Wow, Tim thank you so much for your honest testimony. It makes me realise more that I truly need to see my chronic illness as a gift. It's something God has been trying to tell me lately, to see this illness as a gift. And now that I hear you, I notice that yes, it is a gift because, indeed, it has made me much more open to seeing God's presence in my life and enjoying my communion with Him. By needing Him on a daily basis, it has made me draw so much closer to Him. (And no, it is not easy, there are tears, anger, etc., but yes, it is a gift as well.) And yes, God is indeed always available to us - He lives in the heart of every believer!
Tim Keller, one of the best. I still remember that review ten years ago on Yelp of Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Nothing I've ever read or heard about Redeemer --- not even from the many "Refugees from Redeemer" who have told me about their experiences, and how it took many years to recover from having gone there --- has ever been more accurate or cogent. It is a remarkable document. (Excerpts edited for brevity and clarity): 1/17/2011 I have been to Redeemer West Side and East side services. I still go from time to time. I used to take part in several of the volunteer opportunities at Redeemer. First, I will start with the founding pastor, Tim Keller. Tim Keller's sermons are some of the most thought provoking you will ever hear in your life anywhere! He is also an author. I would go so far as to say that he is one of the great thinkers of our time. He is also a visionary in many ways. My husband and I regularly purchase and listen to his sermons. So why only 3 stars? Because a church is more than just a pastor. Now there is no perfect church. But there are some serious things lacking here: First of all, there is no prayer meeting or focus on corporate prayer for the entire church. The very basic part of the Christian faith that Jesus himself said with his own lips is found in Matthew 21:13. "It is written," He said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers." Prayer is just talking to God, it doesn't require any special talent, skill or training. So the lack of prayer at this church is very alarming to me. And I haven't heard anyone speak of repentance at Redeemer --- ever. Again, I have listened to hundreds of sermons and been to at least a hundred services both on the West- and Eastside. The church ministries are called "ministries" but are run like any secular organization. Redeemer is run like a business, a well-oiled corporate machine, and not a church. The other 2 things which are cultural and not spiritual but are off-putting to me are: 1. Most of the members and regular visitors to Redeemer are transplants, not New Yorkers, so the church is a large city church but run like a small town church where there are very few native New Yorkers. It seems most of the members are not established in the city and are just passing through. 2. The other is that it seems the majority of the congregation are looking for a spouse, and very aggressively. When you walk in, the first thing people do is look at your hand for a ring, and then are bold enough to ask if it is a wedding ring. That experience is not unique to me, but to all of the guests I bring here. In addition, in any volunteer group I have been to, the small talk from both men and women centered around trying to find a spouse. Then the few married people were usually complaining about their marriages. The pastor knows about this and does see it as a problem, because he addresses it in his sermons. But people don't seem to listen. It is like they are all living in 1950's rural America. One other major problem I have with Redeemer is that it is mostly White and Asian. I believe the reason is that the congregation ---- and this is not the pastoral team's fault --- seems to be focused on their careers and making money, and not on God at all. God is there to bless their agendas; this is how they seem to operate. I believe this is true for a few reasons. One, the culture of the church and focus of the congregation seems to be on Whites and Asians who make good money and have high-end careers, rather than on God. A huge basic tenet of the Christian faith is death to self. But at Redeemer, when you hear testimonies approved by the pastoral staff, they usually start with the person's professional credentials. I do not see any death to self there, but actually the opposite: It's "Look at what I can do for God because of my high income and education." It is not wrong to have a high income or education as a Christian. But the focus (at Redeemer) is wrong. So for these reasons, I think the church is best for those who are not Christians yet, but are seekers of God, or for those established in the faith already. It is not good in my opinion for the average believer looking for a home church. But by all means, purchase Tim Keller's sermons, and do something that the congregation at Redeemer fails to do: Learn from his sermons.
When my husband aged 57 was given a terminal diagnosis, I had no choice but to fall deep into the arms of God. Some people may blame or run away from Him, but I couldn't do that. Since that time in 2012, I have got so much deeper in my relationship with God, because who else can I turn to? As Tim said, God becomes so much more real and close and I too wouldn't want to go back, to how things were in my relationship with Him. Thank-you so much for your vulnerability Tim, and for your honesty. I don't know you, but am sending love to you and your dear wife, God Bless you.
22 years ago when my children were very young, I was gripped by fear of death, to the extent of it becoming a bondage. Similar to Pastor Tim fear, it was not a fear of death itself but the fear of leaving my children behind vulnerable, until the truth of God revealed in me that God will give them strength to live on if I am not there for them and immediately, I was set free, liberated. In weakness, I will like to share God's goodness with Pastor Tim and Kathy, while Job said in 1:21, "naked I come from my mother's womb, naked shall I depart" will no longer be that pathetic because we are not going to depart naked but departing as we must or have to, we are going to depart with God's love - that is our purpose on earth, to find God's love, for Romans 8:31 revealed that nothing in creation, not even death or the devil, shall take away the love of God from us. We live in God steadfast love and in His grace, hallelujah.... God is good, His love endures forever.
I have actually been listening to Tim Kellers sermons all week, so this is really a bonus! Praying that the grace and powerful presence of the Lord will continue to be with him and his wife as they journey through dealing with illness
I could listen to him forever too. My favorite preacher whose church I have never visited. I pray God gives him many more years of teaching and preaching. My bedside and reading area in living room filled with his books too. But even more than his books, I love his teaching and preaching on RU-vid and podcasts. I wish he read his books on audio. The genuine heart for God shines through in his speech. God bless Dr. Keller.
I could listen to Tim all the time too! I have 5 close family members and friends who are going through cancer now and this interview greatly encouraged me. I love his honesty about crying every day and his fears about leaving Kathy behind..so real and transparent. Praying for you Tim and Kathy. I used to work at Redeemer Counselling and it was such an honour to have met Tim and Kathy there ..such a beautiful couple!!!
Thank you Nicky for sharing your interview with Tim Keller. I really thank God for Tim and Kathy. May God continue to encourage and strengthen them in His great love. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin. - Hebrews 4:14 (NIV).
God bless you Tim. I thank God for you. Thank you for walking the walk of faith honoring God in your life. Thank you Nicky for this interview. Love from Goa India
I thought so to, but then i realized i wasnt ready to listen then, so i blocked them all out and summarily put them in the garbage as fast as you can say "Jesus Christ!".
God bless you and Cathy, so many here in Regensburg are praying for the both of you, thank you for all you have done for the brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you. Pastor Gumble for doing this interview, so good to see the both of you! God speed!
I too have been listening to Tim Keller’s sermons (on the Gospel in Life podcast) and receiving such a blessing from his skill at communicating profound gospel truths. As I listened to this interview I was reminded of Rory Feek’s book “This Life I Live” about the strength he drew from his Christian faith during his wife Joey’s cancer diagnosis, her illness, and her death in 2016. In particular I thought of Joey’s prescient song, “When I’m Gone,” in which she repeatedly reassures Rory that he will be OK without her. (I don’t think there has been such a sad-yet-hopeful music video recorded in the history of the planet!) So if Tim happens to be reading these comments, then I hope he might consider learning more about the Feeks’ story as another source of support for him and his wife during this trial. Meanwhile, I join many others in lifting the Kellers in prayer.
Thank you for this interview with Tim Keller. Very encouraging to hear him talking about his and his wife's suffering from cancer and how they are coping with the disease. Hates off to Tim Keller for his trust in God. God bless.
May the Lord help these men stay humble so they’ll always bring honour to the Lord because I can imagine how hard it must be to remain humble when so many people love and admire you!!!
Nicky, I was at HTB when toronto arrived. And I left the day that Sandy Miller prayed for a woman to show us 'how the holy spirit works' and she fell to the ground, writhing, pulling up her skirt higher and higher, and moaning. That was the point I had the courage to say, 'this isn't the HOLY Spirit'. Since then HTB (with many other churches) have absorbed teaching and practices that are NOT Biblical. I'm nobody and so I doubt if you will give any credit to what I say, but I do beg you to re-examine Scripture faithfully and test to see if what you now teach holds to the Truth.
So sorry about your diagnosis........it helps so much if you can get to that place sooner........the place where you value/appreciate every single day. This year in itself has some of us doing just that- we are more aware of illness and difficulties...it has helped us to take nothing for granted and to figure out/realize what is important in this life. I also think that with so much time to think and contemplate, some of us may realize that whether we are here for 30 years or 80 years, our time as humans is just one drop in the bucket of eternity. And that's where the complete and utter trust in God and Heaven is crucial. I will continue to pray for you, as will thousands of people. Just know that you have changed the lives of thousands and one day God will say to you.......Well done, My good and faithful servant............
The best evidence for Keller's integrity is that he's the target of so many ad hominem attacks from the right wing. Shows he's that rarest of things in these polarised times - an honest man.
Both of these men are celebrities. Both have a fan base, as is clear from the comments. Neither man preaches the true Gospel of Christ. Gumbel leads people to a shallow faith, false charismatic doctrines and the Roman Catholic Church. Keller is steeped in the Marxist 'social gospel', believes in evolution and also leans towards Catholic doctrine. I'm not surprised these two men love each other so much
I pray, in these troubled times, that God’s kingdom come and His will be done for Tim and Kathy, too. I never met them or visited their church but listen to one video after another. I also know three ladies and have been in women’s Bible study with them here in Union Church San Salvador because they are amazing missionaries here. I ask prayers for a young woman who lost her ten month old baby and her companion during a mudslide. It was one of the ladies, who happened to have marriage counseling with Tim and Kathy, who asked prayers for the young woman, Claudia Beatriz. Another of the couples are with Mission El Salvador caring for the people who live on the streets here in San Salvador. Tim and Kathy will obviously live on in the lives of the couples whose marriage are better and their service more Christian because of them.
Check out The Last Reformation website for current meeting details in the United States. If you can go along there may be some to encourage you and help lift your burdens. The Lord is doing a mighty work in America at the moment. God bless you and thank you for sharing your story.
Hay un FB en español de Timothy Keller pero él es presbiteriano. Se crio luterano y como tantos en los años 60 y 70 buscó justicia social? Dios nos mira a nosotros pecadores y no nos ve a nosotros sino a Jesús. Jesus pagó todo. Si pudiéramos ganar la salvación, Por qué se tenía que morir Jesús? Usted debe pedir sus libros. Hay muchos videos pero en inglés. Dónde vive?
Sorry to Tim about his diagnosis. But if predestination is true, of which Tim believes, and the majority of people die not being Christians, then what does this say about Jesus? After all, to the Christian this life and our short existence now is absolutely nothing in comparison. I hope in light of this fact that believers, for their own mental health, lean toward annihilation for non believers rather than eternal torture.
