereign of Holy Writ than does the dim flickering of a candle the glory of the midday sun. The “god” who is now talked about in the average pulpit, spoken of in the ordinary Sunday School, mentioned in much of the religious literature of the day, and preached in most of the so-called Bible Conferences is the figment of human imagination, an invention of maudlin sentimentality. The heathen outside of the pale of Christendom form “gods” out of wood and stone, while the millions of heathen inside Christendom manufacture a “god” out of their own carnal mind. In reality, they are but atheists, for there is no other possible alternative between an absolutely supreme God, and no God at all. A “god” whose will is resisted, whose designs are frustrated, whose purpose is checkmated, possesses no title to Deity, and so far from being a fit object of worship, merits nought but contempt.**
Note first the vivid imagery, comparing the likeness of the powerless, hands-off, neutral “god” of recent church literature and preaching to the likeness of a flickering candle with the sun. Regardless of Pink’s temperament and its probable incompatibility with the pastorate, one could not accuse him of not being good with words. The man could write; he could surely preach, too.
Second, note his insight that the “god” of his day is more the god of sentimentality than the “consuming fire” (Heb.12:29) of holy scripture. Preachers and speakers want people crying, pitying God, and “coming down front” to save God from the embarrassment of his world’s unbelief in him. To quote Tozer, “Thousands of younger persons enter Christian service from no higher motive than to help deliver God from the embarrassing situation his love has gotten him into and his limited abilities seem unable to get him out of.” It’s absurd, says Tozer: “God needs no defenders.”^ The truth is that “our God is in the heavens. He does all that he pleases.” (Ps.115:3); and “no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord” (Prov.21:30). Once more from Tozer: “Were every man on earth to become an atheist, it could not effect God in any way. He is what he is in himself without regard to any other. To believe in him adds nothing to his perfections; to doubt him takes nothing away."^^
Finally, note the crescendo at the end of the quote, that he is no god at all “who’s will is resisted, whose designs are frustrated, and whose purpose is checkmated.” If God could hold back Abimelech from sleeping with married Sara (Gen.20:6), could forcibly seize Lot to remove him from Sodom (Gen.19:16), could keep the nations (who hated Israel) from coveting their land (Ex.34:24), and can turn the king’s heart wherever he wants (Prov.21:1), it is patently absurd to assume that unbelief and sin in the world somehow demonstrates that God has limits to his power and influence. Did not the cross show us something else, displaying God’s sovereignty over evil, since Jesus was offered up to be murdered “according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (Ac.2:22-23)? God’s sovereign power and wisdom is even able to overcome evil through evil! Such a truth cannot be contrived, only revealed.
He would seem to be no god who’s plans could be thwarted by his creation. But thanks be to him, scripture has taught us to know better. Far from the idea that he works how his creation wills, creation works how he wills. And this should be an endless ground of comfort for those looking for solid ground on which to build their lives. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you” (Is.26:3).
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*Iain H. Murray, The Life of Arthur W. Pink, Revised and Enlarged (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2017 Reprint), 124-142.
** Arthur W. Pink, The Attributes of God (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1975), 28-29.
^ A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life (San Fransisco: Harper, 1961), 34.
^^Ibid, 33.
