Tim Keller is that kindly professor who is sympathetic to where you're coming from. He knows that you will probably disagree with his lectures, and he feels for you--but he also knows you're an ignorant youngster who needs to get a handle on the truth in order to graduate.
In a couple articles recently posted on the Resurgence blog, Keller counsels leaders on how to deal with the perennially unpopular and nonnegotiable topics of hell and sin. These are well worth your time.
Teaching Hell in a Tolerant Age: Brimstone for the Broadminded
"People ask, 'What kind of loving God is filled with wrath?' But any loving person is often filled with wrath. In Hope Has Its Reasons, Becky Pippert writes, 'Think how we feel when we see someone we love ravaged by unwise actions or relationships. Do we respond with benign tolerance as we might toward strangers? Far from it… Anger isn't the opposite of love. Hate is, and the final form of hate is indifference.'"
Preaching Immorality in an Amoral Age
Today's preacher must argue against the self-serving pragmatism of postmodernity. The gospel does say that through it you find your life, but that first you must lose your life. I must say to people, "Christ will 'work' for you only if you are true to him whether he works for you or not. You must not come to him because he is fulfilling (though he is) but because he is true."
Tim Keller is thoughtful, discerning and, judging by the ministries of his church in NYC, effective. He also quotes C.S. Lewis in both these articles. :)
2 comments:
Great article, thanks for posting it. I guess I haven't explored around enough b/c I hadn't seen this yet. thanks again.
Sure thing. Keller is worth plenty of play-time.
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