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Christianity Today, June, 2008 |

Tim Keller Reasons with America

The New York pastor explains why he's taking his ministry model on the road.

Interview by Susan Wunderink | posted 6/20/2008 07:11AM

Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and cofounder of the Gospel Coalition, is behind some of the most ambitious — if not the most radical — efforts to reach urban ...

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Merri

Posted: June 28, 2008 9:05 PM

All I can say is that I went to Redeemer once while in the city, and it looked like a Church family. Not the Norman Rockwell family that is promoted above and beyond the Gospels, but a diverse people held together by their belief in Jesus as Savior and Redeemer. Tim Keller is right to focus on the essense of the Gospels (Jesus) and not on the stumbling blocks (which Paul makes quite clear). it's like focusing on flag pins or hair styles instead of what someone does. Aren't we told that the seed should be sewn, the God will give the increase? (My star rating is not what I clicked, but a computer glitch--I give it 5 stars.)

Will	Posted: June 27, 2008 4:38 PM

John, if liberal Christians will admit thier guilt for supporting terror on the unborn (killing 1million plus every year for the past 35 years) then they can start throwing stones at evangelicals and thier support for Bush. I oppose the war in general but I would vote for Bosh again in a heartbeat because I think that the number of dead from abortion outnumber the number dead in Iraq many times over.

chico granny

Posted: June 26, 2008 12:09 PM

Tim Keller is right about Christianity being synonomous with Right Wing Politics in America today. This is a great tragedy. I wish Christians would exchange their love of politics for a love of good government. There is a difference. Love for politics is synonomous with love for a personal agenda. Love of good government is synonomous with love for country and the welfare of people. Too many Christians have the two confused.

Anonymous

Posted: June 23, 2008 1:52 AM


http://rapidshare.com/files/121414159/The_Interview_With_God.swf.html

John F.

Posted: June 21, 2008 4:37 PM


I've read his book, and it is fascinating. The tone is wonderful, and the responses to common criticisms superb. It helps strengthen christians by addressing the doubts we have in a gental, but highly intelligent manner. I greatly recommend it to anyone, especially to the non-christian / skeptic.

Steve Cornell

Posted: June 21, 2008 8:56 AM

The genius of what Keller is saying is that the Christians have to step outside of the Church/building/box if we ever want to hope to reach out to nonbelievers. Our buildings and denominational structures as well as our opinions (read doctrines) have ceased to be working tools for us and have become walls shutting out the people Christ is sending us to. Our ekklesia/community needs to be intentional about leaving behind these traps. Denominational distinctives just become ways to ensure a non-united front for evangelizing the world. We need new community structures that invite the world into our lives. House-church, anyone?

Craig

Posted: June 20, 2008 11:42 PM

Personally, my views on Genesis didn't change until I had a personal encounter with God thorugh Jesus Christ; when I came to know that the Living God was "real" it was only then that I accepted the Bible as being the Logos (written word). Until then, it was just another religious book among many. You can't have a "personal" relationship with a doctrine...everyone has a doctrine; not many have a relationship. One man's doctrine says that God no longer answers prayer and for him they are not answered; another man's doctrine says that God no longer heals and for him there is no healing; and yet another man's doctrine says that the gifts of the Spirit are not for today and for him they are not something he ever posses. If a doctrine does not bow before the scriptures then it is merely an excuse to remain as one is. Our experiences always end up matching our doctrine...so be careful what you listen to.

An Anxious Anglican

Posted: June 20, 2008 10:05 PM


Tim Keller's book (and his ministry) is a gift from God. He loves God but respects those pre-Christians with questions, too.

Steve Cuss

Posted: June 20, 2008 4:57 PM


This article shows why Tim Keller is one of the finest Christian thinkers we have today. I'm grateful not only for his intellect, but also for the way he wears his theology. His presentation is brilliant and irenic.

Benny

Posted: June 20, 2008 2:11 PM

Thank goodness for an American evangelical prepared to say that it's possible for sincere Bible-believing Christians can come to different conclusions on Creation. Looking on from outside it seems to me that many US evangelicals have painted themselves into a corner on this which does nothing for the gospel. It's just not as big an issue amongst evangelicals in many other countries. And I don't think that's because we've sold out. The central question is 'What does the Bible say about creation?', not 'How do we defend it against scientists?'. Too many people come to too-quick assumptions about what scripture is saying.

Mac Lain

Posted: June 20, 2008 12:34 PM

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?Then do what is good,and you will receive his approval,for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong,be afraid,for he does not bear the sword in vain.For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Kurt	Posted: June 20, 2008 12:01 PM


Keller's book "The Reason for God" is excellent. I highly recommend it.

patrick Dennis

Posted: June 20, 2008 11:46 AM


Great article. I really like Keller. At first I was really drawn to the Emergent guys because I have always thought that Christianity has become too political. But they have really become unorthodox and arrogant. Keller seems to be loving and orthodox.

Dale Fincher

Posted: June 20, 2008 10:50 AM


So much of what Keller says here resonates with the work we're doing at Soulation. It's nice to see healthy perspectives in apologetics jumping to the fore, to see the work happening on opposite sides of the country. Thanks for publishing this.

Paul	Posted: June 20, 2008 10:38 AM


Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and the other war criminals in charge of the War On Terror have presented themselves as evangelical Christians, and then terrorized and tortured their prisoners of war at Guantanamo and other more secret locations. This is simply not Christian - and not American.

John	Posted: June 20, 2008 9:57 AM

Number one sticking point for evangelicals right now: George Bush has presented himself as an evangelical and evangelicals overwhelmingly supported Bush. The invasion/occupation of Iraq, along with a policy of never ending war against “terror”, along with war profiteering and promoting a government responsive to the needs of big business, are fundamentally at odds with what the ordinary man on the street understands about Jesus. The recent evangelical manifesto was a step in the right direction, but should have included repentance for blind support of militarism and the Bush administration.

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