All Comments for: The Advent of Humility | Christianity Today

Free Newsletters:

RSS Feeds |

Audio |

Twitter

Home > 2008 > December

Christianity Today, December, 2008 |

The Advent of Humility

Jesus is the reason to stop concentrating on ourselves.

Tim Keller | posted 12/22/2008 05:07PM

Innumerable Christmas devotionals point out the humble circumstances of Jesus' birth—among shepherds, in a crude stable, with a feed trough for a bassinet. When Jesus himself tried to summarize ...

[Reader Reviews]

Average User Rating:

Rate and Comment on this article

Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 comments.

Page: 1

Show All

Anonymous

Posted: January 05, 2009 10:16 AM


Excellent piece, the opposite of humble of course is pride, the first sin it could be argued. Humility recognizes and celebrates the grace of God. Pride on the other hand leaves no room for pride. I appreciated how the author talked about so well and so wonderfully all those difficulties of humility. When I know I have it I am most far from it and Wormwood has won another round.

Jerry

Posted: January 05, 2009 9:01 AM


Here's a practical suggestion for humility: Ask God to humble you. When I have had the courage to ask this of God, his answers have been quick, painful, and effective.

Peter

Posted: January 01, 2009 1:05 PM


I am increasingly surprised how, with all due respect to Mr. Keller, the modern evangelical church is now almost the inversion of the church of Jonathan Edwards' day, a day in which how one did represent himself or herself actually meant something. He would indeed be considered perhaps little more than a very smart moralist in today's world.

Skip	Posted: December 31, 2008 10:04 AM


Jesus never commanded anyone to drive out moneychangers. He simply did it. Without His perfect nature, we are not capable of doing many of the things He did without pride and judgerment entering the picture.

Jon	Posted: December 30, 2008 7:55 AM

Keller hits the nail on the head as usual. This is a large reason why so many people are sitting at the outskirts of the Church because Churches are being driven by an attitude of phariseeism. Churches that have the ability to deconstruct religious legalism also have the avility to reach the lost and hurting just likes Jesus did and not just be some club for the "supposed" holy people. However, at the same time (speaking of myself here), I have found myself being judgemental of pharisees because of my own history with legalism.

Lindy

Posted: December 29, 2008 10:56 PM


Another excellent article by Keller. True spiritual growth is not about reaching some self-prescribed, human notion of goodness; it is about reveling in bringing glory to God and pointing to what He has done. Best path to mental healthiness, Christian contentment, and peace. Thanks for your "humble" thoughts. :)

Jodie Li

Posted: December 29, 2008 4:54 PM

What Tim Keller said really touched my heart. Even though right now I am serving full time in Apostolos Campus Ministry, as I am evangelizing, I still tend to think about my past, graduating from one of the top law schools in US, and mentioned often about my successful past and falsefully testifying how God humbled me and came into my life through Jesus Christ. Did I really serve God with humility or just using it as a disguise as I approach the lost souls? I really questioned my heart as I was reading through this article.

Paula

Posted: December 29, 2008 10:34 AM

Sure, you can drive moneychangers from the temple but do it with a smile! Rebuke harshly, as commanded in the new testament, but do it in love! Do it with humility! It would be nice if you actually had a biblical definition of humility when you wrote this article. Because harshness, sarcasm, and divine ridicule is definitely all through Scripture, ordained and used by God, who is definitely humble. Look up Robert Morey's lecture "And God Mocked Them" as well as "Dr. Robert Morey on Satire, Gullibility, and Discernment"

Kris	Posted: December 27, 2008 8:47 AM


Thank you, Tim.

Jeff	Posted: December 25, 2008 1:18 PM


Amen!

Ian	Posted: December 24, 2008 8:43 PM


A great article by Tim Keller and he is spot on with the narrative identities. Whilst I agree with the idea that we often operate 'pre-reflectively', I know that there is nothing like a fresh appreciation of the grace of God for me, through a passage of Scripture, or through a glympse of my own ugliness, to humble my pride, even if it be for only a short while.

jack wilson

Posted: December 24, 2008 11:28 AM


Being shy and being humble are not necessessarily the same thing. They can be quite different. While true humilty, not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less (not my definiton but an excellent one), is a virtue one can be shy and completely self absorbed. I know because I was, for many years, extremely shy and self-centered.

Michael

Posted: December 24, 2008 7:03 AM

"There are two basic narrative identities at work among professing Christians. The first is what I will call the moral-performance narrative identity. These are people who in their heart of hearts say, I obey; therefore I am accepted by God. The second is what I will call the grace narrative identity. This basic operating principle is, I am accepted by God through Christ; therefore I obey." I would have to say the writer missed on this, as the biblical truth is more "I am LOVED by God; therefore I obey,;and I am accepted by God, through Grace joined with my obedience" It isn't either/or. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"

tr.	Posted: December 24, 2008 3:25 AM

There are practical steps to humility taught by Jesus and his apostles. But they are too hard, so people will try to lift themselves to heaven by being good and rich and so will climb the camel and let the camel and its load of goods lift themselves for the journey. Which will help only if at the end of the rich person's ride on the camel they lay their treasures at the feet of Christ. The practical steps towards humility are: Step down, leave your career, lay down your treasure on earth and become poor. Take up your cross and commit your life to the service of God and towards kindness to others. See all others as better than yourself and forgive people freely. Our ministry of reconciliation demands of us that we forgive the sins of others just as Jesus holds no sin against us. These are all practical ways in which we can become like Jesus and St. Francis of Assisi. It is too hard for us these days to become humble in practical ways because we are too wealthy. Lay down your treasures

THOMAS ORTIZ

Posted: December 23, 2008 11:38 PM

This is an area I struggle with but from a reactionary standpoint. I usually get judgemental and really self righteous with arrogant, snotty, power hungry Christians. I'm getting angry just writing this!!lol!... I come from a pentecostal background, and we believe that the Presbyterians don't worship God correctly,(lol) but nevertheless Tim Keller communicates the Gospel in such a way that he makes you focus in on Jesus and the Good news and how that applies to all areas of my life. Especially how I relate to others; Christian and non Christians alike.

Philip

Posted: December 23, 2008 9:15 PM

"However, when the gospel is deeply grasped, our need to win arguments is removed, and our language becomes gracious. We don't have to ridicule our opponents, but instead we can engage them respectfully." This is true at times but there comes a time when we have to call evil, evil. Jesus did not deal with all people in the same manner, He adjusted His approach according to the circumstances and character of the person He was dealing with.

ADEWALE

Posted: December 23, 2008 9:14 PM


EXCELLENT PIECE.IT REALLY EXPOSED MY FALSE HUMILITY. PLEASE PUBLISH MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS IN 2009. GOD BLESSS YOU.

chris

Posted: December 23, 2008 5:55 PM


Get kellers new book The Prodigal God. He expands on these points.

RAB	Posted: December 23, 2008 11:18 AM


A good piece, and just in time to help us preachers on the 25th! I only wish it were longer, especially the third point.

Page: 1

E-mail this page

Write CT

Print this article

Post a comment