Unfortunately, this kind of fortune cookie tweet is common for Tim Keller. It has just enough in it to have the ring of truth yet discerning readers recognize there is more at play here. And that is what always bothers me with a Keller tweet. I imagine, in due course, there will be a response from Keller indicating he has been misunderstood and giving a "clarification" that undercuts all criticism. This is an all too common tactic for Keller and it has been called out before. Fire off an obviously controversial take. Wait for the inevitable response. Exonerate himself and dunk on his detractors. But what concerns me, even more, is how this tweet is framed to look like he is criticizing both the left and right of culture. Consider the timing of this post, following open criticism of himself and other high-profile evangelical thought leaders for failing to raise even the slightest concern for a pastor physically thrown out of a library and facing possible criminal charges for speaking against a local drag queen story hour (DQSH). Not so much as an eyebrow raised over this. In fact, what we have seen is criticism of the pastor, claiming he was in the wrong for being present at a legally held event and not leaving when asked. Rather than giving even the slightest recognition that the pastor was speaking out against a grave evil against local children, some have criticized that he said or did anything at all. So frustrating has this been that even conservative political pundits have called these leaders out publicly. Now, enter Keller's tweet. Keller attempts his winsome, nuanced, third-way newspeak here. Trying to be "above it all," Keller condemns, not the evil of DQSH, not the intolerance of people against a pastor speaking the truth, but the "demonization" of "the other side" or "anyone who doesn't demonize them too." In other words, the evil isn't the grooming of children to accept, and eventually celebrate/affirm/practice, sexual deviancy. The evil is in demonizing those who celebrate and affirm these sinful practices. And, yes, Keller then makes a parenthetical comment that both sides engage in this practice. That's his effort to couch his tweet in winsomeness. A kind "see, I'm talking about all sides here." Yet, the content is clear when one takes in the current issues that brought us to this point. Keller hides behind "third-wayism" but in practice is punching right and coddling left. Of even more concern is that Keller then tries to minimize the issue by saying that the demonization has more to do with not having a "vision for a society" where we can all just get along despite our differences. This reveals where he is coddling left. The ongoing practice of exposing children to sexually immoral and deviant behavior in an effort to destroy any semblance of biblical sexuality and gender is what is currently in play. We are not talking about taxes, government regulation of businesses, or the expansion of government power. We are talking about the widespread practice of tearing down the walls of godly boundaries regarding sex and gender so children will be groomed to believe that none of it matters. They are purposely attempting to corrupt children into accepting and affirming clearly sinful and immoral behavior. This is NOT an issue of being able to agree to disagree. This IS a fight for the souls of children. Christ made it quite clear that those who teach children to sin against Him would be better off with a millstone hung about their neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea rather than face God on judgment day. This is not simply some crude threat meant to make people cringe or feel bad. It is a dire warning of the severity of His judgment. Yet, Keller chastises Christians for publicly excoriating those who promote such sin and whines about being expected to call it out as well. Keller continues to prove Christians' concerns about him are well-founded.
Unfortunately, this kind of fortune cookie tweet is common for Tim Keller. It has just enough in it to have the ring of truth yet discerning readers recognize there is more at play here. And that is what always bothers me with a Keller tweet. I imagine, in due course, there will be a response from Keller indicating he has been misunderstood and giving a "clarification" that undercuts all criticism. This is an all too common tactic for Keller and it has been called out before. Fire off an obviously controversial take. Wait for the inevitable response. Exonerate himself and dunk on his detractors. But what concerns me, even more, is how this tweet is framed to look like he is criticizing both the left and right of culture. Consider the timing of this post, following open criticism of himself and other high-profile evangelical thought leaders for failing to raise even the slightest concern for a pastor physically thrown out of a library and facing possible criminal charges for speaking against a local drag queen story hour (DQSH). Not so much as an eyebrow raised over this. In fact, what we have seen is criticism of the pastor, claiming he was in the wrong for being present at a legally held event and not leaving when asked. Rather than giving even the slightest recognition that the pastor was speaking out against a grave evil against local children, some have criticized that he said or did anything at all. So frustrating has this been that even conservative political pundits have called these leaders out publicly. Now, enter Keller's tweet. Keller attempts his winsome, nuanced, third-way newspeak here. Trying to be "above it all," Keller condemns, not the evil of DQSH, not the intolerance of people against a pastor speaking the truth, but the "demonization" of "the other side" or "anyone who doesn't demonize them too." In other words, the evil isn't the grooming of children to accept, and eventually celebrate/affirm/practice, sexual deviancy. The evil is in demonizing those who celebrate and affirm these sinful practices. And, yes, Keller then makes a parenthetical comment that both sides engage in this practice. That's his effort to couch his tweet in winsomeness. A kind "see, I'm talking about all sides here." Yet, the content is clear when one takes in the current issues that brought us to this point. Keller hides behind "third-wayism" but in practice is punching right and coddling left. Of even more concern is that Keller then tries to minimize the issue by saying that the demonization has more to do with not having a "vision for a society" where we can all just get along despite our differences. This reveals where he is coddling left. The ongoing practice of exposing children to sexually immoral and deviant behavior in an effort to destroy any semblance of biblical sexuality and gender is what is currently in play. We are not talking about taxes, government regulation of businesses, or the expansion of government power. We are talking about the widespread practice of tearing down the walls of godly boundaries regarding sex and gender so children will be groomed to believe that none of it matters. They are purposely attempting to corrupt children into accepting and affirming clearly sinful and immoral behavior. This is NOT an issue of being able to agree to disagree. This IS a fight for the souls of children. Christ made it quite clear that those who teach children to sin against Him would be better off with a millstone hung about their neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea rather than face God on judgment day. This is not simply some crude threat meant to make people cringe or feel bad. It is a dire warning of the severity of His judgment. Yet, Keller chastises Christians for publicly excoriating those who promote such sin and whines about being expected to call it out as well. Keller continues to prove Christians' concerns about him are well-founded.
@ChrisHohnholz Superb, superb tweet. You absolutely nailed it.
@ChrisHohnholz HOW did you write that many words!? Is this a new feature? I’m guessing a perk of paying for the blue check?
@ChrisHohnholz The good news is that if he’s not your actual pastor at a church where you’ve become a member, you’re not obligated to listen to or consider anything he puts forward. His status is cultural, nothing more. You can stand up for righteousness without him.
@ChrisHohnholz How are you able to type so much text. I do a short paragraph and run out of chars quickly.
@ChrisHohnholz Keller has been on my fraudulent list for some time! Thanks for calling him out!!