Taking Up Tim’s Call: Civic Renewal for the Public Good

Last month, Tim Keller, a pastor and theologian who was one of the great American evangelists of his time, died.

I wrote in Comment Magazine about what I learned from Tim about God and following Jesus, and the many ways in which Tim surprised me over the years in which I knew and learned from him.

In the article, I ask readers to spend time with an essay Tim wrote last year laying out his case and vision for renewal in the American church. I also ask them to think about how they might take up Tim's call. I would encourage you too to read his essay.

Tim writes, “The decline of the church in the U.S. should concern everyone. But Christians seek spiritual renewal of the church not because they see religion as having social utility, nor because they just want to shore up their own institutions. Rather, we believe Christianity is relevant to society because it is true—it is not true because it is relevant.”

He continues, “Christians seek the renewal of the church for the love of God as well as for the love of their neighbor. Therefore it is an absolute imperative.” Do you see how the knowledge of God, love of God and love of neighbor play into and require one another?

Tim’s “vision for renewal” maintains this integration, and reflects a conviction, which I share, that you must push in several areas at once, as part of a whole.

It’s a vision which includes the arts; politics; church planting, church growth and denominational health; personal confidence in Jesus and public expressions of the faith; racial justice and inclusion and orthodox confession; sexual ethics and business ethics; and much more.

It is tempting to think that “if Christians just got their act together, the cultural problems would fix themselves,” or “if the ‘right’ political developments took place, public perceptions of Christianity would recover and Christians could focus on private lives of faithfulness,” but renewal cannot be quarantined in this way. We should not want it to be, and I don’t think it can be pursued in this way. This idea is quite closely related to our conviction that spiritual formation is central to civic renewal.

Interestingly and appropriately, Tim specifically addresses politics and the public square in his vision.

He writes, “[I]n politics and government, Christians would be known for seeking the common good rather than their own electoral interests, and for being cognizant of the importance of government policies for a just society.”

Also relevant, is that “Christians would be known for their uncompromising stand for truth and their critique of false beliefs and narratives, and at the same time be known for their civility and for their commitment to creating a truly pluralistic society in which all are free to voice and practice their worldviews and faith.”

One thing I appreciate about Tim’s vision is the scope of it — he understands that many different sectors, focuses, and gifts are essential to its goal of renewal, just as the state of the American Church is the result of many different historical developments, failures and movements.

Tim often taught from Jeremiah 29, which includes a call to prayer, but also a call for very specific and practical actions, all of which are expressions of faithfulness.

Pray for renewal, yes, and (not but) also address these impediments and/or opportunities which are related to the well-being of the church and society. To ask whether particular aspects of the vision for renewal will happen because there has been renewal, or whether renewal will happen because these aspects of the vision for renewal have happened is to miss the point.

I’m indebted to Tim for his work and his friendship. I’m grateful for his life and ministry, and for the ways in which we were caught up in the same story of God’s work in the world.

We take seriously Tim’s encouragement toward building diverse partnerships among leaders and organizations with a shared vision.

At CCPL, while we seek to steward well the responsibility we have been given, we pray as well for that responsibility which is given to others, which is not ours to steward. May a community of people with a godly vision of truth and shared aspirations continue to grow, and may CCPL play its part.