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5 Feb, 4 tweets, 1 min read
Do people twist the truth or simply lie about us? Are we treated with subtle and not-so-subtle bigotry? Are we mocked and belittled? Might we, soon enough, be facing actual persecution? If so, then we have our instructions – [Mt 5:38-47; Rom 12:14-21]. 1/4
Conservative Christians who seek to follow these commandments must be out there — they must — but I’ve struggled to find them online. Instead, I keep coming across people who loudly proclaim their orthodoxy, and give much sage advice to their fellow conservatives, and yet 2/4
somehow never manage to land on these themes which, in my Bible at least, are pretty prominent. These pundits are fighters; they point fiercely at their enemies and denounce them; they cry that they are being treated unfairly; they mock and belittle those on the other side 3/4
of the political aisle; but if they ever ask God’s blessing upon those enemies and persecutors, or seek to make peace with their liberal sisters and brothers, it doesn’t seem to happen where I can see it." – Alan Jacobs

I would add this goes for progressive Christians too. 4/4

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Timothy Keller Profile picture
8 Jan
Brian - I have never done a lecture on speech act theory. I’ve never said that anyone should disregard any of the Ten Commandments either. In the NY Times article, I argue that people can differ over how a biblical commandment should be put into public policy. 1/8
For example, think of the first commandment against worshipping other Gods and the second one against making graven images. Do you believe they should be made into a law in a pluralistic democracy? Do you think non-Christian religions should be illegal in the U.S.? Probably not.
But does that mean you are personally disregarding the first two of the Ten Commandments because of cultural context? Not at all.

You also say I’ve violated the ninth commandment—namely, that I must promote and cherish the good name and reputation of others, even opponents. 3
Read 8 tweets
Timothy Keller Profile picture
15 Dec 20
LONG THREAD: Here is a simplified generalization of American Christianity adapted from a Mark Noll paper. Every positive advance in evangelical history has been accompanied by unfortunate side effects.
(1) Martin Luther proclaimed enduring evangelical principles 1/19
(God’s free grace, justification by faith, the supremacy of Scripture). He also relied heavily on his prince to promote reform in Saxony’s churches and so remained committed to organizing all society, if necessary by force, according to God’s will.

(2) The Great Awakening 2/19
of George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards (1740s) inspired personal belief, church renewal, and significant outreach to Native Americans and enslaved Africans. But it also turned evangelicals into activists focused on immediate conversions and personal sanctification, and 3/19
Read 19 tweets
Timothy Keller Profile picture
10 Dec 20
Advent Question: What did Jesus come into this world to do?

“He was sold, to buy us back; captive, to deliver us; condemned, to absolve us; he was made a curse for our blessing, sin offering for our righteousness; marred that we may be made fair; he died for our life; 1/4
so that by him fury is made gentle, wrath appeased, darkness turned into light, fear reassured, despisal despised, debt canceled, labor lightened, sadness made merry, misfortune made fortunate, difficulty easy, disorder ordered, division united, ignominy ennobled, rebellion 2/4
...subjected, intimidation intimidated, ambush uncovered, assaults assailed, force forced back, combat combated, war warred against, vengeance avenged, torment tormented, damnation damned, the abyss sunk into the abyss, hell transfixed, death dead, mortality made immortal. 3/4
Read 4 tweets
Timothy Keller Profile picture
24 Nov 20
Of course I will do some soul-searching, Kell. I’ve been talking to folks like you who have been the victims of bigotry for years. I never want to become immune to that hurt. 1/4
You seem to be saying that an argument like Edwards’ that (a) acknowledges the reality of very good and virtuous non-theists yet (b) shows the serious problems and implications of non-theism for ethics—necessarily dehumanizes and demonizes non-theists. 2/4
I’d like you to consider that his assertions are carefully thought out and reasoned. And there are articles and books being written right now, often by non-theists themselves, that are pointing out the same problems. 3/4
Read 4 tweets
Timothy Keller Profile picture
24 Nov 20
Interestingly, some read my other thread as advocating FOR centrism, when in reality it was noting that EVERYONE is a centrist to someone else so the claim is problematic. Perhaps some missed the argument. So here is another thread on the non-centrism of the gospel: 1/8
Jesus in Luke says, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.’ 2/8
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating & drinking, & you say, ‘Here is a glutton & a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” Lk 7:31-35
Read 8 tweets
Timothy Keller Profile picture
23 Nov 20
Political advocates for both the Right and the Left devote great energy to criticizing ”moderates” and “centrists” as people who are “selling out” to the culture and refusing to take brave stands. Let me tell you a story! 1/9
When I was teaching at Westminster in Philadelphia I got to know Chip Stonehouse (now deceased) who was the son of one of the founding faculty members, Ned Stonehouse (New Testament). He served for years with John Murray, a Scotsman who taught Theology. Ned died in 1962. 2/9
At that time Chip told me that he was approached by John Murray who expressed love for his father but concern that he died watching TV on a Sunday and therefore, in Murray’s view, breaking the Sabbath. I asked Chip if he was offended and the good-natured Chip said not at all. 3/9
Read 10 tweets

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