– Advertisement –

Crisis: When did Timothy Keller actually mock authentic Christian belief?

by | Aug 10, 2022 | Opinion, Religion, The Church | 0 comments

💡We need your support. As big tech continues its crackdown on conservative blogs, our days on these platforms are numbered. Go Ad-Free plus get Exclusive Member-Only content by subscribing to us on Substack!

by Tom Hill

Timothy Keller: Turning Believers Into Unbelievers?

“…when the Son (Jesus) cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18.8)

Jesus never accepted unbelief! He challenged His own to believe fully; indeed, He often rebuked His disciples for their unbelief:

  • their fear in the storm on the Sea (1);
  • Peter sinking as he walked on the water to Jesus (2);
  • the disciples’ inability to cure a demon-possessed boy (3);
  • His men overwhelmed as Jesus fed 5,000 men, plus women and children with only a few loaves and fishes. (4)

Sadly, despite His miracle of feeding the multitude, many in His audience turned away from His claim on deity and His demand for total faith, trust, and obedience. (5)

Join Us and Get These Perks:

✅ No Ads in Articles
✅ Access to Comments and Discussions
✅ Community Chats
✅ Full Article and Podcast Archive
✅ The Joy of Supporting Our Work 😉



Again, a rich, young ruler came to Jesus asking what he, the young man, had to do to inherit everlasting life. When the Lord quoted the Law’s requirements, the young man assured Jesus that he had done all of them.

Then, Jesus emphasized the need for love of Jesus rather than love for earthly treasures. The rich, young ruler, whose treasures owned him, found Jesus’s price too high, so he rejected Jesus’ invitation to follow Him.

(6)

Response of Jesus to Unbelief

Jesus did NOT chase after the rich, young ruler, nor did He change His demands to suit the man. Rather, Jesus used this example with His disciples of what it means to have faith in Christ…and in Christ alone.

Jesus never accepted unbelief, never altered His demand for faith. No matter the circumstances or the situation, Jesus rebuked unbelief and insisted on nothing less than full and abiding faith on the part of those who would follow Him. The same holds true today and forever!

Pattern of Timothy Keller’s Response to Unbelief

Sadly, Keller did not follow Jesus’ example. Early in his article, “Creation, Evolution, and Christian Laypeople” (7), Keller described the opposition between creationists and evolutionists, specifically identifying professing believers and unbelievers who, like the rich, young ruler, doubt God. (8)

Keller maligned those who believe in creation and reject evolution. On page one, paragraph 3 of the PDF, he labeled their position as “anti-science religion.” Indeed, Keller preferred those who doubt the Bible and cling to evolution OVER against those who believe the Biblical creation accounts of Genesis 1-2. He opted for evolution.

Keller ends the introduction of his article by declaring that the confusion over creation versus evolution exists for three (3) reasons:

  • mutual exclusion of creationists from evolutionists;
  • the prominence of the creationists; and
  • the loudness of the creationists’ argument. (9)

Keller did not consider as a factor the accounts of creation in Genesis 1-2. By implication, then, he degraded Biblical authority.

In review, Tim Keller contradicted Christ’s demands, choosing, instead, to side with the evolutionists while demeaning those who subscribe to the Biblical description of creation in Genesis 1-2.

To paraphrase Keller’s teaching, those who believe the Biblical accounts of creation must deny their beliefs to accept the unbeliever’s evolutionary theories as the means of creation.

Keller made no demands on the evolutionists while defending their trust in their theories.

Summary

The difference between Christ’s approach and Keller’s becomes obvious: Christ demands mankind believe in Him and His Word without doubt or unbelief, including the Genesis 1-2 account of creation. Keller does not agree.

I implore you as Christ’s followers to subscribe to God’s clear and truthful Word, all His truth, unreservedly, including the Genesis 1-2 account of creation.

Put all of your faith, trust, and confidence in Christ…alone!!!

References

  1. Matthew 8.23-26
  1. Matthew 14.31
  1. Matthew 17.14-21
  1. John 6.5-13
  1. John 6.16-66
  1. Matthew 19.16-22
  1. Keller, Timothy: Available at this link: http://biologos.org/uploads/projects/Keller_white_paper.pdf
  1. Keller, PDF p. 1 ¶ 1-2.
  1. Keller, PDF p. 1 ¶ 1.

Listen to Tom Hill’s sermon series at this link.

The Dissenter is primarily supported by its readers. The best way to support us is to subscribe to our members-only site where you will receive all of our content ad-free, plus you will get member-only exclusive content.

Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation using the box below. (Note, the donation box below is not for memberships, but for donations. For memberships, use the button above.) For all other donor or supporter inquiries, please reach out to jeff@disntr.com.

- Advertisement -

Latest

America Has Chosen Wickedness and God is Giving America Wicked Rulers

America Has Chosen Wickedness and God is Giving America Wicked Rulers

As I watched the debate last night, a grim realization settled over me—this isn’t Kansas anymore. It’s more obvious now than ever before. Something feels off, something has changed. What we once knew, the life we cherished as kids, has slipped through our fingers....

- Advertisement -

Subscribe

Store

Follow Us

- Advertisement -

You Might Also Like…

No Statute of Limitations on False Teaching

No Statute of Limitations on False Teaching

by Jim FletcherThe death of a child has rightly been called soul-crushing. Whether a miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of an adult child, the parents are never quite the same. The tragedy usually lingers; it can also negatively impact a marriage. As has been said...

No, Amber Thurman Was Not a Victim of the Pro-Life Movement

No, Amber Thurman Was Not a Victim of the Pro-Life Movement

The media in partnership with the pro-abortion lobby is at it again—twisting reality to paint 28-year-old Amber Thurman as yet another tragic victim of pro-life laws. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, Thurman chose to end the lives of her unborn twins after...

- Advertisement -

Want to go ad-free with exclusive content? Subscribe today.

This will close in 0 seconds