Again, Keller's proposition lacks Biblical authority, which presupposes falsely that someone can sell faith in Christ as someone sells a bar of soap.
Absence of the Holy Spirit
The emphasis of Keller's article relies upon the abilities of the servant of God who describes God's redemption through faith in Christ. In addition to reason and marketing, Tim Keller says that the person's presentation of Christianity must make emotional and cultural sense. He concentrates upon the methodology of the presentation and its humanistic features. Although God does use human instruments to proclaim the gospel, the instrument does not constitute the essential role in the process. Significantly, Tim Keller does not address the role of the Holy Spirit in the presentation of the Christian faith.
No where in the article does Keller mention the function of the Holy Spirit or suggest the need to rely upon the Spirit in the presentation of the gospel. The message of the gospel meets supernatural resistance from the evil one, who blinds sinners to Biblical truth with supernatural blindness. This spiritual battle demands supernatural victory by the Holy Spirit over satan's interference. The advocate for the gospel needs the authority and ability of the Spirit to present it. In response to prayer, the Holy Spirit brings his presence and power to aid God's messenger.
Not only does the advocate need the authority and ability of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit alone convicts a sinner of sin. He exclusively opens blinded eyes to understand Biblical truth and its requirement in a person's life. By the unique ministry of the Holy Spirit an unbeliever receives the new birth, repents of sin, and trusts in Christ solely for salvation. Keller's oversight, at best, or neglect, at worst, illustrates another example of how he obfuscates the authority of the Bible.
Biblical Authority
The presentation of Christ and the defense of Christianity demands the unequivocal acceptance of the inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility of the Bible. These foundational truths must mold the manner in which we call people to faith in Christ. We must believe its revelational truths, especially their statements of the total depravity of mankind and Christ's provision for sinners. These truths shape not only our understanding of a person's sinful condition. They also form our understanding of the need for divine intervention in the life of a sinner. No human methodology will suffice.
Ezekiel, an Old Testament prophet, provides a vivid picture of implementing these truths. In Ezekiel 37.1-15, he recorded his vision of the valley of dry bones, more aptly dead bones, which pictured the spiritual condition of Israel. God instructed him to do a humanly foolish thing: call upon the dead bones to hear the word of the Lord. Then, Ezekiel described the divine intervention that they needed to come to life. Finally, the prophet prayed that God would send that divine intervention to the dead bones so that they might have life.
God heard Ezekiel's prayer. He sent life to the lifeless.
In his ministry, Jesus frequently called the spiritually dead to life. At the start of his ministry, Jesus called to the masses, “Repent and believe in the gospel.” (10) In John 3, he told Nicodemous that he needed a new birth from above. Then, Christ explained the need of the work of the Holy Spirit to give him that new life. To the woman at the well as recorded in John 4, he said she needed living water that only he could give her, if she but asked him for it.
In his encounters with sinners, Christ recognized their total depravity and the need of supernatural power in their lives. Throughout his ministry, he told people of their need of new life from God, called regeneration. He called them to repent, to turn from their sinfulness and to believe upon him. Humanly speaking, none of those whom Christ encountered could take any of the steps that he commanded of them. Yet, God in his sovereign grace by the power of the Holy Spirit intervened in the lives of multitudes and enabled them to repent and believe upon Christ.
Summary
Today, God's true children must rely upon Biblical authority in their presentations of the gospel of Christ. They must reject the popular methodologies recommended by popular leaders. The sinfulness of sinners prevents their response to mere humanistic attempts of reason and marketing of benefits. Sinners stand separated from God by their sin, spiritually dead, and condemned under God's judgment, the real reason they need Christ. He alone saves sinners and reconciles them to God.
Like Ezekiel and Jesus, we, as Christ followers, must identify the true condition of those to whom we present the gospel. In faith and reliance upon the Holy Spirit, we call them to repent from their sin and to trust Christ. As we do, we pray for God's divine work in their lives by the Spirit. He alone imparts new life and brings sinners to faith in Christ. Jesus paid the penalty of the sins of people like them and promises to reconcile to God all who come to him in faith.
Perhaps you, dead in your trespasses and sins, have never learned of your true condition before God. You stand condemned before God under his judgment, and you cannot please him. You need new life that only he gives by his Holy Spirit. As Ezekiel and Jesus did centuries ago, I call upon you to repent of your sin and to trust Christ. I pray that he will come to you today and enable you to call upon Jesus, who cleanses from sin and changes lives
3. As quoted in “Pascal's Method For Presenting The Christian Faith,” Redeemer Report, January 2014.
4. Ephesians 2.1-3
5. Romans 8.7-8
6. Romans 3.9-18
7. 1 Corinthians 2.14
8. Bahnsen, Greg L., edited by Joel McDurmon. Presuppositional Apologetics. American Vision Press, Powder Springs, GA and Covenant Media Press, Nacogdoches, TX. 2008. p. 268.
9. Grier, James M. “The Emergent Church: Responding to Postmodernity”. Seminar at Heritage Seminary. 2006.
9. John 3.3
10. Mark 1.14
11. Thank you to Dr. Ron Mansdoerfer and Dr. William Brown who assisted in the review of this article.
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Personal Information: Tom began writing a newsletter in 1981 for a small audience of friends. In 2008, he started a blog on his web site. Every month, thousands of visitors from all over the world come to his web site and view his blogs. He has published two books, Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, and Homosexuality, Christians, and the Church, available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and his web site, www.masterministries.org (including all eBook formats). To invite Tom to speak at your college, church or group contact him by email at hill_tom@att.net.
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