If you only read one book the rest of this year, make it this one:
Posted on 05/19/2023 12:14:49 PM PDT by Gamecock
Author and pastor Tim Keller, who planted a church in New York City that grew to 5,000 attendees and who pioneered work in urban ministry, died Friday after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 72.
Keller and his wife Kathy launched Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan in 1989 and watched as it grew to a weekly attendance of thousands. Keller was known for his staunch yet winsome defense of orthodoxy in the liberal bastion of New York City. He defended the exclusivity of the gospel and the biblical definition of marriage and even engaged with critics on social media who disagreed.
He stepped down in 2017 in order to lead another ministry, Redeemer City to City, which plants new churches. His sermons can be heard on the popular Gospel in Life podcast.
He was the author of more than 30 books, including The Reason for God and The Prodigal God. All total, his books sold more than 2 million copies and were translated into 25 languages.
Keller believed ministry within cities was essential to fulfilling the Great Commission.
"We need churches everywhere there are people – but the people of the world are moving into cities much faster than the church is," Keller wrote in 2017. "Jesus told us to go into the world to make disciples (Matt 28:18-20). If we fail to go where the world is going, then we aren't heeding our Lord's command."
His son, Michael Keller, shared some of his father's final words.
"Timothy J. Keller, husband, father, grandfather, mentor, friend, pastor, and scholar died this morning at home," Michael Keller wrote. "Dad waited until he was alone with Mom. She kissed him on the forehead and he breathed his last breath. We take comfort in some of his last words. 'There is no downside for me leaving, not in the slightest.' See you soon Dad."
Keller had been in and out of the hospital in recent days before entering hospice Thursday. Michael Keller said his father had prayed during his final hours, "I'm thankful for all the people who've prayed for me over the years. I'm thankful for my family, that loves me. I'm thankful for the time God has given me, but I'm ready to see Jesus. I can't wait to see Jesus. Send me home."
Just four months ago, he appeared on Premier's Unbelievable podcast, telling them the diagnosis had drawn him closer to God.
"My wife and I would never want to go to the kind of prayer life and spiritual life we had before the cancer," he said.
"Everyone knows they're going to die," Keller added. People, though, "suppress that" knowledge and "live as if they're never going to die."
Pancreatic cancer, he said, had few treatments. He said his doctor told him, "You're going to die of this, sooner or later, because we don't have a cure for it."
"The way you look at God, the way you look at your spouse, the way you look at everything just changes when you actually realize time is limited and I'm mortal," he told Unbelievable.
Although battling cancer, Keller proclaimed the gospel on social media until the final weeks before his death.
"If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead," Keller tweeted in April.
RIP
If you only read one book the rest of this year, make it this one:
He’s seeing him face-to-face, what a reunion!
another pilgrim gone Home. may God comfort your family and loved ones. thank you for being a good and faithful servant to the end.
also prayers up for Heidi and her family, a dear college friend who just passed too soon for us. may God rest her soul.
Harry Reeder and Stephen Smallman also passed into Glory this week.
""My wife and I would never want to go to the kind of prayer life and spiritual life we had before the cancer," he said.
"Everyone knows they're going to die," Keller added. People, though, "suppress that" knowledge and "live as if they're never going to die."
Pancreatic cancer, he said, had few treatments. He said his doctor told him, "You're going to die of this, sooner or later, because we don't have a cure for it."
"The way you look at God, the way you look at your spouse, the way you look at everything just changes when you actually realize time is limited and I'm mortal," he told Unbelievable.
Although battling cancer, Keller proclaimed the gospel on social media until the final weeks before his death.
"If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead," Keller tweeted in April."
Yes, death certainly has a way of putting eternity in perspective when you know you are going to stand before the Holy and Just God to give account of your life.
I first heard about Tim Keller about 8 years ago when I heard about the protestant catechism he had done: New City Catechism Also available as an app for your iPhone, etc.
However, I was very disappointed to hear that he had gone woke, along with a number of other prominent pastors, including Andy Stanley, etc. - Tim Keller, per Disntr.com
I'm so happy to hear that he returned to the fold prior to his death. I look forward to seeing him one day, and maybe not that far in the future.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Amen 🙏🏻!!!!
I can’t wait to get to Heaven!
Who’s going with me?
There are worse ways to go than this. Peacefully, surrounded by family, mindful of the judgment of Heaven to come. Not bad.
There is no cure for any cancer, period. Science can only slowdown progress of cancer, by surgery, or chemo, or other meds, or radiation. But can not cure cancer permanently.
We all have cancer cells forming by the millions every day. It is when normal DNA breaks down for whatever reason. Luckily most of us have the ability to recognize the cancer cells and kill them before they form a tumor or mass. When that ability is lost for whatever reason (genetics, weak immune system, etc) then cancer takes hold in the body. Cancer is simply our own cells with defective DNA.
So treatments can put us into remission temporarily, but if we live long enough, the cancer will come back.
I am not going to a place crowded with Nuns.
Only the good die young and the evil ones like Soros, Pelosi and the rest of the old evil cabal are still kicking. Father God in heaven it’s so unfair. I miss Rush so much.
That is real. We will all be there.
Well there may be nuns in Heaven as well as Hell. In which case you have to make a choice between the two.
Blessed is the Righteous Judge. May Tim rest in peace until the resurrection of his dead body unto life.
Only the good die young and the evil ones like Soros, Pelosi and the rest of the old evil cabal are still kicking. Father God in heaven it’s so unfair. I miss Rush so much.
That was my first thought too. So many evil ones living long, prosperous lives. I guess they better enjoy it because after...
The only questions about our deaths are when and how.
And that is God’s decision.
“So treatments can put us into remission temporarily, but if we live long enough, the cancer will come back.”
We have 2 female friends with recurring breast cancer.
Also, we have 2 male friends with recurring neck/shoulder cancer.
You really need to read your Bible more.
A lot more.
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