The date was 19th May 2023, when I learned about Keller’s death. Did I grieve his loss? Oh yes, I did! I had never met Timothy Keller, but his work impacted my life for about six years. “Timothy J. Keller, who was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, co-founder of Redeemer City to City, and the author of several books, died at the age of 72 on May 19, trusting in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection.” This is an excerpt from his website that was a true reflection of who he was. He not only trusted in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection, his sermons, his books, and his lectures taught this and demonstrated how to communicate this very hope to the postmodern world we live in.
About a month before Keller’s demise, I remember having a conversation with Paul Carden, my ministry colleague and director of the Centers for Apologetics Research about the role and impact of Timothy Keller on our understanding of cultural apologetics. Paul had a copy of Collin Hansen’s Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation.’ In our conversation, Paul recalled how Keller had been impactful in understanding the postmodern worldview and the way to communicate the compelling gospel of Christ in a compassionate yet courageous way. This conversation reminded me of numerous sermons, articles, and books I had read that had influenced greatly my trajectory toward apologetics.
On the morning of 20th May, I was privileged to have breakfast with Bruce Little, the Emeritus professor of philosophy from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The breakfast meeting was spent recollecting the life and work of Timothy Keller. A student and scholar of the works of Francis Shaffer, Professor Little recounted how Keller’s work in cultural apologetics was inspired by C.S. Lewis and Francis Shaffer. His attempt at listening to contemporary realities and seeking to biblically respond formed the thesis for the conversation. Keller’s book Reason for God was a voice and model for apologetics in the postmodern world. These conversations continued throughout the week at the European Leadership Forum as I met various other Christian leaders among them Andy Bannister, Lindsay Brown, Paul Coulter, Andrew Fellows, and many others who recounted Keller’s influence on their ministries.
There are a number of biblical verses that come to mind when I think about Keller’s life. These would form the convictions that were embedded in my ministry philosophy thanks to interacting with Keller’s work.
a. “And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not…”
Jeremiah 45:5
Paul David Tripp refers to Timothy Keller as both his peer and his hero. He recounts having met Keller a few times and the level of humility that was exemplified by Keller in normal conversations as well as in his sermons. The words of Jeremiah are a reminder that amidst the glamour and clamor of the ‘celebrity pastor’ mentality, many Christian leaders face the allure of self-exaltation.
These words from Jeremiah 45:5 were spoken as the last words from Keller to his secretary Baruch. These were not just words of counsel from a successful pastor, but these words reflected the character of Keller.
As a young Christian leader, having gotten my seminary education at a fairly young age, the allure of intellectual pride is a dangerous snare. I have been tempted countless times to consider myself higher than others. The postmodern world continues to encourage us to manufacture idols from within ourselves and to require the world to worship us. Whether it is from the posters with our faces and names on them, whether it is the books we write, whether it is the social media presence that we have acquired, all this is a danger we must continue to not only be aware of but confidently and constructively confront.
b. “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:15-16
It was until the age of 58 that Timothy Keller started writing books. He served faithfully as a Pastor at Redeemer for 35 years. There are many accomplishments we can talk about regarding Keller’s life. One thing is clear, his life was spent for the Kingdom. One of the greatest resources we have benefitted much from is The Gospel Coalition (TGC). The resources here enabled many to access reformed theology and to be equipped with basic theological tools to serve their communities.
Keller’s life is a reminder that the life we live is a gift from God to be stewarded. Even though Pancreatic cancer, Keller continued to produce videos on Biblical Theology on his channel as well as do meetings and correspondences with people across the world encouraging them in the Lord. As a young Christian, I must always be reminded of the words of C.T. Studd, “Only one life twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”
A Certain Hope for the Resurrection
To say that Keller was a perfect man will be a lie, he surely had his fair share of weaknesses. He also had his fair share of suffering to endure. The prospect of a coming death and the reality of it at his demise was the ultimate height of his suffering. However, the life and teaching of Keller was filled with the hope for the resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Keller in His book On Death, published in 2020 said this about death, “If we live to old age, we can feel our bodies (and our beauty) fading, yet if we are growing in God’s grace, our souls, as it were, are becoming stronger and more beautiful. At death this reversal becomes complete. Our bodies disintegrate and we become blindingly glorious. Comfort yourself with these words.”. Death is not an enemy we must fear. Timothy Keller faced death head-on and conquered it into eternal life because he had Christ, his resurrection as his savior. Today, he joins many others who have gone before us saying, ‘Christ is mine forevermore’.
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