I was first introduced to Tim Keller through YouTube videos. His insights reveal a mature and thoughtful faith. What Is Your Reason For Living? is a post on this blog that features his take on the perpetual purposelessness of the mythical Sisyphus. In another post on this blog, Keller takes up the subject: The Truth About Christianity- On The Love Relationship And Freedom. For somewhat of a preview of at least something out of the book the following post features another video of Keller at the Veritas Forum: Five Ways A Skeptical World Attempts To Destroy Or Neutralize Christianity- Belief In An Age Of Skepticism.
The Reason For God is my first foray into one of his books, and I am very pleased to say, I was not disappointed.
After many years as a pastor of a church in what was deemed to be a difficult neighbourhood of New York, the Redeemer Church grew from small beginnings to a substantial mega church. Keller is now responsible for planting other churches in New York and in other major cities of the world. What is significant is that he understands the pulse of the city in perhaps ways that have failed to be realized in other ministries. His was a difficult area- not because of impoverished, marginalized people in the poorer suburbs of a large city, but because he successfully manages to reach out to those who are notoriously difficult to reach. The affluent, the influential, the educated and the professional. In some respects, this is important to me because these are the people that very few ministries tend to focus on. Just as the 10/40 window represents- from an outreach perspective- a neglected and difficult geographical area between the latitudes of 10 degrees, and 40 degrees north where the Gospel has hardly made an impact; so too the chosen area of service for Keller represents a slice of humanity where few pastors have successfully braved the rigours of the territory.
The secret of his successes appear to be at least in some form franchisable in the sense that we can learn valuable lessons and apply them to the sort of people he manages to reach in our own cities. The book is full of the nuanced questions that these people have asked over the years followed up with his own personal anecdotes. One of the more colorful things I take from this book is the reality that for quite a number of his earlier years in Redeemer church, Keller would end his service with a dedicated hour or so of question and answer time. What a great opportunity to gauge the impact and responses to his sermons!
The focus of this book is its unapologetic apologetics. As the title suggests, giving reasons for your faith and the recognition of a powerful skepticism in the sort of people he reaches out to is an important, integral part of building a solid congregation. At the end of the book, Keller gives some clues as to his mentors in the faith. Apart from a dedication to the encouragement and support of his wife, his strong appreciation for the works of C.S. Lewis chalks up, for me at least, yet another life among many that have credited Lewis with being a major influence in their Christian worldview. It also was somewhat more of a surprise to find that Jonathan Edwards was another influential person in his view of Christianity.
This is a great book, and worthy of using as a reference for the sticky questions that arise from those who, through education and training come to the faith with a keen sense of skepticism and the skills of critical thinking.
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