The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast CNLP 339 | Tim Keller on How to Bring the Gospel to Post-Christian America, How He'd Preach Today if He was Starting Over Again, Why Founders Get Addicted to Their Churches and Why He Left Redeemer
May 12, 2020
Tim Keller, renowned pastor and author, shares his insights on navigating the challenges of evangelism in a post-Christian America. He discusses the transformation of New York's spiritual landscape, the growth of multi-ethnic churches, and the pitfalls of founder addiction. Keller emphasizes the need for authentic gospel messaging to resonate with a generation seeking identity and fulfillment. He also reflects on the importance of churches adapting to cultural shifts while remaining grounded in biblical principles, preparing for potential hostility, and fostering resilience within their communities.
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Christendom's Cultural Dots Are Gone
- Newbigin's observation: Western Christianity assumed a Christendom context that provided basic religious 'dots' people relied on.
- Keller warns that when those cultural dots vanish, churches must relearn how to reach people who lack that background.
Start With People’s Cultural Longings
- Meet contemporary cultural narratives where people are looking for identity, freedom, meaning, satisfaction, and justice.
- Reframe the gospel to show Jesus frees people from new idols and offers a received identity instead of an achieved one.
Christianity Offers A Received Identity
- Christianity offers an identity that is received, not achieved, which relieves performative pressures and avoids excluding others.
- Keller emphasizes this identity uniquely equalizes rich and poor and reduces the need to bolster self-worth by excluding others.
