Tim Keller - a refreshing voice in the city

Dec 30, 2006 at 10:37 PM
3 comments

Dr. Timothy Keller (Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC) is probably the most insightful and intellectually captivating preacher I know of - deeply theological, yet without a hint of being condescending to those with different convictions.

As featured in Christianity Today magazine, May 2006:

"His speaking style is disarmingly low-key, almost professorial, but only the rarest professors make every word count the way Tim Keller does. For 16 years, he has been preaching at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, distilling biblical teaching into arrestingly simple phrases that convey the radical surprise and gracious truth of Christian faith. One such typically piquant phrase is the source of the Christian Vision Project's big question for 2006: How can followers of Christ be a counterculture for the common good? Keller's vision of a church keenly committed to the welfare of its city attracts 4,000 worshipers each week to Redeemer's four rented locations, sends them out into many forms of charitable service through the church's ministry Hope for New York, and fuels a church-planting effort that embraces Baptists and Pentecostals as well as Presbyterians, immigrant neighborhoods as well as Manhattan. Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians."

A prayer that Keller repeats often:

"Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever before believed, but, through you, I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you for paying my debt, bearing my punishment and offering forgiveness. I turn from my sin and receive you as Savior. Amen."

He puts the gospel in this way: that the good news is that we are more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe, but at the very same time, we are more accepted and loved than we ever dared hope. Because of the work of Jesus Christ, we can move out into the world with humility and boldness, and love others with the strength of knowing that He loved us first.

Some reasons why I like Tim Keller:

He is unassuming.
There is nothing slick or flashy about his preaching. He doesn't rely on emotional/sappy stories or strategic humor to manipulate his audience. Keller tells it like it is. He is the real deal. He is extremely rational, thoughtful and reasonable in his approach, and at the same time is relationally inviting to all who hear him. Some preachers might come across as shrill and combative, or might yell in order to get their message across. Keller on the other hand, is the no-nonsense voice of reason.
He unfailingly preaches the Gospel in every sermon.
Each time Keller preaches, whether it be from an obscure passage in the old testament, or at a conference outside of church, he manages to share the gospel clearly and compellingly. Every sermon or talk I’ve heard from him points to Christ as the ultimate yearning of our deepest need. Even in an eight-minute sermonette at the 5th anniversary interfaith memorial service for 9/11, he points to Christ, without unnecesssarily offending listeners of different faiths, yet upholding the power of the resurrected Christ.
His preaching is relevant to both non-Christians and Christians. His preaching is always edifying and down to earth - addressing the “so what?” question we all have; relevant to sceptic and faithful alike - meeting people where they’re at. A New York Times Feb 2006 aritcle describes Keller this way:
"Observing Dr. Keller’s professorial pose on stage, it is easy to understand his appeal. While he hardly shrinks from difficult Christian truths, he sounds different from many of the shrill evangelical voices in the public sphere. “A big part is he preaches on such an intellectual level,” said Suzanne Perron, 37, a fashion designer who is one of many who had stopped going to church before she discovered Redeemer several years ago. “You can go to Redeemer and you can not be a Christian and listen to that sermon and be completely engaged.”

He has a handle on the pulse of our culture. Keller seems to be a closet-sociologist. He frequently cites leading authorities from the world of sociology, psychology, history and a variety of other disciplines when he talks about the influences that have shaped and are shaping our society and worldviews. He knows where we have come from, where we are today, and more importantly, he has an idea of where we are heading. I find his teaching refreshing and culturally engaging. Is it just me, or do you notice that many other preachers know the bible but don’t seem to know that it's 2006 and that they're not in the 1960's anymore? Although he might not be comfortable with all things new (e.g. I for one will never get used to oversized low-hanging baggy pants), he doesn't find a need to alarmingly attack the latest cultural shifts. Yet he still makes an effort to connect beyond his circle. For example, most pastors are very busy with their lives of ministry, and yet Keller is one of the few pastors who takes the time to read and to comment in the blogosphere. This I believe shows that he has a level of understanding and connection with the Gen-X'er/Y'er/Z'er that spends late-nights/early mornings blogging/surfing the web, as well as with the suburban middle-class middle-aged who is at church every sunday in the front pew.
He is extremely well-read in a variety of areas - Christian and non-Christian; Theological and Humanistic; Modern and Classical; Fiction and Non-fiction - and thus provides us with a well-rounded perspective on many issues. Drawing from those that have gone before him in circles both within and outside his own realm, Keller is able to speak to everyone together all at once. Or, in Keller's own words: “When you listen and read one thinker, you become a clone… two thinkers, you become confused… ten thinkers, you’ll begin developing your own voice… two or three hundred thinkers, you become wise and develop your voice.”
He is authoritative without being authoritarian. Keller presents his messages with credibility in that he not only is an educated thinker himself, but he backs up his positions with authoritative sources. He is also respectful, fair and honest with other people’s views/convictions; and often acknowledges the credibility of opposing arguments. Although he is likely the most educated, well-read, wise and knowledgeable person I've heard speak, he'll readily admit his own limited knowledge, perspective and faults. I find that many other preachers shout down and demean other voices that have differing positions, and are forceful/overbearing with their own convictions. With our slick-marketing, results-driven world, I find myself wary of any hard-selling preacher. It's refreshing to see Keller present the gospel message plainly and reasonably without any arm-twisting threats of hellfire. Not only does the hard-sell not work with most people today, it's repelling, and I believe it weakens the message. Becoming a Christian in the world today, Keller says, "is more often the product not of one decision, but of many little decisions."
He believes that doctrines are important and actually shows this without being legalistic. Keller skillfully articulates deep theological doctrines in an understandable down-to-earth manner, and shows how they practically make a difference in the way we live and in the way we relate to other people.
He is passionate for the cities of the world. As the city goes, so goes the culture. The first missionaries went into cities. The apostles all knew that the most strategic place to be an influence for God in the world is in the city. All early Christians were city-folk. Did you know that the word "pagan" comes from the latin word "paganus", which means "man of the countryside" (i.e. hillbilly)?
He encourages people to think out the implications of their faith. He allows the listener to wrestle with the complexities of life and faith, and encourages them to think for themselves. Although I think I grasp his message each time, many times his sermons are so intricately layered that it takes me several listens before I truly understand the nuances of his message.
He speaks to the heart of the matter. He gets at the question behind the question. With surgical precision, he unveils the idols of our hearts, and persuades the listener to consider the more reasonable alternative. He breaks apart each issue to reveal what our hearts were really longing for all along. He deconstructs and reconstructs the worldview behind the belief. He asserts that we all have presuppositions/worldviews behind what we believe and why we believe the way we do. There are things in every culture that are good and some that are not so good, although we might not always recognize it. Keller is a master at deconstructing what he calls "defeater beliefs" - i.e. beliefs within our culture that we assume are true/right that would by implication lead one to assume that Christianity is false/wrong. After it's all laid out, I find that he's painted a compelling picture of how misguided and desperate my heart has been, and just how beautiful the gospel really is.

As featured in the New York Magazine’s Influentials 2006 List (5/16/06):

"Keller has become the most successful Christian Evangelist in the city by recognizing what marketers have known for decades: that young professionals and artists are “disproportionately influential” in creating the country’s culture and that you have to meet this coveted demographic on its own terms. With intellectual, brimstone-free sermons that manage to cite Woody Allen alongside Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Keller draws some 5,000 young followers every Sunday. Church leaders see him as a model of how to evangelize urban centers across the country, and Keller has helped “plant” 50 gospel-based Christian churches around New York plus another 50 from San Francisco to London."

Some Tim Keller sermons: