Anchored in Christ

From time to time, Pastor and notable author Timothy Keller schedules time on Twitter to answer questions about the Bible, ministry, book recommendations, and his personal life. Below is the most recent #AskTK event that took place July 28, 2014.

Special thanks to Cameron Moore for compiling this and the two previous #AskTK events which you can see here: 12/31/13 and 4/29/14).

For the sake of convenience, I have linked to articles and books he references. Some links are Amazon affiliate links, which means Amazon shares with me a small % of the sale with no extra cost to you (just for disclosure’s sake!).

Q: Favorite puritan?
TK: That’s easy, John Owens because Jonathan Edwards is not technically a Puritan.

Q: Favorite Lewis book?
TK: Another easy one: Mere Christianity.

Q: What is your opinion of “praying in tongues”?
TK: I like Don Carson’s book “Showing the Spirit” on this one. Balanced, thoughtful, and rooted in Scripture.

Q: Was there ever a point in the last several years that you questioned your role in ministry?
TK: When Kathy was sick a few years ago, I questioned if I should leave ministry for a while.

Q: Do you envision a time where we will see a “consolidation” of Christian denominations? church seems too fragmented
TK: As long as The Church strives for both unity AND purity there will always be denominations.

Q: Shake Shack or In-N-Out?
TK: Easy, Shake Shack in NYC. Better quality meat.

Q: Advice for young educators? (I teach English lit to 12-17 year olds)
TK: Similar to a question last time: At that age they need Christianity modeled more than explained.–Doesn’t have to be Christian education, just modeling your faith is important for 12-17 year olds.

Q: Favorite Doctor [Who]?
TK: David Tennant. Bonus: Favorite episode is “Blink.” Of course.

Q: Have you read Harry Potter- if yes, did you like them… If no- why not?
TK: Yes loved them, great examples of sacrificial love conquering evil reminds me of another story.

Q: Favorite coffee shop in NYC?
TK: None. I don’t drink coffee. I’m a Harney and sons Tea kind of guy, not to mention PG Tips.

Q: Most influential book on pastoring?
TK: Charles Bridges “The Christian Ministry” and Richard Baxter’s “The Reformed Pastor” and William Still’s book on pastoring

Q: What is your favorite movie?
TK: The Black Stallion

Q: What advice, counsel, or scripture would you give to a new father struggling with anger?
TK: Get help in discovering what idols are at the root of your anger.

Q: Fav commentary series for the NT?
TK: Pillar and Bible Speaks Today Series.

Q: What brings you the most joy in ministry?
TK: Conversions

Q: Ministry ever hurt so bad you thought your heart couldn’t take anymore?
TK: Of course.

Q: One mistake you witness church planters making more frequently than others?
TK: Concentration on superficialities-such as vibe or look.

Q: The Narnia series or LOTR- preference? Downtown attender Ryan Frater and I have a bet going.
TK: I do not prefer one over the other. They are too different.

Q: Literal Adam, common ancestry, both, or agnosticism on this question?
TK: I believe in a literal Adam and all human beings are descended from Adam.

Q: Should infant baptism be an issue that ends a dating relationship?
TK: You shouldn’t marry someone who will not happily go to the same church with you.

Q: I’ve listened to your sermon on God’s love for cities. How do you feel about rural ministry?
TK: I think its important. See my article “The Country Parson” from 2009.

Q: Can a person be a Christian without being a member of a church?
TK: Yes, but you are not an obedient Christian if u are not a member of a church. You can’t obey Heb 13:17 without membership.

Q: Confused while trying to see story of Jesus/Gospel while reading 1&2 Chronicles. Can you help?
TK: See Michael Wilcock on 1&2 Chronicles.

Q: Your process to teaching someone how to pray?
TK: I have a book coming out in Nov. on prayer and it’s my effort to teach people how to pray more fruitfully.

Q: Calvinism or Arminianism?
TK: Calvinism. You must have known I would say that? 🙂

Q: Advice for someone who wants to be a future theology teacher?
TK: Get some pastoral experience as well as a great academic degree.

Q: How redemptive suffering/pain can remit the just punishment for one’s sins ?
TK: It can’t. See Martin Luther on this.

Q: What is your advice for how to better foster Christian community, particularly in a college environment?
TK: My son says you have to make time for each other, convince them to do it not over the internet, and cultivate vulnerability.

Q: Tips for raising a family in the city?
TK: My wife Kathy has written on “Why the City is wonderful place to raise children.” It is very good.

Q: Are there any books you would recommend to someone who is grieving? My friends just lost a child at 6months old.
TK: Books are hard with those who are grieving, but try to find Elisabeth Elliot’s book “A Path Through Suffering.”

Q: What would you say is the MAIN difference between teaching and preaching?
TK: The goal. The goal of teaching is inform the mind, maybe warm the heart, but preaching is worship.

Q: What would you say is the primary purpose of apologetics?
TK: To clear the way for evangelism.

Q: Is the Problem of Evil the biggest objection to faith people have today?
TK: It is still in the top 2. The other one is the charge of narrowness and bigotry, but that has many forms.

Q: Would you care to mention one of your failings that we might find encouraging? Many thank yous.
TK: Not one-I have struggled with sins of all types-not enough love, not enough faith, not enough hope, self-pity, selfishness, more

Q: Why did God create people. Did His own great value compel Him with an irresistible enthusiasm to share Himself?
TK: Read Edwards “Concerning the End for which God created the World.” [or Kindle version]

Q: What’s one piece of advice you would tell your younger self, or something you wished you knew then that you know now about The Lord?
TK: I would tell him that prayer is way more important than he thinks.

Q: Recommend any bible reading plans?
TK: I like to use M’Cheyne’s first three columns. That takes you through the Bible once in a year, three chapters a day.

Q: Why are so many of our fellow Reformed believers so bitter/angry?
TK: In fairness, those opposing Reformed theology seem pretty bitter and angry too. It may be “the age” and the internet.

Q: What’s your favourite book this year?
TK: Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age.

Q: Should Christians believe in souls, or just bodily resurrection?
TK: Both.

Q: Can you please recommend books on 1-Sin in believer’s life 2-Spiritual discipline
TK: 1-Owen On Mortification. 2-Owen on Spiritual Mindedness. These are not easy reads.

Q: What has been the hardest book to write & why?
TK: The book I just finished, because it was on Prayer.

Q: Serious question: Have you read @james_ka_smith’s How (Not) to Be Secular? If so, any thoughts?
TK: Yes, It’s a very subtle and sophisticated critique of secularism. Christians need it.

Q: What was your favorite Theological class? Undergrad or Grad
TK: Meredith Kline’s class on Old Testament theology.

Q: How much does your wife influence how you think, prep, and preach?
TK: Enormously. More than any living person.

Q: Any plans for a new apologetic book to come out?
TK: Yes, someday I hope.

Q: What’s the first step you take when you begin writing a new book?
TK: I read a lot of other books on the subject.

Q: An open endorser of BioLogos would almost certainly be outside the theological bounds of TGC. Why do you get a pass?
TK: Theological statement is on the website and council members are free to believe in an Old Earth.

Q: (This is real question) point me to a good understanding of “women will be saved through childbearing”?
TK: Many theories-one good one is Paul is thinking of Eve in Gen and the promise that the Savior will come through her offspring

Q: Is broccoli acceptable in casserole form?
TK: Never.

Q: And where do you get your news from?
TK: NYT, WSJ, New Republic, Atlantic, and my sons.

Q: CS Lewis space trilogy or Chronicles?
TK: Depends on my mood.

Q: What’s your favorite color?
TK: I don’t have one.

Q: Any plans to release a daily devotional?
TK: No, I don’t however we are working with the Youversion Bible App to get stuff like that on it.

Q: Who did you want to win the World Cup?!
TK: I won’t watch or really follow many sports or sport teams. I know that makes me strange.

Q: What is the most significant theological understanding you’ve come to cherish?
TK: Simply put, Grace.

Q: What is most important when choosing someone to marry?
TK: Besides being of the same faith, it would be someone who can forgive and repent regularly.

Q: Biggest problem you see in modern evangelism efforts?
TK: Talking past each other is happening more and more as we have less and less common ground to stand on.

Q: Atonement theory: Christus Victor or Penal Substitution? Or maybe, both?
TK: Yes. Paul uses many different paradigms and we can too.

Q: How have good stories helped mature your faith?
TK: They put theoretical truths in ways I can relate to them.

Q: How was Christ able to satisfy God’s eternal wrath against man in only three hours?
TK: Longer answer needed. When Christ was separated from the Godhead, it was the first time ever that relationship was broken.

Q: Advice on raising pure, godly boys in this sex-crazed world? Or books to read on the topic?
TK: Pray for them, model faith for them, and put good filters on the internet in your home.

Q: How do you respond to the accusations that you are endorsing theistic evolution ?
TK: I’m published and on record on this topic. The problem is people have different definitions of this term.

Q: Why do you have that AWFUL popcorn ceiling?! Get out of the 70’s, man!
TK: I’m on vacation with my family. #notmyfault

Q: What cultural idols are the hardest to combat for a church in NYC?
TK: Extreme individualism, and materialism.

Q: How does one deal with the charge of narrowness and bigotry without compromising on the truth of the gospel?
TK: I talk about this in Reason for God some. The charge of narrowness is usually a culturally imperialistic assumption.

Q: How do you stay charged up during your 4th sermon in one day?
TK: It is hard. Best answer: practice.

Q: Do you play sports?
TK: No, though I do run regularly.

Q: I’m starting seminary next month. biggest piece of advice you can give me?
TK: Always ask the, “So what?”–question. When studying we can forget “the WHY we are” question.

Q: I’m getting married in 2 weeks. Just finished “Meaning of Marriage” – thanks! Any last minute words of wisdom?
TK: Have fun getting to know each other!

Q: Yoga: a danger for Christians? or a harmless workout?
TK: Depends on how you are using it. Some it is just stretching and body movements, for others its a religious position.

Q: What is the best way to get a seminary education while living in NYC?
TK: Don’t quote me on this, but we are working on an option beginning sometime in 2015 (maybe).

Q: If you could speak about one apologetic for Christianity to a group of college skeptics what would it be?
TK: Probably show that there is no such thing as a non-religious view. All views are inherently religious.

Q: What’s the difference between prayer and meditation?
TK: Prayer is the conversation between you and God-Meditation is thinking on God’s words in Scripture that can often lead to prayer

Q: Is this your first Twitter Q&A, and what do you think of Twitter for this?
TK: Nope, 4th or 5th? There are summaries of old #AskTK out there. I think Twitter is a great medium for Q&A if the answers can be shor

Q: Been a fan of your work for a long time. My Q: how are you planning to engage w the arguments in Vines’ new book?
TK: I’m not sure yet, but many of the arguments within have been around for a while.

Q: Do you have a best practice for saying “no” to others in a constructive way?
TK: Saying it in love? Whatever that looks like, depending on the context.

Q: How would you respond to the charge that the Christian faith is too narrow?
TK: Simple. Every faith is “narrow.” Even the faith that says all faiths are equal excludes those who disagree. Can’t help it.

Q: Is that why I didn’t got an answer last time? 🙂 not possible in 140 characters?
TK: Many of the questions I choose not to answer can’t be in a single sentence. So I choose not to. So–maybe!

Q: My husband and I have been married 9 months. What advice would you give us?
TK: Make you have regular “check-ins.” Communication tends to be one of the main problems with newlyweds.

Q: What’s more difficult in today’s American culture: to be married or single?
TK: They both have their unique challenges. Every era has different ones for married and singles alike.

Q: Favorite Chronicles of Narnia book?
TK: The first one, properly known as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Q: If you could recommend one book this year, what would it be?
TK: Words of Life by Timothy Ward is a great book on Scripture I read recently.

Q: What drew you to Presbyterianism, as opposed to CRC/RCA, Anglicanism, etc…?
TK: Roger Nicole’s stuff on infant baptism help start it, but Kathy was there first.

Q: How come you don’t like/pay attention to sports?
TK: It often takes too much time.

Q:Which apologetics methodology “camp” do you most ID with? Classical, evidential, Van Til, Clark, G. Lewis, etc.
TK: Probably a soft version of Van Til, though I see benefits in all the different apologetic streams.

Q: I’m attending seminary next Spring. How do you make sure that Christianity doesn’t become a purely intellectual pursuit?
TK: Keep asking the practical questions. The so what and why questions, means there is a reason for your learning.

Q: Does your wife make you watch #TheBachelorette like mine does?
TK: No

Q: Who are your favorite puritans\ saints or preachers of old?
TK: John Owens, Jonathan Edwards, Thomas Brooks…

Q: I know I’m late to the #AskTK party but if @timkellernyc ran a 5k with @ThabitiAnyabwil who wins?
TK: @1NickMiller Winning, but I am a one trick pony. Running is all I do.

Q: Late to #AskTK: any one theologian/pastor to study and get to know well while at GCTS? (eg Calvin, Edwards, or Bonhoeffer)
TK: Yes. All, but more likely one. Also good is Bavinck.–I would do Berkhof and then every page of Calvin’s Institutes.

Q: When is your book on prayer going to be available on Kindle?
TK: Nov, when it is released.

Q: Will Kathy be writing any more? Jesus, Justice & Gender roles best book ever read on subject
TK: I hope she will. Nothing coming out soon.

Q: What is the biggest thing your wife, Kathy has done to support you in ministry over the years?
TK: Move to New York to start Redeemer when she didn’t want to.

Q: What’s your favorite book on the Holy Spirit?
TK: Last #AskTK answer for a while. See Ferguson’s book and JI Packer’s book. They are old but good. –Packer’s book is called Keep in Step with the Spirit.