Practical advice on how to cultivate a deeper relationship with God is also offered. Tenney suggests setting dedicated times for seeking God, much like one would schedule regular appointments, thereby prioritizing this pursuit in daily life.

Practical Applications

Tommy Tenney's "The God Chasers" begins with a profound chapter titled "The Day I Almost Caught Him," which sets the thematic tone for the entire book. This chapter details a pivotal moment in Tenney's spiritual journey, emphasizing the intense, personal pursuit of God's presence over mere knowledge about Him.

Chapter 1: The Day I Almost Caught Him

The core message of this chapter revolves around the distinction between knowing about God and truly knowing God. Tenney challenges the reader with the idea that spiritual fulfillment is not found through academic or intellectual understanding alone but through a heartfelt pursuit of God's presence .

Central Theme

A recurring theme in this chapter is the concept of spiritual hunger. Tenney uses his narrative to exemplify how this hunger is not easily satisfied by traditional church activities or doctrinal knowledge but by a relentless pursuit of God's presence.

Spiritual Hunger

Throughout the chapter, Tenney intersperses biblical references that support his points, particularly focusing on verses that encourage seeking God. He mentions Psalms and other scriptural passages to underline the biblical basis for seeking a more profound, personal encounter with God .

Biblical References and Implications

"I'm not asking you how much you know about Me. ﻿I want to ask you, 'Do you really know Me? Do you really want Me?'"

The chapter poses critical questions intended to provoke introspection and self-evaluation among readers. Tenney asks if they truly know God or are just familiar with the concepts about Him. This reflective questioning is designed to stir a deeper yearning for God's actual presence.

Critical Questions and Reflections

Chapter 1 of "The God Chasers" is a compelling invitation to transition from a passive religious observance to an active, dynamic pursuit of God's presence. Tenney uses his personal spiritual journey as a catalyst to encourage others to seek a tangible, experiential relationship with God that transcends conventional religious activities.

Conclusion

Although largely experiential and anecdotal, Tenney’s approach in this chapter can be seen as both inspiring and controversial. He critiques the modern church’s focus on doctrine over experience, which may resonate with those feeling disconnected from traditional religious practices but may also challenge those who hold a high view of doctrinal integrity.

Theological Critique

Tenney recounts a personal anecdote where he felt he was on the brink of physically encountering God during a church service. This experience left a lasting impact, highlighting a deep, insatiable desire to experience God beyond the conventional boundaries of religious practice .

Narrative and Personal Experience

Tommy Tenney describes 'God Chasers' as individuals who passionately pursue God's presence. He differentiates between pursuing the truth about God and pursuing His direct presence, stating that truth is the trace of God while revelation is about where God is at the moment.

A God chaser is a person whose passion for God's presence presses him to chase the impossible in hopes that the uncatchable might catch him. A child chases a loving parent until, suddenly, the strong arms of the father enfold the chaser. The pursuer becomes the captive; the pursued the captor. Paul put it this way: "I chase after that I may catch that which apprehended me" (Phil. 3:12).Job was a God chaser. He said, "Oh that I knew where I might find Him!" David was one; he said, "My soul followeth hard after Thee." Paul was one too: "That I may know Him..." The passionate paths of God chasers can be traced across the pages of history from Moses the stutterer, David the singer, and Paul the itinerant preacher, to contemporaries like A.W. Tozer, Leonard Ravenhill, and countless others who share one common bond: an insatiable hunger to know their Lord. These are people whose relentless, passionate pursuit of Christ often made them appear foolish in the eyes of others. Yet, having tasted His goodness and glimpsed the invisible, they could be satisfied with nothing less.Add your name to the list...become a God chaser. Who know? You might be one whom He catches.