Me too

Indubitably ❤

He really is the “CS Lewis of our time”

Amen 🙏

Jesus is the only One Who comes looking for us. All the false religions have people trying to achieve salvation. You are right.

Thank you for sharing this honest evaluation. I’ve never been to Redeemer and I share your opinion on TK You have given me food for thought not so much about Redeemer as about my own focus. Thanks again!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Kinnaman? The Barna owner?

I like your depiction of the left and the right needing to meet in the middle. We all have virtues and vices. I also agree with churches appearing to follow numeric growth at all costs. What would you see as a next step for churches to speak to both post-modernists and fundamentalists?

​@@mtcstyle Here is some kind of attempt to answer your question - to explain what can be spoken and modelled to the two groups - focusing on the four key issues that Tim Keller points out divide the US - abortion, man and woman, justice, and caring for the poor. We have made it impossible to see clearly the heart of God behind his commands. Instead of actually RECEIVING God we instead have kept him distant - adopting what we think are his rules - living them out while remaining in the driver’s seat of our lives. To give an example of this consider the fact that a typical member of the first world church - when asked to explain in more than biological terms what a man is - or a woman is - has no answer. They can only tell you - if they have been a believer a while - what the bible says women shouldn’t do - and men should do. We are - to use an Old Testament analogy - living in the outer court. We don’t know God well enough to be able to convince people that he is absolutely good. If instead we had received God himself we would have come to understand important things - things which would help us to reach the current generation: - God - in commanding us to obey him in various ways - does not do so as part of asking us to sacrifice our own spiritual growth for the growth of others. Said another way God will NEVER seek to do something WITH us which isn’t a necessary part of what he is doing IN us - if instead our obedience is not supposed to be bread for ourselves that would be God showing favouritism (to those for whom we are supposed to sacrifice). And so we can point out to the person who seeks to abort a child - and those who support pro choice - that we can and must receive God’s will for our lives unreservedly knowing that God will NEVER ask us to commit ourselves to others (in this case to a child) in a way which will not be our own deliverance - our own salvation. (Although we will only find this out if we are all in for God). - We have given the impression that obedience to God is ultimately about giving God his due. When from God’s perspective this is not the ultimate end of obedience at all. God’s ultimate end is revealed in the fact that those saved will live eternally with him as Father - and with Jesus AS OUR BROTHER. How amazing is that! This is not the plan of a God whose expectation that we obey is motivated by keeping us in our place. This assurance is I believe grace to the man who imagines that pouring himself out for woman as husband - and to children as father - is ultimately a way to enslave himself. We can offer similar encouragement to women - that their submission to their husband exists only as long as their husband is obeying God - and therefore is actually nothing additional to their own personal obedience to God (except on neutral matters where men and women are required to trust that God’s best purpose can be achieved even when they don’t prefer the choice of their partner) - when submission is required it is only so that both man and wife will be led to freedom - released from obligation. In the relationship of the man and woman who submit to God everything related to service collapses into holy hedonism. Revealing to others that ultimately being man and woman is a path to freedom isn’t helped by the fact that currently the average American Christian leader - if asked to explain in theological terms what a man or a woman is - couldn’t answer the question. How can we know what God’s heart in relation to the sexes is if we cannot even define what it is to be one sex in any way at all! We will never in these circumstances come to work out what God’s good intention for marriage is - and similarly how good BIBLICAL singleness is - we cannot expect that we will be able to explain how these are better than anything the world offers. - We must point out to those who baulk at biblical teaching about justice that there are wrong ideas about what is and is not required from us as followers of God in respect of justice. Biblical justice does not ask us to provide compensation for wrongdoing done generations ago (how would we do that if we were required? - how would we determine who were victims and to what extent - and how would compensating their descendants be any kind of effective response to that injustice?) But this truth doesn’t erase the fact that being just as believers is a far reaching concept. To be just we must act justly not just in our personal choices but also ensure that justice is being done around us - including advocating for those who do not have a voice - see Proverbs 31:8-9). So then our task is to point out to the person who seems eager to minimise or erase these demands that the only result of denying people what is rightfully theirs is social disintegration - as proven by the state of the US compared to other countries who have not taken the same approach - this disintegration placing far greater burdens on both those wronged and those responding to wrongs than would otherwise have been the case. In countries which are active in behaving justly toward the poor their financial burden drops away towards nought - their financial burden - and other kinds of burden - in helping those who are not fairly compensated by ‘the system’ becoming so little work it is of little burden. Things have become so bad in the US that people imagine that relating rightly to those who have been oppressed - marginalised - is a task too great for any action to be taken - but this is wrong - God moves heaven and earth to work alongside those seeking to do right. So that is my question to the person resisting biblical teaching on justice - to ask them which approach they believe ultimately leads to freedom? Which approach they believe will see God working on our behalf. I acknowledge that the situation in the US is complicated by the fact that there are perfectly good reasons - in the light of the national debt - for taking the view that no more money should be spent - as there are for the absolute need for it to be spent when the poor have not been adequately helped enough (whether by government or by private aid) for decades. This is where citizens of the US - and those praying for them - must cry out to God for mercy - for a way forward. - And finally to the person on the right who refuses to provide for the poor I would point out the fact that our involvement with the poor is ultimately a blessing to us. It is because our greatest wealth is not in what our money buys us but in the God that we know - and when we look into the eyes of the poor we are reminded (in a way that is unique) of our need for this God. We realise that we are ourselves vulnerable - homeless in this world - in need of God at every turn. The poor are therefore a GIFT to us. This relationship between those who have and those who are without is a means by which each group can find its way into the presence of God. When the rich person - instead of considering themselves some kind of hero for helping the poor - instead gets insight from the poor person as to their true state before God - and when the poor person is reminded in looking at the rich person that we are each valuable enough to God for him to be attentive to ALL our needs - this will trigger revival in the church - as both those inside the church and outside will have irrefutable evidence - in seeing the selfish person instead behaving selflessly - that God must be alive - that he must himself be love.

Wonderful notes, but let me TBHH: While I've got a Master on Philosophy with a minor and a Thesis on Religious Philosophy doesn't translate on my wish to have philosophy or religious philosophy, theology or religious sciences in general to interest the vast majority of the masses. Simply the masses won't eat from that... And that won't feed many, other than those little few, and fewer ones by the day on the religious top posts and academic posts as well. Better for those to understand that and act accordingly. This gay debacle is a disgrace, from both sides of the battle, that interest NOBODY in real world outside the specific academic level associated with! No surprise the results... TBHH: People of today have the largest information access level of all human history! They also have the highest academic average levels of all human History and they have the highest average life expectancy ever in human history! The question of the poor or the sick? People will call the state social services, the doctors, psychologists and any other professionals at those fronts... Not the Priests, nor the religious academics!... Churches can help as they're called to... But help wouldn't be perceived as to be decisive on the above mentioned fields. Specialization is winning the world by the day. Priests are specialists on saving souls... Not on curing illnesses or addressing drug addiction effects or unemployment or anything on those fields. Your questions are legitimate, of course, especially within the current political US environment, but watch for the Churches themselves internally from the outside. The little gains from relatively fundamentalist groups are far outnumbered by huge departures from the mainstream. The younger the most likely to leave the Church. And Churches are currently full of sexual scandals as well. So: Is there a solution? I believe we have already reached non returning point for Churches. There is a slight opportunity hope, but that would require such an entirely different approach than the current religious war one we're witnessing these days which would go as follows: 1) Let civilian politics to the secular world, even if we don't agree with what is being decided. Secular politics is non of our business in Church. Supporting such a guy like Donald Trump is being part of the problem there in the US, isn't it? 2) Let human sexuality to the secular world to solve, even if we don't agree with what is being decided. You know: The Church has hardly failed on reaching high moral standard for even their own leaders, worsening that even more with a huge cover up of the predators, which is utterly unacceptable! Watch the RCC or the SBC... No moral authority now to reach any moral standards to anybody else. And as I use to say: My neighbors sexuality is none of my business. 3) Teach hope and positiveness to the people of today: Nobody wants a fear focused Church anymore. We have electrical points elsewhere. No need to stress light against darkness. We don't feel darkness anywhere else on the west, other than on our room when we go to sleep!... 4) Be graceful and tolerant with the ones whom disagree. You know: It's part of the positiveness we want from Churches to reach the world. Here in Europe some ecumenical Taizé Prayer experiences are having more people and personal impact that most separate denominational main Prayer Services. That's not occasional!... There could be some more, but for now that's it. Have a wonderful day!

​@@nunagoras Hello. I know that the current climate is one in which the church is no longer seen as an authority. I know that people do not expect the church to have answers. However that's not relevant if there ARE answers which the church currently don't speak or model. Which is why I posted my two questions above - if the church has answers to those two questions- if it knows how to reach 'the left' and 'the right' in a way that is both challenging and affirming where each is right and possible - then the jury is still out (it is in my mind because I am not convinced that we know what will happen in the first world when we welcome both God's word and his Spirit. God isn't promising that our ministries will change the world if we aren't obedient in both of these ways. We cannot claim to be serious about both of these things unless it is obvious IN OUR PLANS that we consider obedience to have both of these dimensions. I remain confident in THE REAL GOSPEL - a gospel of holiness, justice, mercy, and grace. It isn't a gospel which can be learned only by reading the bible, or reading books, or going to bible college. As Jesus explains in James 1:22, John 17:7 and John 8:31 we don't find out that the truth is the truth until we SUBMIT to him - word and Spirit. We don't understand until then that it's the ANSWER for people - and WHY it is. Only THEN are we able to deliver others from darkness. Only then can we share the truth in a way that is wise to current mindsets and strongholds dominating the first world.The truth reaches a part of us nothing else can reach - a part which is hidden until the gospel awakens the hearer to its existence - but if the gospel hasn't led us to identify that part of ourselves - and allow God access to bring change - we cannot lead anyone else there.

I don't remember if it's this video or another one: Tim mentioned that the way to reach people is to get them to **want** the Gospel to be true, and then show them it **is** true. I've been outside institutional church for about 8 years now. In this time, I've learned some things about being on the outside looking in: - The church gives off an impression that they are better, holier than everyone else. - Churches seem more interested in telling people how they're wrong vs showing people how much value they have. - There is more freedom to exchange ideas outside the church. - It's lonely to be without a spiritual community. What do you think it would take for people to give the church another chance?

Very well said!!!!

Amen! Well said!

I agree with Keller that politics has complicated Jesus’ main message…. Love God and our neighbors. American Christian culture focuses on anti socialism which I believe keeps people from doing the justice work that Jesus was all about. BEMA podcast and it’s in depth Bible Study has been eye opening!

Amen that Christians are equal in Christ this is true, meaning we’re all “holy enough” because we have Jesus Christ’s imputed righteousness. The world nonbelievers have Adam’s imputed sin-no true justice in that system. Romans 4:23-24👑

In the younger generation Christians, at least Catholics, Orthodox and what is called in US, Mainline Protestants, true ecumenism is becoming the trend that will push the leaderships in the next decades to come. Sadly for now this is the moment to the sexual wars. Let us see whom the heck is the most Biblical intolerant, sexist, anti-sex, or whatever else sex related may be... While the good news of the resurrection is sent to "2nd place"... No surprise Gen Z is leaving in droves!...

Please read the full book of romans from start to finish and see what Paul is trying to say to a Jewish and gentile audience and take them on the road to unity together . Blessings

His sermons always lead back to the gospel. You should take the time to read and listen more.

He preached of unearned grace.

I don't know how you could listen to Keller's sermons and come to the conclusion that he was a legalist. I'd encourage you to go to the Gospel in Life podcasts and listen to some samples.

You might want to read a bit more.

Keller took a missionary approach to his ministry in NYC. You have to understand the mindset of the people you are seeking to reach if you are going to communicate the gospel in a way that they can understand. Look at how Paul's preaching methods differed in the Book of Acts when he preached to a Jewish audience, versus a pagan audience. The core of the gospel is unchanging, but how you make connections with your audience varies on the audience. That doesn't mean to change the message so you don't offend. Keller offended our self-righteous pride all the time! One of the key questions that missionaries deal with is "where do I begin?" when presenting the gospel. I'd encourage you to reread Acts with a missionary lens and see what insights the Lord shows you.