Tim Keller (pastor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tim Keller
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Keller in 2006
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| Born |
Timothy James Keller
September 23, 1950 Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | May 19, 2023 (aged 72) New York City, U.S.
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| Education | |
| Occupation | Minister and author |
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Notable work
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Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church |
| Spouse(s) |
Kathy Kristy
(m. 1975) |
| Children | 3 |
| Ordination | Presbyterian Church in America |
| Theological work | |
| Tradition or movement | Christianity
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| Main interests | Neo-Calvinism and Evangelicalism |
Timothy James Keller (born September 23, 1950 – died May 19, 2023) was an American pastor, writer, and speaker. He was known for explaining Christian beliefs in a way that made sense to people who had doubts.
Keller helped start and lead an organization called Redeemer City to City. This group trains pastors to serve in cities all over the world. He was also the first pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. He wrote several popular books, including The Prodigal God, Prayer, and The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Timothy James Keller was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1950. His parents were Louise A. Keller and William B. Keller.
He went to Bucknell University and earned a bachelor's degree in 1972. While at Bucknell, he became a Christian through a group called InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He later worked for InterVarsity.
Keller continued his studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, getting a Master of Divinity degree in 1975. He then earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1981.
He became a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Before moving to New York City, Keller served as a pastor at West Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Virginia, for nine years. He also helped the PCA start new churches. He taught at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, where he and his wife, Kathy Keller, worked with city ministries.
Career and Ministry
In 1989, Keller was asked to start Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, New York City. He took on this challenge even though he hadn't started a church before.
In 2008, Keller published his book, The Reason for God. This book was based on many questions and doubts about Christianity that he heard from people in New York City. It became a bestseller on The New York Times.
Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Redeemer Presbyterian Church started with about 50 people. By 2008, more than 5,000 people attended its services each Sunday. Many people called Keller a very successful Christian leader in the city. In 2004, Christianity Today magazine called Redeemer "one of Manhattan's most vital congregations."
The church focused on young working adults in the city. Keller believed these people had a big impact on culture and ideas. This made the church different from many other large churches in the U.S. Most of the people attending were single adults. Many were Asian-American or worked in arts and finance.
Keller's preaching was direct but also respectful. He often talked about Christian truths without being harsh. He usually avoided taking sides in politics. This helped the church stay politically neutral.
Redeemer Presbyterian Church also created other important groups:
- Hope for New York: A non-profit group that sends volunteers and money to over 40 faith-based organizations. These groups help people in need in New York City.
- The Center for Faith and Work: This center helps working professionals connect their jobs with their Christian faith.
- Redeemer City to City: This group trains and supports pastors to start new churches in New York and other cities around the world.
Keller also helped start The Gospel Coalition. This is a group of Christian leaders from across the United States. He also guided younger church leaders, which helped his influence grow worldwide.
On July 1, 2017, Keller stepped down as the main pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church. He wanted to spend more time training new church leaders and helping start new churches globally through Redeemer City to City.
His Beliefs and Teachings
Keller didn't like to be called "evangelical" because that word sometimes has political meanings. He preferred to call himself "orthodox" because he believed in a personal experience with faith and that the Bible is fully true. He followed Calvinist theology, which is a branch of Christian thought.
The Gospel Message
A main part of Keller's teaching was about the "gospel." This means the good news about Jesus. He often said, "The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope."
He compared this gospel message to "traditional religion." He defined traditional religion as following rules or rituals to earn God's favor. He also compared it to "irreligion," which is the belief that there is no God. Keller taught that the gospel offers a "third way" that is centered on God's grace.
Explaining Faith
Keller's talks and writings were always respectful towards people who doubted or questioned faith. His book The Reason for God came from many conversations he had with skeptical people in New York City.
On the topic of creationism and evolution, Keller said his view was not strictly literal. He believed that evolution was "neither ruled in nor ruled out" by his church.
Idolatry
Another key idea in Keller's teaching was "idolatry." He taught that people can make anything an "idol" if they seek meaning and happiness from it instead of from God. This could be money, a career, or power. He wrote about this in his book Counterfeit Gods.
Helping Others and Politics
Keller believed in helping the poor and those in need. He based this on teachings from the Bible. He also thought that Christianity is a worldwide movement that has ideas that fit with some liberal and some conservative views. He criticized both political parties when they didn't align with Christian values.
Connecting Faith and Culture
Keller was a leader in showing how Christian faith can apply to everyday jobs like business, art, and starting new companies. The Center for Faith and Work at Redeemer helped professionals learn about Christian theology.
Keller was a big fan of authors like C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, who were both Christian writers. He also supported the Harry Potter books, even though some Christians had concerns about them.
Gender Roles
Keller held a view called complementarianism. This belief suggests that the Bible teaches different roles for men and women, but these roles are not strictly defined. He wrote about marriage in his book The Meaning of Marriage.
Cities and Churches
Keller was taught by Harvie Conn, who believed in the importance of ministry in cities. Keller was asked to start Redeemer Presbyterian Church because there weren't many traditional churches in central Manhattan.
Through Redeemer City to City, Keller guided a network of city churches around the world. He wrote a lot about the importance of cities and how to do ministry in them.
Personal Life
Timothy Keller married Kathy Kristy in 1975. They had three children together.
In 2002, Keller had thyroid cancer. In June 2020, he shared that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away at his home in Manhattan on May 19, 2023, at the age of 72.
Books by Tim Keller
- Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road (1997)
- The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (2008)
- The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (2008)
- Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just (2010)
- King's Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus (2011)
- The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God (2011)
- The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness: The Path to True Christian Joy (2012)
- Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (2012)
- Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work (2012)
- Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (2013)
- Encounters with Jesus: Unexpected Answers to Life's Biggest Questions (2013)
- Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (2014)
- Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism (2015)
- The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotionals in the Psalms (2015)
- Making Sense of GOD: An Invitation to the Skeptical (2016)
- Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ (2016)
- God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs (2017)
- The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God's Mercy (2018)
- The Meaning of Marriage: A Couple's Devotional: A Year of Daily Devotions (2019)
- How to Reach the West Again (2020)
- On Birth (2020)
- On Marriage (2020)
- On Death (2020)
- Hope in Times of Fear: The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter (2021)
- Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I? (2022)
Images for kids
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Keller in 2006
See also
In Spanish: Timothy Keller para niños
