Final spring, many people noticed a photograph of the late Timothy Keller sitting on a park bench. The picture was used on the quilt of Colin Hansen’s biography of Keller, and when he died in Might it was unfold across the Web — on social media, blogs and even Keller’s private web site.
What most of us did not see, was the banana peel mendacity on the bench only a few toes away from Keller. Most variations of the movie have been peeled off, and understandably so. Who needs to see an unpleasant brown little bit of natural waste in a author’s {photograph}?
I admit that if I had been a world-famous pastor and a best-selling writer with my image taken by an expert photographer, I’d undoubtedly take away the banana peel earlier than anybody took my image. Who would not? However Keller did not care.
I imagine this factors to a deeper character trait in Keller, which many have seen throughout his ministry: an indifference to fame and fixing a picture — one thing many people wrestle with within the social media age. I imagine that is a part of why he completed his run so properly.
Ending properly in life and ministry has traditionally been troublesome for believers, particularly these in positions of management. Consider Gideon or Solomon within the Outdated Testomony, Demas within the New Testomony or, in fact, the numerous church leaders at this time who’ve notoriously did not persevere.
The respect that leaders obtain from the Christian neighborhood permits hidden flaws to develop like rust on a ship’s hull, at first unnoticed and unwelcome. However as these leaders attain larger affect, larger weight is positioned on these flaws—which may attain harmful ranges of decay—and may usually be sufficient to sink your complete ship of their character and legacy. But Keller didn’t decay or sink.
As Keller wrote in his best-selling e-book on self-forgetfulness, “Do not you need to be somebody who does not want respect—or is not afraid of it, mates? Somebody who does not crave recognition—or, alternatively, is deathly afraid of it.” ?Not one to crave or concern recognition, this description appeared to suit Keller properly.
Ariane Ramaker, who took the unique photograph whereas photographing Keller for an article in Paris, wrote in our electronic mail correspondence, “As a result of the theme of the article was ‘Being a Christian within the Metropolis’ and I like documentary images, I did not do it. Change one thing concerning the atmosphere. … To me, that form of banana peel makes it actual and unpolished, like life.” He added, “I am … completely amazed that my image has been used a lot.” I feel Keller might be speaking concerning the success of his personal ministry. He felt the identical marvel.
In our age of divisiveness and shifting allegiances—particularly about how Christians ought to finest have interaction with tradition—it is no marvel {that a} Christian chief like Keller, who usually speaks of cultural engagement, has critics who want he was by some means. be robust . But individuals not often criticize his character, which is mostly acknowledged as impeccable.
“You will not discover leaders who idolize Keller,” wrote Colin Hansen in his biography. “However they admire him for his character.”
When Jesus noticed how non secular and political leaders in his personal day usually “selected the place of honor,” he instructed a parable. “If you find yourself invited to a marriage feast,” he mentioned, “don’t sit in a spot of honor, lest somebody extra distinguished than you be invited. However when you’re invited, you go and sit within the lowest place. He added, “For whoever exalts himself will probably be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will probably be exalted” (Luke 14:7-11, ESV).
Francis Schaeffer feedback on this paradigm in his well-known sermon “No Small Folks, No Small Place”. he writes,
Jesus instructions Christians to consciously search the bottom room. All of us — pastors, academics, skilled non secular staff and non-professionals included — are tempted to say, “I am going to take an even bigger place, as a result of it should give me extra affect for Jesus Christ.” Each particular person Christians and Christian organizations fall prey to the temptation to rationalize on this manner as we construct bigger and bigger empires.
Schaeffer argued that the argument that greater is at all times higher was taking Jesus’ phrases backwards. “We must always consciously take the bottom place,” he mentioned, “until the Lord Himself makes us larger.” This idea of “extruding” comes from manufacturing: “Think about an enormous press jamming tender metallic below excessive stress by way of a die in order that the metallic comes out in a sure form,” Schaefer mentioned. “That is the way in which of the Christian: he ought to select a lesser place till God raises him to a place of larger accountability and authority.”
This was Keller’s manner. Though he was two toes taller than Frodo Baggins, a beloved character in JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy—the books he by no means stopped studying—Keller was as unlikely and unassuming as a personality in an vital quest. Anybody who begins his first pastorate with a rural church of simply 90 individuals in Hopewell, Virginia, can’t count on to change into a family title amongst professing evangelicals many years later.
Regardless that Keller moved to Manhattan in 1989 to start out Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Colin Hansen notes, “he intentionally prevented preaching the church, particularly to different Christians.” Why? As a result of “he’d quite meet non secular skeptics on the Higher East Facet than promote books in Nashville.”
I’ve by no means been to Nashville, however in the identical manner I peel bananas, I admit my coronary heart is commonly extra excited to promote books in Nashville than to like the individuals God has positioned round me. This temptation with ministry ego goes again a while. Unchecked, I am extra Borromeo than Baggins.
Picture: Pictures by Ariane Ramaker / Courtesy of Redeemer Metropolis to Metropolis
Tim Keller sits subsequent to a banana peel.
After I interviewed for my present ministry function, I bear in mind standing within the basement chatting with the pastoral search workforce. To say the kitchen appeared extra dated than I’d have appreciated could be an understatement. Identical goes for the entire constructing. And the neighborhood hasn’t aged properly both. For context, I used to be leaving a big church with a brand-new constructing in a rising a part of city. That church kitchen had an enormous stainless-steel business dishwasher. I do not know learn how to use it, however it certain appeared good.
To make use of Schaeffer’s phrases, once I got here to our church, I felt the Lord extruding I—however downward, not upward.
Ten years have handed since then, and I am nonetheless right here. I am not well-known, and I doubt I’ve bought many books in Nashville as a result of I’ve by no means bought many books wherever. However I can testify to God’s kindness in 100 methods. Within the phrases of Jesus, our church has felt the nice measure in our bosom, pressed, trembling collectively, operating (Luke 6:38). The temptation to hunt nice issues nonetheless lingers, however I proceed to be taught that the way in which to life is present in dying to our sins.
In Keller’s final video message to his church earlier than he died, he spoke to it, reflecting on Jeremiah 45, a lesser-known passage a couple of author named Baruch who, apparently, started to assume too extremely of himself. “Are you in search of nice issues for your self?” God requested rhetorically. “Don’t search them” (v. 5).
“Ministers usually come to New York to make a reputation for themselves,” Keller instructed his church. Having lived within the metropolis for 34 years, I am certain this wasn’t a hypothetical state of affairs for him. He additional mentioned, “Ministers, do not make your ministry profitable in your identification. … be sanctified yours Neglect your title, neglect your fame.”
This sermon got here from one who had a fame—as a pastor, theologian, evangelist, and author. And I am grateful that God moved Keller to a spot of prominence. I’m grateful for the church-planting empire that the Lord has constructed by way of him and for the numerous assets he has launched that proceed to assist individuals like me and church buildings like mine. But when Keller had not completed properly the race marked out for him (Hebrews 12:1), none of this mattered.
That is why I am most grateful for the reminder Keller’s legacy left—one thing so many church leaders want at this time—that humility and self-forgetfulness are godly qualities that make sure the influence of our ministry enormously prolongs our lives.
Benjamin Vrbicek is senior pastor of Neighborhood Evangelical Free Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, managing editor of Gospel-Centered Discipleship, and writer of a number of books.
