Posted on 10/02/2018 8:49:10 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Timothy Keller has argued that historical Christian positions on controversial social issues do not fit with America's two-party political system.
Keller, a best-selling author and founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times on Saturday that the Christian approach to social issues could be attacked both by the left and the right.
"For example, following both the Bible and the early church, Christians should be committed to racial justice and the poor, but also to the understanding that sex is only for marriage and for nurturing family," he wrote.
"One of those views seems liberal and the other looks oppressively conservative. The historical Christian positions on social issues do not fit into contemporary political alignments."
Keller pointed out that this does not mean that Christians should avoid making stands on important issues, noting that in the 19th century, churches that did not speak out against slavery were in reality supporting the practice.
Timothy Keller has argued that historical Christian positions on controversial social issues do not fit with America's two-party political system.
Keller, a best-selling author and founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times on Saturday that the Christian approach to social issues could be attacked both by the left and the right.
"For example, following both the Bible and the early church, Christians should be committed to racial justice and the poor, but also to the understanding that sex is only for marriage and for nurturing family," he wrote.
"One of those views seems liberal and the other looks oppressively conservative. The historical Christian positions on social issues do not fit into contemporary political alignments."
Keller pointed out that this does not mean that Christians should avoid making stands on important issues, noting that in the 19th century, churches that did not speak out against slavery were in reality supporting the practice.
"Another reason not to align the Christian faith with one party is that most political positions are not matters of biblical command but of practical wisdom. This does not mean that the church can never speak on social, economic and political realities, because the Bible often does," he wrote.
"Racism is a sin, violating the second of the two great commandments of Jesus, to 'love your neighbor.' The biblical commands to lift up the poor and to defend the rights of the oppressed are moral imperatives for believers. For individual Christians to speak out against egregious violations of these moral requirements is not optional."
Keller argued that it is neither valid to withdraw entirely from politics, nor to "assimilate and fully adopt one party's whole package."
"The Gospel gives us the resources to love people who reject both our beliefs and us personally. Christians should think of how God rescued them. He did it not by taking power but by coming to earth, losing glory and power, serving and dying on a cross. How did Jesus save? Not with a sword but with nails in his hands," he concluded.
Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, praised Keller's op-ed in a blog post, but added that some Christians rightly serve God in a life of political abstinence while others serve God in politically partisan endeavors.
"Cloistered religious orders, the Amish, various other separatist communities, and many persons are generous in prayer and charity without direct political witness. They serve God where they are without insisting all others follow their example," he wrote. And, "Intense or professional political activism is a special calling likely for very few Christians, as no doubt Keller would agree."
Keller has made similar points in the past, and in 2016 told Christians divided by politics that their Christian identity should come first.
"All across the world there is a lot of political fragmentation ... there is more and more political fragmentation in so many countries, and unfortunately Christians might be tempted to be fragmented right along. We might start getting divided politically instead of remembering that you're Christian first and you're white, black, Asian, Hispanic, second. You're a Christian first and you're American, or you're British and you're African second," the theologian argued weeks before the 2016 general election in the U.S., won by now-President Donald Trump.
Treat people as you want to be treated.
The rest is policy. Christians will agree on the first, and they’ll argue until the end of time about the other.
I don’t give two cents what this guy thinks or believes
Tim Keller's advocacy of both Racial and Gender (LGBTQ+) justice derives from his rejection of the Genesis account of creation ex nihilo in favor of evolution.
Keller’s church is in Manhattan, so he’s going to dance right on the line between right and left.
God is rather more certain on the issues.
. . . he says after the Democrat Party booed inclusion of mention of God in their platform.
God may not be a Republican, but Satan is definitely a democrat
That was true before the Democrats turned their back on 99.999% of them.
But Satan for sure, is a democrat.
What?!
I cannot even imagine that a true Christian—one who believes in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on our behalf for our sins, could even be a Democrat.
The only thing that I can surmise is that Keller himself doesn’t know what a true Christian is. If I were to believe his description of a Christian, i.e. that he/she could be a Democrat, I would have to say there are some Christians that are totally ignorant of what the Democrat party stands for.
What a farce. True Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit and are led by Him; true Christians have the law written on their hearts and are in the Word of God; true Christians know the difference between good and evil and abhor evil; true Christians bear fruit of righteousness because they are IN CHRIST, who is their righteousness.
Well said. I am starting to realize, through my own parents who are democrats, that non-Christians simply cannot discern the truth. This is why Jesus is the "Light of the World" and the bible goes on to define light as "Whatever makes manifest". Those of us who walk in the Light can clearly see the wickedness around us and how that relates to the Democrat party and their every position.
Daniel says God puts leader in power, and takes them out of power.
In Daniel’s vision, the feet of steel and clay perfectly describe a democratic republic.
What is the end result of the votes of 280 million sinners?
So true, what you have said.
God’s word is truth and God is true, John 3:33.
And the truth shall make us free (from the bondage of sin), John 8:32.
We are told to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 3:18. So that aspect of our sanctification is a process, and the more we are studying the Bible, His truth, and believing it, the more we see the light of His truth as it applied to us and the world we live in.
Another reverend looking for a platform.
RE: Another reverend looking for a platform.
Do you even know him?
No. And I don’t want to.
RE: No. And I don’t want to.
May I suggest that you don’t make a judgment on the man until you do.
Keller knows good and well, that's not a biblical term or concept.
Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.
"One of those views seems liberal and the other looks oppressively conservative. The historical Christian positions on social issues do not fit into contemporary political alignments."
He's still married to the left to right, liberal to conservative single dimensional political classification scheme.
I am somewhere between a nuanced libertarian with positions that don't please anyone, to Joe Sobran's "Reluctant Anarchist".
Simply put, the DNC has become pure Evil.
Full out Party of Death.
Timothy Keller, just another boor spouting the old Social Gospel dogma for a new generation
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