In Memory...

Dan Kunz

Some of you may have noted, with sadness, that Tim Keller passed away last week. Tim was a Presbyterian pastor who started Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. Under his leadership, the church grew to five thousand members. He was also one of the founders of the Gospel Coalition, a group of evangelical congregations concerned with the direction of their faith tradition, according to National Public Radio’s Jason DeRose.

Also in that blog, DeRose stated that Keller’s own personal concerns were that evangelical Christianity had become too politicized and that moral relativism had gone unchallenged. In addition, Tim Keller was a renowned writer, mainly about the Gospel and how best to share it with the world around us. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism and The Prodigal God, are both very well read and used by a variety of different people in the faith community.  

If you haven’t read The Reason for God, I want to share a little of the narrative to give you a taste of what Tim Keller believed, preached, and wrote.

Keller himself states that the book is written for two groups of people: those who have doubts about Christianity and Christians who know someone about whom they care deeply and have those doubts. The basis for his perspective on the first group is literally the thousands of people he encountered over the years in New York and the thoughtful discussions he had with them.

The basis for his perspective on the second group were the conversations he had with his own congregation members and others throughout the faith community. He found, when talking to “doubters”, their ideas were passionate, well-thought out, and deserving of respect. He obviously was willing to listen to them to find how to best reach them with the truth of the Gospel. Something we should do as well!

One important point he makes at the very beginning of his book, is that the atheist bases his view on faith as much as the Christian does. The atheist can’t prove the non-existence of God scientifically, any more than the Christian can scientifically prove the existence of God. That said, he then goes on to give rational explanations for many of the things which you and I, as Christians, believe. In one of his interviews, he said the basic question of doubters is, “Why should I believe in God?”

The Reason for God uses logic and rational thinking to explain why we should believe in God, especially in view of some of the common questions people have – Why does God allow suffering in the world? How could a loving God send people to hell? Why isn’t Christianity more inclusive?

Anyone who has even a passing knowledge of Tim Keller’s life and his work, would recognize his complete grasp and joy in the concept of God’s grace in his plan for our salvation. We can’t earn it. We can’t help it along. We can’t take credit for it. It is God’s doing and his alone. Thank God for all the faithful witnesses to the Gospel, God’s Word, and his Great Commission so that all can come to believe and be saved. Thank you, Tim. Enjoy the realms of glory prepared for you and all who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior!

Matthew 25:23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.’”