Faith of Our Fathers – "The Dangers of Bondage and Liberty"

Speaker: A.W. Tozer
Date: January 6, 2026
Duration: ~38 minutes
Podcast: WDAC Radio Company

Episode Overview

In this rich, challenging sermon titled "The Dangers of Bondage and Liberty," A.W. Tozer examines two spiritual perils facing Christians: falling into the trap of religious bondage, and misusing liberty as a license for sin. Preaching from Ephesians 5:15 and Galatians 5:1, Tozer calls for a vision of God's greatness that sets believers free from legalism, superstition, and externalism—and then cautions that genuine freedom in Christ must not become an excuse for carnal living. The message is deeply pastoral, frank, and filled with practical illustrations and memorable rhetoric.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction: Theme of Dangers on the Christian Path (00:58–02:30)

• Scripture Context: Tozer draws from Ephesians 5:15 ("walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise") and Galatians 5:1.
• Series Structure: Previous sermons covered prosperity, adversity, idleness, and busyness as dangers; today he focuses on bondage and liberty.

2. The Danger of Bondage (02:31–30:30)

a. Bondage to Superstition (02:40–13:00)

• Definition: Superstition is "an abject attitude of mind towards nature founded upon ignorance."
• Refuted Romanticism: Tozer criticizes those who idealize "primitive" peoples as simple, pure, and happy. He insists, from missionary testimony, that superstition deeply enslaves all cultures.
• Colorful Example: Practices such as killing twins in some cultures, fearing eclipses, and other magical beliefs.
• Superstition’s Insult to God:
  • Quotes (11:22):

    "Superstition is not something to joke about... it is a specific defamation of the character of God. For superstition assumes, without knowing it, that God is weak and can't control things."

  • Superstition makes God out to be either powerless, spiteful, or childish—a projection of human failings.
  • Story of mothers afraid to speak ill of children for fear God would punish them reflects a "disgraceful" view of God.
• The True God: Emphasized as sovereign, unthreatened, above all petty or limited attributes.
  • Quotes (13:44):

    "God Almighty rides upon the wings of the wind and sitteth on the circle of the earth and measures the waters in the hollow of his hand..."

b. Bondage to Legalistic Forms (16:25–22:15)

• Traditions and Formality: Some cannot worship unless following precise forms (kneeling/standing, reciting formulas).
  • Quotes (16:57):

    "They that worship God must worship him in spirit and in truth. That gives us complete liberty."

• Illustration: A preacher's nervous habit of plucking at his collar is mindlessly imitated, showing how traditions can arise without rationale.
  • Quotes (20:35):

    "You can get into bondage to that thing and carry it down the years and found churches upon it... Say, ‘In Jesus Christ, I am a free man and I will not be subject to bondage of any kind.’"

c. Bondage to Food and Dress (22:16–28:00)

• Scriptural Teaching: Tozer references Jesus (what goes into a man does not defile him) and Paul (1 Timothy: all things to be received with thanksgiving).
• Modern Legalism: Christians often run back to dietary rules or "religious foods."
  • Personal Story: Letter from a Presbyterian mother whose baby was healed when she prayed for insight about a food allergy. Tozer stresses that such cases are medical/personal, not religious.
  • Quotes (27:55):

    "No food is any more religious than any other food. Neither are we any better if we eat. Neither are we any the worse if we do not eat, said the man of God."

• Dress and Appearance: God cares only for modesty and appropriateness, not externalities like beard length or clothing style.

d. Bondage to Holy Days and Seasons (28:01–29:10)

• Holiday observance can become another form of bondage. True spirituality isn’t tied to calendars or traditions.
• Quotes (28:28):
  > "How they fill churches on Easter and how they empty them the next Sunday. Which all goes to show that such Christians are bound, if they are Christians at all."

3. The Danger of Liberty (Antinomianism) (30:35–36:59)

a. Freedom Misused (30:35–32:30)

• Definition: Antinomianism—using Christian liberty as a license to sin.
• Tozer warns of sects and groups that took "freedom in the Spirit" to the extreme of immorality.
  • Quotes (32:19):

    "God set us free, but he didn't set us free to do Evil; he set us free to do good. Freedom to do good is the Christian's liberty, not freedom to commit sin."

• Paul’s Warning (citing Romans 6):

  "How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?"

b. Positive Definition of Christian Liberty (32:31–34:35)

• Freedom from:
  • External rules, religious bondage, superstition, traditions, government fear, servile fear of God or devil, hatred, envy, and unholy ambition.
• Freedom to:
  • Live and worship in the Spirit, love, do good, follow God’s will.
• Hate as Bondage:
  • Quotes (34:29):

    "Hate is a moral cancer and it eats on the soul till it kills the victim... To get free from hatred is like getting healed of cancer."

c. Liberty Must Respect Others’ Conscience (34:36–36:55)

• Paul’s Principle: Even though all things may be permissible, Christians should avoid causing others to stumble through their liberty (meat offered to idols as example).

• Guiding Rule:

  • Quotes (36:12):

    "Take your freedom in Christ Jesus. Remember, you’re not a bond slave, but a son. You’re not a servant in the house. You’re a child in the household... But use not your freedom for a license to the flesh."

• Voluntary Burdens:

  • Tozer tells story of a girl carrying her brother piggyback.

    "That’s not a burden. That’s my brother." (36:38)

  • Burdens taken up in love are light; burdens imposed by others become oppressive yokes.

4. Final Challenge & Exhortation (36:56–37:57)

• True Liberty:

  • Quotes (37:41):

    "Let’s remember that the man in whom Jesus Christ dwells will be—or ought to be—a good man. And don’t be afraid of the word ‘good.’"

• Honor Christ’s Sacrifice:

  • Don't misuse Christ’s gift of freedom.
  • Stand fast in liberty but do not use freedom as a "cloak for the flesh."

• Concluding Blessing:

  • Christ’s yoke is easy, burden is light; misery comes only from flesh, not Jesus.

    "He always takes the heavy end and gives the light end to me."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Superstition (13:44):

  "God Almighty rides upon the wings of the wind and sitteth on the circle of the earth and measures the waters in the hollow of his hand..."

• On Legalism (16:57):

  "They that worship God must worship him in spirit and in truth. That gives us complete liberty."

• On Rituals & Tradition (20:35):

  "You can get into bondage to that thing and carry it down the years and found churches upon it..."

• On Liberty (32:19):

  "God set us free, but he didn't set us free to do Evil; he set us free to do good. Freedom to do good is the Christian's liberty, not freedom to commit sin."

• On Hate (34:29):

  "Hate is a moral cancer and it eats on the soul till it kills the victim."

• On Voluntary Burdens (36:38):

  "That’s not a burden. That’s my brother."

Summary Table of Timestamps

| Segment | Topic | Start Time | |--------------------|---------------------------------------|-------------| | Introduction | Context, theme | 00:58 | | Bondage: Superstition | etails, critique | 02:40 | | Bondage: Legalism | Forms, tradition, illustration | 16:25 | | Bondage: Food/Dress | Dietary legalism, story | 22:16 | | Bondage: Days/Seasons | Ritual observance | 28:01 | | Danger of Liberty | Antinomianism, definition | 30:35 | | True Christian Liberty | Standards, conscience | 32:31 | | Voluntary Burdens | Story and principle | 36:38 | | Conclusion | Final exhortation, blessing | 36:56 |

Tone & Style

Tozer’s address is warm, direct, and urgent—filled with humor, candid critique, and poetic depth. He mixes pastoral concern with bold confrontation, warning against both cold legalism and careless license. The sermon is deeply biblical and practical, aimed at exposing subtle chains that can bind even earnest believers.

For Listeners

Even if you missed the episode, this summary brings you Tozer’s heart: Christians are called to live in joyful, responsible freedom—casting off both the chains of superstition and legalism, and refusing to let their liberty morph into self-indulgence. True liberty is never a license to sin, but a freedom to love and serve God and others, joyfully and spontaneously.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free, and be not entangled with the yoke of bondage. But use not your freedom as a cloak for the flesh... (Galatians 5:1, implicit theme)