The Troubling Legacy of Tim Keller
It is not unloving nor hypocritical to say that we are praying for comfort for Tim Keller’s family and church, and at the same time striving for clarity and open discussion regarding his teaching, which will endure in his absence. Those who reflexively claim it is unloving or inappropriate to criticize him in the wake of his passing are content to let doctrinal clarity be subjugated to personality and “respectability.” We are not.
It should first be noted, especially since he has received the praise of so many should-be hated by the world believers, that Keller was not by any definition hated by the world (John 15:18). Rather, the world embraced him as one of their own. Nearly every “respectable” publication – from The New York Times to Christianity Today – wrote fawning pieces on Keller’s passing, holding him up as the modern example of how to bridge the gap between Christianity and a world that, according to scripture, wants no part of the true Christ (John 15:18-19). Keller’s bridge was built smack dab between the church and the depraved culture, undergirded by a synthetic gate of orthodox terminology and faux-intellectual (often nonsensical) doublespeak wide enough to drive a New York City garbage truck through.
Keller’s pragmatic winsomeness and pseudo-erudite nuance garnered a great deal of influence with spiritually immature seminary students (1 Cor. 3:1-2) and Calvinist-leaning pragmatists who were not wise enough to see through Keller’s rhetorical deconstruction of the methods of revelation – much less the damage he was doing to the revelation itself in pursuit of his social justice sympathies. Statements like, “One of the signs that you may not grasp the unique, radical nature of the gospel is that you are certain that you do” would ordinarily cause any true disciple of Jesus to immediately recall 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, followed by examining what Keller meant by unique and radical. Instead, mind-scrambling, Yogi Berra-worthy statements like this were met with the same awe and wonder that never questioned why this faithful minister of God never seemed to share His enemies.
Over the course of Keller’s career, he perfected a unique brand of winsome compromise, which resulted in magically retaining his orthodox street cred even as he promoted Darwinian Evolution along with BioLogos, chronicled the neo-Marxist origins of his theology in his books (Gustavo Gutiérrez and Reinhold Niebuhr were two of Keller’s favorites), and regularly peddled a Christianized version of the kind of mind-mushing rhetorical confusion that would have make Saul Alinsky blush. His 5000+ attendee congregation (in truth buoyed by spiritually disaffected post-9/11 spiritual seekers) was all the evidence market-minded pastoral imitators needed to validate Keller’s brand of culturally relevant wisespeak. Note: See Keller’s 2012 book Every Good Endeavor for examples of him praising Alinsky-inspired churches implementing socialist economics as worthy examples to follow.
In a recent example, Keller and Gospel Coalition co-founder Don Carson released a video entitled, “What Did Paul Mean by ‘I Do Not Permit a Woman to Teach?’ where Keller takes two seemingly contradictory positions before synthesizing them into a weak, Beth Moore-worthy postmodernism: Paul was clearly forbidding something, but Keller is open to those who disagree with what that something is.
Keller referred to the disciples of Karl Marx as those who “cared about people and upward mobility.” He left the door open for putting an end to abortion not by outlawing it as murder, but by decreasing it through economic redistribution. He did not believe that “thou shall not steal” implied a right to private property. He infamously called for more same-sex “intimacy” in churches in the context of so-called “Same-sex attraction (SSA) Christianity.”
Keller promoted a “death by a thousand cuts” antinomianism, seen in silly claims like, “You can run from God either by breaking his rules or by keeping them” (see John 14:15) and mind-numbingly stupid ones like, “To truly become Christians we must also repent of the reasons we ever did anything right.” Keller flexed his Marxist bona fides by classifying the gospel as a different message depending on whether one is rich or poor. In a likely attempt to lend gospel weight to his push for social justice, he argued that God’s holiness and love depended on Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross (In other words, apart from the cross, God would be neither loving nor holy) – a clear and unequivocal heretical teaching that subjugates God’s holiness to His will. Perhaps most famously, Keller did not rule out a “back door” for those outside of Christ to receive salvation on the basis that because he hasn’t been told such a back door exists, he can’t say for sure it doesn’t exist. Of course, Jesus said otherwise (John 14:6).
Many pastors and public theologians have praised Keller following his death, practicing a particularly seductive version of anti-discernment: He’s dead now, so there’s no call to examine his teaching critically. Or worse, he was a hero of mine coming up in ministry, and prohibitions against unequal weights and measures doesn’t apply when it’s someone I care about.
Yet Keller the guru of winsome Cultural Marxism is not gone. Rather, his death will insulate his false ideas from criticism, ironically through application of the same Christo-Marxist techniques he pioneered at the hive of scum and villainy known as The Gospel Coalition. With his sermons, books, and interviews continuing to teach in his absence, Bible-believing Christians have no leeway nor call to give his bad theology and worldly epistemology a pass.
May God have mercy on his soul.
Note: for a thorough list of Kellerisms, see this tweet thread.
Also, see this video for a historical discussion of how Tim Keller’s synthesis of new left thinking and evangelicalism came to be:
About Author
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That’s not a knife. It’s a sword.
You knew it would happen because you know he was a false teacher.
He was not completely false. Some of his theology was off but he also was instrumental in the conversion of more than a few. A mixed bag certainly but thank religion protestia and its ilk always has all thier theological ducks in a row. Always ready to instruct inform, teach, lead and guide us into all thier infallible and incontestable version of truth. And BTW how many people has protestia led into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and the gospel?
Probably zero, nada, ziltch and no one.
They publish nothing that edifies or encourages the saints. Thier whole schtick is to monetize the “ministry” of criticism.
A partial gospel is a false gospel. As it’s said, the thing about a counterfeit is that it is very close to the original. Even the Antichrist will not be “completely false”. This isn’t horseshoes. Close doesn’t count.
God’s word is indeed the infallible and incontestable truth.
Nobody is perfectly correct about every interpretation of scripture. But many are unwilling to correct themselves, and those they misled, when confronted with scripture showing them that they are wrong.
If someone is not correctly interpreting scripture, then you should speak up. Is it not important? The Bible tells you to speak up and rebuke false teaching. Don’t whine about it like a child. Show the scripture. Nobody’s stopping you from posting.
Do you not care about the eternal fate of others?
If you have something to contest using scripture, then do so. Speak up.
There’s no such thing as a “version” of the truth. Either something is true, or it isn’t. God has determined what is true, and He tells us that truth in His word. Most everybody reading here, including me, cares about fidelity to scripture, and is more than willing to correct ourselves if our interpretations are wrong. But you can’t correct us by bellyaching. You’ve got to post scripture. Post it. Speak up.
Tim Keller was the combination of Billy Graham, Charles Spurgeon, J Vernon McGee, Oral Roberts and many, many more deep theologians scholars of our day. We are all deeply indebted to his deep knowledge and deep understanding of deep biblical truths.
That’s just your fallible, contestable, unsubstantiated (and humorous) opinion.
I understand the need to accurately define Keller’s theological misses, but the guy’s barely been dead a week…
And yet his abhorrent teachings will live on for decades – if not longer.
This is the legacy he intends
The communists said they would take over without firing a shot.When you place social issues ahead of one’s salvation this is bad and as it was mentioned ,Marxism has no place in the Gospel.
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Takes courage to preach the truth. Good article, David.
Nasty and ugly article is really what you ment Eh?
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It is true Tim erred greatly in some of his views. It got to the point where I could no longer bring friends to Redeemer because of some of the errors being taught. Nonetheless, Tim did know the heart and Spirit of Christ in genuine depth, and for that unerring and unique vision I love him, and am indebted to him (Leviticus 10:10). Even so, I rarely listen to his sermons these days.
With all due respect…Mr. Keller did not ‘know the heart and Spirit of Christ in genuine depth’ because Jesus said those that love me ‘will keep my commandments’ Jesus didn’t say they that love me ‘will change them’.
And the Spirt of Christ is the Spirit of ‘Truth’, not falsehoods. So, no, he genuinely missed it when it came to the heart and Spirit of Christ, and, he really nailed it when it came to the spirit of this age.
In your infallible opinion that is. Because you only know the hearts of all men eh?
There’s no need to know his heart. A false teacher is known by his fruit. His actions and words are enough.
Are you not aware that not a few have been born again, redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ as a result of his witness to the intelligentsia? Is that not good fruit? In spite of his somewhat aberrant theology, God used him just like us.
Redeemed from ______ ?
I couldn’t possibly know who, how many, if any, or whether or not they were truly born again. If any are “saved” according to a false gospel, then they’re not truly born again. That too is a matter of knowing by the fruit. And this is why it is very important to call out false teachings.
Paul addressed this very principle in Gal. 5:2-12.
One false teaching pertaining to circumcision completely severed them from Christ, even when they thought they were born again. (verse 4)
One false teaching is all that it took to manufacture a false gospel.
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump” – verse 9
And Paul said of whoever taught that teaching that they deserved to be castrated (verse 12).
So much for a “peaceful and gentle spirit”, right.
Paul said, he deserves to be castrated!
With the exclamation point.
In context, what severed them from Christ was not circumcision itself, but the false gospel that taught it was required. They had been saved according to that false gospel, and Paul is telling them, no, you’re not saved.
You’re confused, a preacher is either with Christ or against Christ. Tim Keller had many beliefs that were contrary to fundamental Christian truths, he was clearly a false teacher. Examine his teaching with scripture, do you not see that there is something wrong if you say a preacher is a faithful preacher and yet you’re ashame to listen to his sermons?
Let’s not forget Protestia’s origins. The “Staff Writer” here seems to have the same peaceful and gentle spirit as JD Hall, Staff Writer Emeritus. The holier than thou Founder who bullied a teenager until he killed himself. Meanwhile, Hall gets hooked on drugs, apparently beat his wife and family, maybe stole from his church? Truly amazing that they still have time to criticize others at the rate they do.
Well said. Get ready to have the comment disappear.
This article wasn’t written by Staff Writer.
Nothing JD Hall, or anyone else, has ever done or said could possibly diminish God’s word. It stands infallible, incontestable, as the absolute truth, and forever will.
@Rev Enue.
You’re a confusing mess because you claim people are born again under Keller’s ministry but that would require you to know their heart, something you mocked me about a comment earlier. Double speak much?
You are the fruit of such men and that speaketh volumes 💡
Baloney to your nonsensical comment
Must be that deep, deep intellectual understanding you were talking about – apparently where very simple irrefutable logic is considered nonsensical.
Sorry, no offence to you but you really don’t understand what i am writing here. Did you know that there is documented evidence of many thousands of people that were genuine converted to Christ in the Soviet Union under the “ministry of state hirelings in thier orthodox churches during the cold war?
Do you say the same about the nazi’s “Positive Christianity” cult, or China’s three self cult?
If they were truly saved, and truly born again, according to the real and true Gospel it’s not because they learned of it in any such “church”. It’s because they got their hands on a Bible.
I can remember Bibles being smuggled into soviet Russia, in large numbers. Bibles being smuggled into China.
Don’t you reckon it was/is important for people in those countries to have Bibles?
Why or why not?
Radio stations were constantly broadcasting God’s word into russia.
It’s ludicrous to believe it was the state-run church, which was forbidden from teaching the true and complete gospel, had a hand in leading anyone to the true and complete gospel.
My point is that God works in spite of them.
But not through them!
God says to call out and rebuke false teaching. That’s one way He works in spite of them. He works through us doing what we’re doing right here and now.
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” – Gal. 1:6-10
If we would all do as God says to do, and boldly rebuke false teaching whenever it’s encountered, how many more would He truly save in spite of the false teachers?
Speak up boldly and straightforward.
Never apologize for the truth of God’s word.
Dear SMH
Have been calling out false doctrine and fraudsters in evangelical circles for about 42 years now. Have tried to do it with humility most of the time. Have learned from Psalm 138:6
“Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: But the proud he knoweth afar off.” Much of the writing from this place reeks of spiritual pride and sorely lacks any semblance of humility. This is not a work of the Spirit.
Humility is ultimately submission to the Lord and to His word. Ignoring it, discounting it, adding to it, taking way from it, these are the epitome of pride, no matter how meekly or gently it may be stated.
Continuance in false teaching is the epitome of pride. It doesn’t matter how much effort is put into appearing humble, it is prideful.
One could be the nicest, most soft-spoken, gentlest, meekest, kindest person on the planet, if he knowingly teaches what is contrary to God’s word, he exhibits the worst form of pride.
Jesus said that the work of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement. (John 16:8)
Conviction hurts feelings. It is the result of reproof, correction, or rebuke. It is offensive.
That is indeed the work of the Holy Spirit.
I don’t really care about Tim Keller so much. Seems most Reformed cigar smoking boys are mad at him because he liked cities or something. A leader in a church is supposed to be peaceful and gentle. So, that’s one of the requirements. No exclamation point, though. And I just assumed that every article on here was now written by Staff Writer because most of them seem to be.
What I do know for sure is that Tim Keller’s ministry wasn’t started by a drug addict, wife-beating, offering-stealing, teenager-bullying, suicide-inducing Pastor Hall. Who knows what the fruit of Redeemer will be. We already know what cancerous fruit JD shall unleashed upon Christ’s church.
It’s not a competition. Keller knowingly taught things that are contrary to scripture. Plain and simple.
JD Hall will answer for his sins. As will Tim Keller. As will we all.
Thank you David!
Further evidence of a ‘form of the gospel.’ To be able to deceive, the counterfeit must look so much like the real that only those with a spirit of discernment will recognize the deception. There is no such thing in scripture of partial truth…it is totally true or totally erroneous …no exceptions.
“Wisdom doesn’t necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself.”—Tom Wilson
A “Weasel”?
Wilsontps://hopeishereblog.wordpress.com/2022/05/29/a-weasel/
“Wisdom doesn’t necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself.”—Tom Wilson
A “Weasel”?
https://hopeishereblog.wordpress.com/2022/05/29/a-weasel/
Baloney!
Tim Keller was a SJW, a Marxist…maybe not so lite. Believed theistic evolution. Said many sketchy things about homosexuality, and helped found the piece of trash TGC. On top of that he was a schismatic Presbyterian. Other than those things, he was great. I wouldn’t sit under him for 1 second.
Seriously, people act like we weren’t warned by the Lord himself that there would be many false teachers in the last days. Is it that hard to believe that Keller and Billy Graham were two primary examples. They aren’t always the obvious choices like Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland, you know. Methinks Timmy boy has already heard the bad news while being judged.
Pretty much this…but as you can see from the previous posts, some don’t get it.
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Speaking of theistic evolution (an oxymoron of epic proportions), I am engaged in a losing battle at my local church over that subject. Apparently we’re supposed to accept that there is a spectrum of beliefs concerning creation that range from Special Creation by God in 7 x 24hr days as stated in Genesis, to the other end where evolution is held out to be the mechanism by which God ‘created’, because, well, He must have needed some help I suppose.
There are a few monumental problems with this:
1. Death came into the world by sin [Romans 5:12-14], therefore…
2. Evolution, which is impossible anyway, could not have been possible before the fall because death is a necessary instrument of evolution.
3. Genesis 1 states that ‘God said’ is the means by which God created i.e. His voice, or Word
4. The Word of God (Jesus) made all things, agreeing with point 3. [John 1:2]
5. Sola Scriptura dictates that we accept scripture as inspired, inerrant, infallible and sufficient. We therefore look to scripture first and believe it rather than let the world dictate the terms.
6. Believing what the world has to say, THEN trying to make scripture accord with that is known as ‘Scriptura Sub Scientia’ – scripture subordinated to science.
God requires us to believe HIM first. That is a sign of obedience. That lesson was learned the hard way in Eden.
Anyone who doubts the Genesis account of creation, and leans on that tired old platitude ‘It’s only meant to be taken figuratively’ needs to have a think about whether they want to align themselves with God, or the world.
…and for the record, I have been vehemently opposing the tripe pedaled by Tim Keller, on this very site, since 2016.
Good for you. You have a good handle on the problems involved.
Sad to say…really sad to say, but it’s very doubtful that once your church starts down the road of compromise that they will pull out of it. Sin begets more sin. Once you undermine the authority of scripture, it becomes a free for all. You probably already know this, and I wish you well.
Thanks Tom, I appreciate the support.