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[ # ] The Reason for God
Posted by Eric Stillman on February 19th, 2008 under Atheism, EvangelismPrint This Post  Print This Post

As I sit here typing, I find myself listening closely for the mailman, because he should be delivering a just-released book that I have been eagerly awaiting since I first heard of it a few months ago.  The book is by a pastor who has shaped my preaching style more than anyone else and has deepened my understanding of how central the gospel of Jesus is to everything in the Bible and in life.  His name is Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, and the book is The Reason for God:  Belief in an Age of Skepticism.

Tim Keller       The Reason for God

Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC,
and his book, The Reason for God

Now, I’m guessing at least 90% of you have never even heard of Tim Keller or Redeemer Church, unless you read this week’s article in Newsweek about him.  This ignorance is largely because even though Keller is 57, this is his first attempt at writing a popular book; previously, he seems to have been very content to fly under the radar and work with Redeemer as they seek to renew New York City socially, spiritually, and culturally.  As a pastor serving a church of roughly 5000 transient, intellectually and culturally sophisticated New Yorkers, as well as helping plant and assist countless other churches ministering in cities around the world, he has certainly had his hands full.  But I have a feeling that many Christians will be grateful that he took the time to write The Reason for God.

The timing of this book is great for me, as I have been preparing to preach a series that will begin on Easter dealing with some of the biggest reasons people reject the God of the Bible and Christianity.  I am planning to address questions such as “why does God allow suffering and evil?”, “How can Christians claim that theirs is the only right religion?” and “isn’t Christianity incompatible with science?”, as well as more relational objections such as “I would be happy to follow God if it weren’t for all those hypocritical, judgmental Christians.”  (I encourage you once again to visit our Why Believe? webpage and tell your story of why you do or do not believe).  I am sure this book will be of great value to me as I prepare.

The timing of this book is also great for our society, given the recent influx of “New Atheist” books that have been best-sellers, such as Christopher Hitchens’ God is not Great:  How Religion Poisons Everything, Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion, and Sam Harris’ Letters to a Christian Nation.  These authors have gone on the offensive to argue that not only is belief in God irrational, but that it is downright evil, that the world would be better off without religion.  And many are buying what they are selling.  Their criticisms are pretty harsh, and I have been waiting for someone from the Christian community to step up and engage those who have attacked the concept of faith in God.  Thankfully, Tim Keller was up to the challenge. 

Now, in the midst of all of this intellectualizing and arguing, it is important to keep things in the proper perspective.  I am not sure anyone can be argued into the kingdom of God.  Many people enter by being attracted to the incomparable love and beauty of Jesus; for others, it is coming to a realization of their need for a Savior in the light of their sin and brokenness.  Becoming a Christian is not like buying a car which you can be argued into purchasing (“all right, you’ve convinced me – I’ll take Jesus.  Does he come with a warranty?”).  So, I’m not expecting The Reason for God to argue many people into becoming Christians.  However, I do think that books like this one that defend the rationality of belief in God are invaluable in correcting false assumptions and beliefs about God and showing clearly that believing in God does not mean throwing your brain out the window.  As someone who always graduated near the top of his class and considers himself an intelligent person, I find it frustrating how many atheists think all believers are simple-minded people who have faith because they wish to have someone else tell them what to do and what to believe.  As Keller shows, being a Christian often means thinking harder and deeper about the reality in which we live and how the Biblical story of creation, sin, and redemption make sense of it.         

The two things I have appreciated most about Tim Keller are how central the Gospel is to his message and how well he gives intellectual reason for faith.  No matter what text he is preaching from, whether it is Genesis, the Psalms, or Romans, he somehow always ends up back at the cross of Christ and the need for his listeners to allow the fact that Jesus “lived the life they should have lived and died the death they should have died” to transform their very being.  And his intellectual ability is incredible.  In a typical sermon, he’ll somehow manage to weave in Hebrew scholars, writers for New Yorker magazine, existential philosophers, and modern musicians into his sermons as testimonies to how true the Biblical metanarrative of creation, sin and redemption is to the world in which we live.  

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he answered “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).  I have found other preachers, teachers, worship leaders, and servants who have been better at encouraging me to love God with all of my heart, but none who have compared to Keller’s ability to help me love God with all of my mind.  I am hopeful that God will use this book to help others do the same.

Now that I’ve told you about someone who has impacted my faith and ministry, I am curious about which teachers, preachers, or writers have had the greatest impact on your faith.  If you would, post a comment on someone you’ve found particularly inspiring, so that we all might be encouraged or exposed to someone of which we may have never heard.  And one more note – if you are interested in The Reason For God, you can visit www.amazon.com, search for the book, and read excerpts from it.

Read the Comments

[ # 5619 ] Comment from Christopher Dart [February 20, 2008, 9:50 am]

In reading the article, The Reason for God, I recall a listener on Rush Limbaugh’s program, yesterday defending the word hope. First, the Word of God needs no defense. Jesus Christ is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. A lion doesn’t need to be defended. The listener’s complaint was about Fredrick Nietzsche’s criticism of the Word culminating in his marvelous work, “God is dead.” It must be noted Nietzsche’s observation was about the deadness of the Church, who no longer believed in a living Saviour; a God who answers prayer; a Lord who commands us to watch and pray. Nietzsche’s work was fascinatingly profound. A year later, in 1889, he lost his mind, perhaps from an aneurysm. I believe the wickedness of Niezsche’s unbelief played a role in his demise. Hence, God smote him.
Since the Church had followed along in the higher criticisms of Darwin, Satre and Nietzsche, she, indeed was dead. The wickedness of unbelief had become part of her system of “belief.” Quite notably, around 1902 came the Welsh revival followed by the Azusa Street revival in 1906. R. A. Torrey, President of Moody Bible Institute, later Dean of BIOLA and son-in-law of D. L. Moody, took an instrumental role in that revival. Mr. Torrey had seen the poisonous philosophies of lower and higher criticism pollute the church, much as it has done today.
This brings me to my answer for Pastor Eric’s question, “Who have you found inspiring?”
I first, shall mention D. L. Moody and R. A. Torrey.
In 1949, another revival occurred in the Hebrides. Involved were two notable men of God: Duncan Campbell and Leonard Ravenhill. Mr. Ravenhill has, without a doubt inspired me and continues to inspire.
In 1967, yet another revival happened before us. You may recall Eric Severide mocking the Jesus Movement on the evening news. A man who greatly inspired me was saved in 1972, at the end of that revival: Keith Green.
I was saved in the “Seventh Fleet Revival” in 1978. God did a sovereign work among a bunch of Navy geezers in San Diego. Keith Green didn’t know this, but he was very instrumental. Guys from my ship and those surrounding would go to Calvary Chapel, hear Keith Green, Randy Stonehill, Mark Heard, Pat Terry or simply watch a movie or go to a service and get saved.
I was directed to read “The Cross and the Switchblade.” Beloved, the man who has had, in recent years, the greatest inspiration in my life, was the author, Pastor David Wilkerson, founder of Times Square Church, where revival is continuous.
Previous to 1987, NYC was one of the most dangerous cities on earth. Times Square Church was since founded. Saints are there, daily, praying for the city, the lost, the youth and other churches and us. Manhatten has become the safest city.
Finally, I must mention the author who has had the greatest effect on my prayer life: E. M. Bounds. I read his books before I heard of Keith Green or met David Wilkerson. My prayer, since, has been to effect men to seek the face of God, nearly as E. M. Bounds has effected me. The above men all pale to the excellency of Jesus Christ.

[ # 5620 ] Comment from Liz Tuers [February 20, 2008, 10:25 am]

Thanks for posting this! I’d have to say Brennen Manning has reached my heart, and C.S. Lewis has had a profound impact on my mind. Manning’s “Ragamuffin Gospel” found its way into my hands and changed my view of God and grace completely. Ever since that book, the word and theme of grace has been showing up everywhere in my life (church, relationships, struggles, etc). Then “Mere Christianity” by Lewis…the first chapter alone makes such a logical but easy to read case for the existence of God. I’d have to say these 2 books have had the most profound impact, and I’d highly recommend them to anyone who hasn’t read them yet!

[ # 5820 ] Comment from Christopher Dart [March 1, 2008, 4:33 pm]

Below is a quote about Rev. Timothy Keller.

Rev. Timothy Keller
Redeemer Presbyterian
Keller has become the most successful Christian Evangelist in the city by recognizing what marketers have known for decades: that young professionals and artists are “disproportionately influential” in creating the country’s culture and that you have to meet this coveted demographic on its own terms. With intellectual, brimstone-free sermons that manage to cite Woody Allen alongside Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Keller draws some 5,000 young followers every Sunday.

I vehemently disagree with the notion of becoming like the world to be relevant to the world. The theater and art culture are greatly opposed to Christ. I categorically reject the idea of bringing theater and the arts into the Church as a means of making the Gospel effective. Paul said, “I will have nothing known among you save Christ Jesus and Him crucified (1 Co. 2.2).” Be sure Paul preached fire and brimstone - Jesus did. Paul preached the blood. He preached the Law. He preached grace. Paul’s life was one of brokenness and holiness.

Notice, in the blog above, I wrote of Keith Green’s evangelistic work. Surely he was a great singer and musician. His ministry, however was bathed in prayer. The churches he played at spent much time in prayer for His ministry. Keith’s ministry was intimately connected with Pastor David Wilkerson and Leonard Ravenhill. The only way any of those men would use anyone from the theater crowd was if they repented, were saved and transformed by the renewing of the mind. One example is the man who used to play Jesus of Nazareth in the mockery Jesus Christ Superstar, Pastor David Davis, Kehilat HaCarmel (Carmel Assembly).

Just because one can draw thousands to a meeting, doesn’t mean the Holy Ghost is there. We, at New Life Fellowship, have much more as we individually and corporately seek the face of the Living God. The members are loving and humble. The pastor has no tricks up his sleeve, just a willingness to be used of God.

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