Story About Tim Keller in NYT

In today's New York Times there is a story about Tim Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian called "Preaching the Word and Quoting the Voice".  Great stuff.  Some excerpts...

Dr. Keller "has grasped the strategic significance of the city, of the urban culture and the need to engage that very diverse culture at every level," he said. "Our culture is urban-driven."

[...]

Observing Dr. Keller's professorial pose on stage, it is easy to understand his appeal. While he hardly shrinks from difficult Christian truths, he sounds different from many of the shrill evangelical voices in the public sphere. "A big part is he preaches on such an intellectual level," said Suzanne Perron, 37, a fashion designer who is one of many who had stopped going to church before she discovered Redeemer several years ago. "You can go to Redeemer and you can not be a Christian and listen to that sermon and be completely engaged."

[...]

An important lesson that Dr. Keller said he had tried to convey to other pastors is that the hard sell rarely works in the city. Becoming a Christian in a place like New York, he said, is more often the product not of one decision but of many little decisions.

"One decision might be Christianity is more relevant than I think," he said. "Or, here's two Christians that I don't think are idiots."

[...]

His church's main goal, Dr. Keller said, is to teach pastors how to truly love the city, rather than fear its worldly influences. Unlike many evangelicals, Dr. Keller advocates an indirect approach to change.

"If you seek power before service, you'll neither get power, nor serve," he said. "If you seek to serve people more than to gain power, you will not only serve people, you will gain influence. That's very much the way Jesus did it."

Tim's son, Jonathan, has commented on the article...

Redeemer does not aspire to fame. In fact, Redeemer did not want the article done but the journalist was going to do it whether or not Redeemer helped him to write it. And what better way to make sure there are less errors in reporting than to participate? So there it is in the Times. Hopefully it does not have an harmful repercussions. Redeemer is happy to fly under the radar of the majority.

For more from Keller, visit my list of Tim Keller resources.

(HT on the NYT article: Chris Giammona)

Comments

[paul delsignore]

I was a Redeemer member for 10 years and Tim has been an inspiration and mentor. He is just a masterful preacher and teacher.

I Just recently did a review on my blog featuring one of his sermons:

http://www.pauldelsignore.com/2006/01/gods-dance.html

paul
sketches in sacred vapor

[TranMan]

Thanks for the excerpt. Keller is one of my favorite as he's very engaging no matter what your spiritual background is. I live in FL but do access his weekly sermons on mp3s.

[Kgreg]

I'm not a member of Redeemer. I'm a member of a Baptist church plant, but I want you to know that God is moving in big ways and changing lives in New York City, and using men like Tim Keller and Nelson Searcy (my pastor) to do it.

As much as Seattle is often touted as the "least churched" city in the country, I'd be willing to bet the farm that in reality New York is. It's a great place to visit, but live here for a while and you'll see what an ungodly place it really is. I spent years in the "gay" scene in Chelsea, and involved in most of what that implies.

Some evagelicals are just waiting for the fire and brimstone to rain down on San Francisco and New York. I have a feeling God as other things in mind!

[Steve McCoy]

Thanks kgreg, I've heard some good things about Nelson's work in NYC and was able to meet him a few years ago. NYC has been on my heart lately, because of Keller's work, but also the new work of some friends (like J.R. Vasser).

[Jerry Mills]

I was a member of David Wilkerson's Times Square Church, where I knew many there who attended Redeemer as well. Tim's teaching is excellent and resonates well with savvy and intellectual New Yorkers. The worship could use some more "urban cred" however. There;s no mistaking it's a Presbyterian church in that regard!

As to the "hard sell" line. When talking about NYC you have to remeber there are 10+ million in the metro area from many different cultures. Many black and hispanic cultures are looking for "the old-time religion" and ecstatic worship experiences. NYC needs many different church-types to reach as many as possible. Nowhere does one size fit all - especially not in NYC!

[Steve McCoy]

Jerry, that's one of the things I love most about Keller's ministry in NYC. He is training and planting all sorts of churches from various denominations with various sorts of worship styles.