Is Tim Keller Promoting Roman Catholic Mysticism?
January 29, 2010 2 Comments
Tim Keller is well known in reformed circles. Founder and pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (RPC) in Manhattan, he is considered one of the leading voices in American Christianity as an author and conference speaker. RPC has been named, incidentally, as one of the top 25 most influential churches in the country.
There is a concern among many that Pastor Keller has been influenced by, and is now promoting CSM, or contemplative spirituality and mysticism, which finds its roots in Roman Catholicism. The concern is a legitimate one, based not on a single instance, but a pattern.
Ken Silva, of Apprising Ministries has been following this concern and has expressed some questions of his own. I encourage you to read Ken’s posts on Keller here and here for the details.
Please know that I am not taking ‘pot-shots’ at Tim Keller. The concern is real because CSM is polar opposite of the biblical, reformation principle of Sola Scriptura – and the concern doesn’t stop with Tim Keller. This practice of Roman mysticism is showing up throughout the ‘reformed’ camp, and when leading evangelicals – reformed pastors – begin to promote books, speakers and media pushing this stuff, it’s easy to grow comfortable with it’s presence in our bodies of fellowship, and therein lies the danger.
So get out of here, and head on over to Apprising.org and be informed.
- Joel
Joel & friends,
I am afraid that many and maybe even most of pastors have been influenced by stealth heresies just like we all have. It is almost impossible to talk to anyone who does not incorporate at least some type of half-truth or false belief. Look at how many people think that ‘judge not’ means that we should not expose any false teaching…
Also, look at how many people salivate over the attendance numbers of Joel Osteen or Relevant Rick and say, “We have to get up-to-date”. That means they think we have to change to be like the apostates or we will cease to survive.
Where in the Bible does it say that man has any control whatsoever over the growth of God’s body of believers? I haven’t been able to find it either.
This whole idea that unless we change to be like the world or to be what the world will accept has led the church down a rabbit trail. The power to grow the body of Christ rest entirely with God. Unless we realize this and repent from our methods and relational gobbly gook, God may allow us to wander in the desert until the next generation comes along…
Anyway, it is difficult to find many people that are not corrupted by non-Biblical thinking. I say we should read the Bible more and men less…
T.
Amen Brother!