Appreciating Tim Keller
by admin on Feb.26, 2011, under Church, Fuel
Guest post by Martin McNeely
Not long ago I was asked to take part in a seminar organized by the Urban Mission group of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland entitled “Keller Unplugged”. It was not, as it might sound, a performance of acoustic tunes extolling the virtues of New York’s Presbyterian pastor, author and teacher! Rather, it was a gathering of like-minded church activists who wanted to see if Keller’s ministry could teach us anything in urban and missional contexts closer to home.
At first glance, some would bypass Tim Keller. He’s working in a context far removed from the UK, particularly our estates and unreached areas. Redeemer Presbyterian concentrates on Manhattan urbanites, post-modern younger professionals in a cosmopolitan and socially liberal city. Without doubt, Keller’s ministry and philosophical style reflects this.
But deeper appreciation of Keller gives us good ground for a study of his teaching, not least because his formative ministry development was forged in Hopewell, a blue collar Virginian town. It was there, for the first ten years of his ministry life, where Keller learned to preach. It was in that setting where his theology of evangelical social conscience was worked through, via his DMin studies at Westminster Seminary.
So what did he learn? In a recent exploration of his life at desiringgod.org Keller shared three main influences. The first was the Covenant theology taught at Westminster by Meredith Kline. Keller has also been influenced by and closely associated with the approach of Ed Clowney and his desire to share Christ in Old Testament preaching. I find this emphasis on covenant, or as others may term it, ‘Biblical theology’ most helpful. In our broken, dysfunctional society it is so helpful for the preacher to know that God does have a plan and that He does not break His promises to His people. What a challenging message in a society where promises are broken all the time.
Secondly, Keller emphasizes the doctrineof Justification by faith. He argues from his reading of Richard Lovelace in Dynamics of Spiritual Renewal, that justification has played a role in every major revival of God’s Spirit in Church history. And again, in our society what a Gospel of hope! Broken people in sinful situations can be forgiven and declared blameless by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
Finally, Keller speaks much of the importance of works as a result of our having experienced mercy. The key influence here is Charity and it’s Fruits by Jonathan Edwards. Tim Keller particularly expounds the Good Samaritan parable as evidence of not only God’s great mercy which saves, but of our response as mercy showing people. In his book Ministries of Mercy (P&R), Keller argues that good works provide a “plausibility structure” out of which Gospel relationships and conversations develop. His recent work “Generous Justice” is an extended exposition of the wider Biblical arguments.
Now, I’ve neither studied all of the above names or profess to be an expert on Tim Keller. But neither do we need to be in downtown Manhattan to appreciate him. I find his balanced teaching very helpful in my context. I hope you do too.
Martin McNeely is minister of Ballykeel Presbyterian, a community church based in Ballymena, NI.
February 26th, 2011 on 11:50 pm
anyone up for discussion ?
‘Keller argues that good works provide a “plausibility structure” out of which Gospel relationships and conversations develop’
In post welfare UK is this necessarily the case ?
‘
February 27th, 2011 on 8:30 pm
Thanks Colin. What do you mean by ‘post welfare’? In our context (huge welfare state influence as well as post conflict EU investment) public sector job cuts have yet to impact. Education cuts have still to impact (though soon will in the new financial year). Health cuts are certainly impacting on mental health treatment, orthopedic work, elderly care.
But fundamentally, I’m not sure how ‘post’ welfare the UK will become. There will be cuts but the state will continue to provide jobs and care albeit on a lesser scale.
I may be wrong, but I wonder if our church can play a role in the area of mental health? It is one of the biggest health issues in my estate. Can we provide Biblical counselling for outsiders??? I don’t know.
Can we address literacy (a major issue with us) through adult reading classes? One man has gloriously become a Christian in our church recently. He took reading classes to help him get through Christianity Explored.
February 27th, 2011 on 11:20 pm
Martin,
thankyou for your response and time …
Sorry for not being clearer, by post welfare I mean … a society which has had some 60 years of the welfare state (as has the UK) and accordingly (because of the services provided by it) this affects peoples perception of those that provide like services eg reading classes, after school clubs etc
Now not for one second am I suggesting that we do not show love to our neighbour and do whatever we can for those in need and praise God for the brother converted and assisted with his literacy to get through Christianity explored.
But … a post welfare context imo means that by Christians just putting on serivces may not have the desired effect ie people thinking haven’t those Christians helped me … I must think more about their faith.
In fact, because people are used to receiving services from the state, voluntary agencies etc the things we do for them are seen as just one more service to be used and people are quite happy to take what they can and show no interest in the other things we have to say ?
Therefore I believe churches can spend alot of time, effort, money on things they see as making an ‘impact’ whereas they actually are seen by those that receive them as just one more service to be consumed ?
I don’t know if you have had experience of this ?
March 2nd, 2011 on 2:16 pm
Colin
Thanks again for that clarification, I see what you mean brother.
I agree entirely about the concerns you raise and have some experience of the very problem you articulate. Indeed, worryingly so from evangelical Christians, who have moved, in their mercy ministries, away from the heart of the Gospel.
Let me maybe outline a little of my context and experience here to answer your points.
We’re a community building, nearly 40 yrs old, in the heart of 1200 homes, mixed public / private, built over the same period. We’ve always been an evangelical church, but closely associated with the parish area (school, local employment, sport etc). Like many 60′s new town estates across the UK we have experienced substantial social problems (break up, mental health issues, drugs etc). This has been made worse by local political violence to a degree. The period of unrest in the mid to late 90′s associated with our community led to a dis-connection of church and community. In fact many families left both church and area at the time.
Due to more stable conditions and huge EU / Public sector investment, there has been much more stability. But obviously that has not changed the church. So we have set about trying to re-connect with our community for the sake of the Gospel. We have done this by:
*initially partnership with Sure Start / Woman’s Aid / OAP groups
*strong involvement with primary school
*extensive pastoral care / visitation to needy people
*training up of a pastoral care outreach group (using Tim Chester’s Pastoral Care course from the Open Bible Institute)
*Provision of lots of sport – aiming at men, football, boxing etc
*trying to encourage young couples in marriage
*trying to boost below average literacy, so people can read
*accessing finance for people in hardship
*environmental clear up groups
*affirming where we can, local culture, outreach nights, community debates etc
*Taken on a Cornhill p/t apprentice so I can be free to prep, and also spend more time listening to folk.
At the heart of all this is a Calvinistic ministry which emphasizes God’s sovereignty, personal salvation, expositional ministry and the duty to love our community with grace. We have seen therefore:
*The teaching elder (minister, ie me!) should be free to teach and pastor
*But the members should be inspired to share the Word in love and deed.
*People see us not as religious, but as loving and sacrificial, qualitatively different from the welfare state – as good as some of those carers are.
Although we’ve partnered with stat bodies like Sure Start in giving them space, we have never applied for funding for our pastoral care outreach as it would restrict our freedom to share the Gospel. In a sense this has limited us. But we’re a small church, and we’re quite happy to let God do the growing at His pace. We do CY Explored every year, which has been amazing every time.
We deliberately look for opportunities to spend loads of time with people.Certainly, some do not immediately respond after much care. But God knows that, so it never worries me. On the other hand, there have been some hugely encouraging stories of Gospel transformation.
Some books which have helped me: Total Church (Timmis and Chester) The Gospel Centered Life (same) Keller’s Church Planting Manual, Kuyper on Calvinism (I studied it formatively in College), and recently the theology of John Owen by Sinclair Ferguson. (Bit of a heavy one, but a book which really helped me see how dead sin make us and how great grace is).
In preaching, above all, I have been deeply convicted going through Luke’s Gospel.
Sorry about the length of my reply brother. I must get some work done now!!
Sincerely
Marty
March 3rd, 2011 on 11:30 pm
Martin,
You said that ‘People see us not as religious, but as loving and sacrificial, qualitatively different from the welfare state’
In the short term this may be possible … but as your ‘services’ (social ministries) go on for longer I think this gets harder and harder… because people can expect things from you and when you don’t deliver …..
Where I think we would agree is that where churches are disengaged with the community (often because of Christians living away from the area they are seeking to reach AND / OR Christians being of a different culture / class to them), we need to find ways to cross this, sometimes this may be ‘serving’ type ministries, other times it may be in other ways.
I wonder if finding ways for Christians to connect with those who are different to them and be able to find ways of witness is a bigger issue than meeting needs (particularly where as you have said the state meets needs fairly well anyway) ?
I think one of the reasons ‘reaching the unreached’ has come about is that most conservative evangelicals are upper middle / middle class (nothing wrong with that) and have withdrawn from most inner city areas and out of town estates and thus struggle to relate to people who live there. To be provocative … is always wanting to ‘help / serve / do mercy to” people always the best way to go about this ?
Thankyou for your time.
March 4th, 2011 on 10:52 am
Thanks Colin. Maybe you have experience you can share in respect of the frustrations you articulate? I really do acknowledge the concern. Particularly in respect of our trying to help people with either mental health issues, or addictions. Initially in my ministry I spent a lot of time with people in those situations and found it draining and humanly speaking, “unrewarding”. In some cases I’ve had to withdraw from homes because I can’t do anymore. And there are limits to what our church can offer in terms of human and financial support. In my view we love the community where and when we can, but only so long as the Word is honoured.
But I guess the thing about Christ is, there’s no limit to His love and offer of grace. I’m constantly amazed by His willingness to reach people and share with people who are completely draining, undeserving, using up of His time, getting in the way of His prayer life, not least His disciples and followers in the Gospel.
And the issue is this, as Keller argues, when the Kingdom is at work, something physical happens, shalom, restoration and renewal works itself out in social terms. Communities change.
Certainly, in the hearts of more well intentioned middle class Christians, those concepts can become very idealistic – and personally that annoys me. We have no end of well meaning Americans and even local Christians who want to come into our estate to ‘clean us up’! Equally, however I get concerned when conservative evangelicals remain wary or suspicious of genuine engagement. It’s so contrary to our heritage whether it’s Calvin’s Geneva, Chalmers in Scotland, Spurgeon in London or Edwards in New England. The poor were loved and helped on orthodox Biblical grounds. Although in your case brother, you acknowledge that.
In our case, we did move from a very middle class life style and church to the heart of our community. In my view, I think it is hugely beneficial to have the church and pastor’s house in the middle of the people. I don’t think I personally have changed – I’ve always been a staunchly middle class Daily Telegraph reading, rugby playing Tory. But my parish flock laugh at that and understand when I tell them, none of these things matter in Heaven, or indeed on earth where people are loved in Jesus’ Name.
March 4th, 2011 on 4:25 pm
I was wondering around the estate this morning thinking about our context and your email Colin. I was reminded of the following:
*Christians have to love people over a very long time -as I said the congregation have been here nearly 4 decades, building trust with non Christians. An old OM survey discovered that from 1st point of contact to personal faith in India took on average 7-8 years of relationship. It’s no different even in evangelical Northern Ireland.
*The Church has to primarily focus on solid doctrine above all else.
March 5th, 2011 on 11:13 am
Martin,
thank you again, I have not got my thoughts on this down before so thankyou for stimulating me to do so.
In reference to your last post I wonder if I am being clear enough, as I am not for one second negating the need to love and ‘hang in’ with people for the long term, it’s about how we go about doing that.
My basic point is this … evangelicals need a better understanding of the culture, before they jump straight to ‘social ministries’ in their attempts to reach people different to them (ie they have less money).
You referenced Chalmers and Spurgeon. They were in the 19th century and dealt with a pre welfare state context of absolute poverty. There was no safety net for the poor in those times (aside from the brutality of the poor house). If people were not assisted they could die. Plus there were lots of ‘needs’ for evangelicals to assist with. The work of Shaftsbury being an obvious example.
We are now 150 years on from then. Four things have happened. Firstly the more obvious needs which the evangelicals of the 19th century met have largely gone. A good example of this is the need for orphanages. The state now looks after children who cannot live with their parents.
Yes there are issues still to be dealt with but these have very much moved from the category of need. No one will die if Christians do not help out. If they did it will be because other state agencies failed as well.
Secondly, we have moved absolute poverty in the UK to relative poverty. People (including the ‘poor’) are all much better off than ever before. I am not saying there are not still issues, unemployment, poor conditions, people’s ability to use the things they have (impacted on by issues like mental health, drug misuse etc etc). This very fact tells us that the response from someone who receives from us in 2010 in relative poverty would be different to someone who received from us in 1850 in absolute poverty.
Thirdly, we have had 60 years of the welfare state. This is one of the most fantastic blessings of living in the UK. But … it has also had unintended coinsequences. For some it can sap their motivation and it has undoubtedly affected the pre welfare strong family support networks. By people ‘helping’, it may not always ‘help’ if you see what I mean … eg if a load of well meaning Christians (from outside) come in and clean up an area, why do those that live there have to do anything …. and whilst the Christians may perceive that they are ‘transforming the community’, those who live there may just see them as doing things the state should be doing
Fourthly, Evangelicals are not the only ‘do gooders’ in town. The area of my church is one of the most notorious in the UK for gang violence. Every week , I book a football pitch for 16 – 20s yr old young men. you can imagine what I deal with.
Like with you, money is pumped into our area our boys are offered all kinds of things (by the council and vol agencies) to keep them out of gangs. What they offer is far better than what we do !!
So the lads really do not see us as being kind, good, or anything we do as being distinctly ‘Christian’ … many of them see us as just one more activity which ‘should’ be put on for them.
But we don’t give up, we have been commanded to love our neighbour and to reach them with the gospel.
So … my point is that the ‘evangelical’ assumption is that in dealing with the those of different social class and culture to us, if we offer some kind of services, this will gain us a hearing. I am questioning this …
I also question the value of churches setting up lots of ‘social’ programs, in the light of the current social. cultural and economic context in the UK.
I am not questioning the need for Christians to love their neighbour, be engaged with them, meet their ‘needs’ and live sacrificially for them, as I said at the top it is how we go about doing this, in our current context.
I pray for God’s blessing on your preaching tomorrow.
March 5th, 2011 on 6:29 pm
Thanks Colin, that was such a helpful email. It pretty much summed up what I think too as we pretty much face the same issues. It’s nice to know that through websites like this, I am reassured that our church is not the only one working through the questions that are posed. I think the short response on the welfarism question is: wait and see. Our society is in a state of flux and welfare provision will change. I think churches may play a bigger role in the “big society” – but that’s another debate!
I think the key thing in your email is the line “we don’t give up”. We just don’t know how and in what way the sovereign God works. Tell me, do you do a 2 min epilogue at the end of the football? I used to be so rubbish at it, but with prayer and respect on the part of lads I work with, I find they listen to a quick Gospel thought. I enjoy doing epilogues and sharing the Gospel now. As I said, Cy Explored has given me so much confidence in asking big questions of people. Maybe because I have spent a lot of time in rugby circles and playing soccer I get used to it too.
Just out of experience, I have deliberately aimed more at the older faces in the estate – maybe 30′s – 50s. They tend to have a bit more patience than younger lads. So with their backing, we can bridge into their sons’ lives.
We should do a swap – you should come over and meet some of the lads we work with. I’m praying that some of them will break bread for the first time tomorrow as believers. Thanks for your support!
March 9th, 2011 on 8:32 pm
Martin,
Thanks for that … a year or so ago, the lads used to have to come and hear the word, prior to playing football. On times we saw some amazing sights of large nos of yp from other religions hearing the word in our church !!!
We have now had to move to another pitch further from our church, and an epilogue is not really an option for a no of reasons. Once a term they now come back to church for the gospel.
As for contacting parents, we do this, but it is alot more difficult for us. Few of our lads live with their fathers and those that do are generally of different religions, so would prob not be that impressed they are with us.
There are not many non Polish tall white men in the neighbourhood. When I knock doors I am often greeted with a look of horror, as parents think I have come to arrest their sons. I now take my 7 year old daughter which helps !!!
Anyway … if ever you are in the Midlands and would like to see how a predominantly Indian (our services are all translated into Punjabi) / Carribean / White congregation seeks to reach this neighbourhood …
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/feb/26/soho-road-birmingham-most-religiously-diverse-road-britain
God Bless
Colin
March 10th, 2011 on 4:38 pm
Colin I would love to come and experience that ministry some time. I presume you are the Baptist church on the link?
Forgive my arrogance too in earlier comments, you are clearly in a more difficult, diverse situation. Much more difficult than my 95% white UK w class context, with a reasonance of old Protestant theology still in the pensioner generation. We do have a Muslim centre across the road and some Pakistani / Somalian families. They are well integrated. There are lots of E Europeans in the local factories, though not in our estate.
One of the key issues which helps our development of mercy ministry is proximity: we are in the heart of everything – school, church, boxing club, hospital, shop, pub, football pitch – it’s all on our door step. Everybody knows each other and sees each other every day. There are little language or cultural barriers.
So when people experience problems, Christians are living in the vicinity and can respond.
We have experienced some growth. Most of it has come through basic pastoral care around funerals, cancers and sickness. But all of that is done within basic pre-suppositions which are Christian helped by the fact that we are percieved as the ‘parish’ church. Somewhat different for you?
Blessings
M
March 12th, 2011 on 11:40 am
Martin,
You never came across that way, and I have appreciated our interactions.
I listened to a Tim Chester message (I think in Australia) in which he quoted Stuart Murray Williams on a ‘Post Christendom’ context. That sums up really well where we are. We are very much on the margins in terms of influence and numbers in our neighbourhood and certainly in the city at large. There are Christians, but on the whole, they are first and some second generation people from the Caribbean and the transient middle class whites who go to the evangelical churches. There are also increasing numbers of West Africans, who are planting their own churches (not anything like on the scale of London). But the dominant religious activity is Islam, 50 %of the school children in the city are said to be Muslim, although in our area, Sikhism is dominant. Therefore the temples and the mosques largely fulfil that ‘parish’ church function. Praise God you still have that opportunity and are seeking to use it.
This brings another issue that we have is post colonialism (I love my ‘posts’). Being white is not an advantage, it is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be (certainly with anyone influenced by Rasta). There is then often a mistrust of white people, who have largely evacuated our area.
Thats us then … I love it … but just would love to see God move among our young men …
Does any legacy of the troubles affect what you do ? Are there Catholic people on your estate or nearby? What issues come up you seek to witness to them?
Colin
PS I trust James Hook runs all around O’Gara this afternoon !
March 14th, 2011 on 3:55 pm
Hi Colin,
The short answer is that the troubles have affected our area. It would take too long to unpack it here. Let’s just say things have been calm for a number of years, but an act of violence, lots of alcohol and a long summers night could do a lot of damage to the stability which we enjoy.
Catholic people were sadly intimidated out a number of years ago. There was a particular period associated with an Orange march in Portadown (Drumcree) which saw a lot of violence across the Province. Here, dozens of cars were stolen and set alight. The police were called to protect the church building at one stage. Some of the individuals who were involved in that have since been coming to Church.
There was also the death of a Catholic teenager a few years back. That led to a lot of serious tension and involved families in this parish. A very bad atmosphere.
Now and again if there is a (how should I put it?) family fall out…there is talk of guns and the odd shooting.
But it’s really not bad most of the time. It’s a great place to live and great people.
In the Republic there is some great encouragement for the Gospel in places amongst Catholics. In the North, not so much. I think this is because of the ethnic division which exists. I have a mission burden and desire to reach Catholics, because I passionately believe the Gospel crosses boundaries. But it’s a long work and not one exercised from the current context I’m in.
That Welsh try was an absolute disgrace by the way. But the Irish were asleep. I wouldn’t have complained if it were us that scored!!
March 15th, 2011 on 4:47 pm
Thats really interesting .. thanks for that. I remember the Drumcree marches. My one visit to NI in the early 90s was after a marching season and as we went around there were burn marks on the roads where they had set fire to the cars.
‘Now and again if there is a (how should I put it?) family fall out…there is talk of guns and the odd shooting.’
Maybe there isn’t so much difference between where we are, I could say that too !!! 10 years ago, where we are was a bit of a warzone. But one notorious incident galvinised the police and now things are better, although you don’t have to dig very deep to find it.
‘because I passionately believe the Gospel crosses boundaries.’
Amen … it amazes me that with the powerful teaching in Ephesians 2, and our emphasis on expository preaching etc , there is not more emphasis on this in our circles. Thank God in our church we have begun to see some of this, with people of different ethnicities who would not be together socially in our area, brought togther by the gospel.
God bless you as you seek this in your context, may He provide you with opportunities for it.
This is my one week of the year when I support Ireland. If only you could beat England by 43 points. I did feel slight guilt re Mike Phillips’s try (well for about 10 seconds). It was a very poor game, although the Irish mauling (by picking up the player and half strangling him) is an interesting development …
Colin
March 17th, 2011 on 5:15 pm
lol! England are peaking for the world cup. In fairness I liek to see great player like Ashton do well. We are still in ‘old out, new in’ transition. And even at that it looks like we can’t do without BO’D and O’Gara. It’ll probably be 2 years before Ireland re-emerge as a quality side in depth.
Anyway, just to reply; I was with a London minister last night who was saying things can be very dodgy in parts of south London.
While I’m mentioning the city, I’ve been to some ‘church plants’ there. I can’t get over how cerebral, middle class and, well, ‘white’ they are. It was like Bible reading with Jonny Boden if you understand me!
March 19th, 2011 on 9:18 am
Martin,
‘In fairness I liek to see great player like Ashton do well.’
I like him as a player (and Foden) but that dive thing he does is winding me up now.
‘We are still in ‘old out, new in’ transition’,
absolutely, the wales – ireland game was like two old prize fighters both of whom didn’t have much left in the tank. I’m just hoping this afternoon you have one last punch in you.
‘While I’m mentioning the city, I’ve been to some ‘church plants’ there. I can’t get over how cerebral, middle class and, well, ‘white’ they are. It was like Bible reading with Jonny Boden if you understand me!’
Whilst not wanting to generalise this is one of the issues with the churchplanting movement in England. On one side is the middle class university educated churches and on the other is the plants on the out of town working class white estates, with little in between and certainly few mixed ethnicity and class examples (if anyone knows any, please let me know ????). Most multicultural churches are comprised of people who are different colours / cultures but similar class.
One of the the ‘bees in my bonnet’ about our circles, is when we look for pastors / elders we major on their ability to teach and less about how they relate to / can shepherd people (particularly across class and colour divides) is of much less concern … and when we are in very ‘mixed’ areas, this is absolutely vital.
To me, anyone who is going to pastor in our mixed big city areas (and that includes in the middle class enclaves in them – because not far from you, are people who are different), needs a proven record of relating to and being comfortable with different colours and classes …
March 19th, 2011 on 9:43 pm
I’m going to give your email a bit of thought, then reply. But I do agree with you.
DA Carson said at a conference I was at years ago, ‘The person that can talk to anyone, that’s the man God will use in Gospel ministry.’
As for the rugby – what a great day. Sorry English pals. There was one last punch left in D Wallace, BO’D etc etc. So pleased for Sexton too. If there is any hope for the English it was in Johnson’s calm reaction. He’ll get the measure of the moment and turn England round. They’ve got the players.
March 19th, 2011 on 10:18 pm
Fantastic for the Irish, you set it up for us and then the ‘wrong’ French team turned up to play …
Ironically tonight’s defeat may not be the worst thing for us. Had we won we would of been talked up (at home) as potential world cup winners, when there are clearly flaws in our game (the breakdown, silly penalties, our ‘scrum half conundrum’, and too much reliance on Shane Williams when he is past his best for starters).
March 21st, 2011 on 10:32 am
Not too mention the, er, ‘in house’ bust up with Edwards!! Click on my name and contact me through my website, where we can email longer off this site.