Last year some controversy erupted among UK evangelicals because of a somewhat negative review of Tim Keller's The Reason for God in the popular evangelical monthly The Briefing (The particular issue in question can be sourced here). The issue then was the purported distortion of penal substitutionary atonement and the underplaying of God's wrath by Keller. I think on initial reflection that criticism of Keller was accurate although not that easy to demonstrate (as the ensuing letters and riposte from the Briefing demonstrated).
Last month though Keller was giving a public interview, and his answers then patently demonstrated a distinct lack of clarity on a key Gospel issue. He was asked:
As a church, how should we as Christians and how should the church view gay rights and gay marriage?
His answer (not for the first time) was very much like Manuel's in Faulty Towers "I know nothing" (listen from about 79'00)
Tragic.
HT: Bayly Blog
Seems like a sensitivity to wanting to be heard well, and being aware that in a very public preaching settling there are very true things you could say that would either not be rightly heard, or would be being heard at the wrong point, whereas in smaller settings and even one on one you could really talk through the difficulties. Overly harsh critique imho.
ReplyDeleteDave,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments and honesty.
A question for you - what does sensitivity to be want to be heard actually mean? And do you think that the Prophets, John the Baptist, Paul etc embraced this approach when engaging with the public/the Church?
This is a crucial issue for our age and Keller is a key leader in the Church and instead of defending the gospel at the point where it is presently being attacked the most, he chooses to say "I'm saying nothing"... I mean if his criticism that there is no one out there expressing a right view on gay issues why didn't he take the opportunity to express + model that for us and why chicken out of being able to stand up for Scripture in future right at the end of the interview. I'm afraid given Keller's ducking of the issue (the last time at a "Reformed" theologicial college!) this is very disappointing.
K
I'm not saying he couldn't have said more, just that I appreciate his honesty is saying it's a difficult one to speak to a mixed crowd about... bit like talking about hell probably!
ReplyDeleteDave,
ReplyDeleteThanks for responding...
You wrote:
"I'm not saying he couldn't have said more, just that I appreciate his honesty is saying it's a difficult one to speak to a mixed crowd about..."
I think that's why this Keller episode is sad/tragic. At the end of the interview, Keller says he is not keen for a future opportunity to talk about homosexuality... why? This was a Redeemer sponsored event so it was an opportunity for the Church to speak out on this key issue of our day but what does Keller do? Nothing... Furthermore Keller has recently said he would not preach on homosexuality during Sunday Worship so when then?
KC