The passing of Dr. Tim Keller hit hard. His love for people and unwavering commitment to the Gospel and biblical truth made him a powerful tool in God's hands. He was a constant source of inspiration and encouragement. I had the privilege of interviewing him back in 2019, and it confirmed everything I had observed about him from a distance.
His loss is especially hard because our world needs his wisdom and understanding now more than ever. But his race is done and he ran it well. That leaves the rest of us to carry on the work.
The greatest way to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Tim Keller is to devote ourselves likewise to boldly and effectively sharing the Truth with a world that desperately needs it.
There's much I admire about him, but I will highlight three qualities that every follower of Jesus should strive to emulate.
Tim Keller was:
Bible-Centered
Above all, Dr. Keller was committed to the teachings of Scripture. Despite living and ministering in New York City, one of the most secular places on the planet, he never deviated from the Bible as the revelation of God and source of moral authority.
Every article, lecture, and interview referenced the truth of Scripture. He lived in a place and at a time where biblical values were under constant attack, but he stood his ground and God used him powerfully.
Culturally Relevant
Like Francis Shaeffer or C.S. Lewis before him, it wasn't solely Dr. Keller’s commitment to the Bible that made him uniquely effective; it was his cultural relevance. He was relevant in all the right ways. He didn't look cool, he didn't use slang, and he didn't try to fit into the superficialities around him.
He was keenly aware of the hopes and beliefs of his unbelieving audience and spoke directly to them. This extraordinary ability opened doors for Dr. Keller to contend for the faith at Google headquarters, in the New York Times, and at secular universities worldwide. People may not have always agreed with him, but he was impossible to dismiss or ignore.
Genuinely Humble
The most profound attribute of Tim Keller was his humility - after all, he was willing to be interviewed by me! Despite being among the foremost Christian intellectuals of the last fifty years, you never felt he was impressed with himself.
Fame and success didn't change him at all. He was undeniably authentic and comfortable in his skin. He used his considerable intellectual gifts to share Christ with others, but there was never a hint of arrogance in his delivery or approach. There was an ease to his style. A confidence that came from knowing that all he had to do was his best, and God would take from it there.
Sadly, we will never know what another decade of Dr. Keller’s writing and teachings would have produced. But this I know for sure, the same God who worked powerfully through him, wants to work through you and me.
I want to diligently study culture, so I can speak the truth with clarity and relevance. I want to be authentic, genuine, and loving. Mostly, I want to be more impressed with God and His Word than with myself.
Though loss is never easy, for the living it can be a powerful catalyst for change and the key to a fruitful future.
Want to watch the full conversation? Check out Special Guest Dr. Timothy Keller (Classic Replay)
