Memorial remembering Dr. Timothy Keller and his divinely inspired leadership

An echo memorial published in BioLogos by the President Deb Haarsma. Our Mission is Faith and Science. Working Hand in Hand.

BioLogos explores God’s Word and God’s World to inspire authentic faith for today.

The Rev. Dr. Timothy J. Keller, (1950-2023) pioneering Manhattan Evangelist, dies at 72.  Shunning fire and brimstone, he became a best-selling author and founded Redeemer Presbyterian Church, which drew in young New Yorkers.  Christianity Today wrote in 2006, “...Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.”

BioLogos President Deb Haarsma wrote: I’m grieving the death of Tim Keller last week. His wisdom and leadership had a profound impact on the church. Every time I read him, I was moved by how he articulated the core of the historic Christian faith while also showing its relevance for the needs of cities and the world today. He was driven by his heart for lost people. To reach them, he took the gospel out of Christian subculture and applied it directly to the brokenness of today’s world. Because of Tim Keller, I see the gospel more clearly today.

BioLogos is grateful for the encouragement Tim gave to us over the years. He didn’t agree with all of our views, but he consistently said that the work of BioLogos is important, indeed essential. 

Keller wrote, “Many people today, both secular and Christian, want us to believe that science and religion cannot live together. Not only is this untrue, but we believe that a thoughtful dialogue between science and faith is essential for engaging the hearts and minds of individuals today. BioLogos provides an important first step towards that end.”

In his own words published June 7, 2020: Less than 3 weeks ago I didn't know I had cancer. Today I'm headed to the National Cancer Institute at the NIH for additional testing before beginning chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer next week back in New York City. I feel great and have no symptoms. It was what doctors call an "incidental pickup," otherwise known as providential intervention. I have terrific human doctors, but most importantly I have the Great Physician himself caring for me. Though we have had times of shock and fear, God has been remarkably present with me through all the many tests, biopsies, and surgery of the past few weeks.
If you are willing to pray for me, here are things to pray for:
For God to use medical means or his direct intervention to make the cancer regress to the point of vanishing.
For Kathy and me, that we use this opportunity to be weaned from the joys of this world and to desire God's presence above all.
For my family to be comforted and encouraged.
For the side effects of treatment to allow me to continue writing and speaking. Running the race set before me with joy, because Jesus ran an infinitely harder race, with joy, for me. (Hebrews 12:1-2).-Tim

I encourage you to read Francis Collins’ beautiful reflection on his personal friendship with Tim Keller that spanned the years of BioLogos’ work. 

More poignant is Francis’ description of his final meeting with Tim, singing hymns together in the atrium of the NIH (National Institute of Health) research hospital.

We don’t know why God called Tim Keller home as soon as he did. But we are grateful for the advanced medical care that God used to give him a few more years after his diagnosis. And we are grateful for the legacy in the books he wrote and the organizations he launched, which continue to tell the age-old story of the gospel and inspire authentic faith for today.

“The Bible is…filled with all kinds of reasons to trust science, not scientism, but science. So we ought to push back on the people who show a lack of humility before a discipline that actually grew up out of Christian soil," Rev. Tim Keller 

Rev. Keller remains famous for his dedication to and passion for urban ministry. Once a seminary professor, Keller planted Redeemer in New York City in the early 1990s, and ministered to the arguably unchurched elite of Manhattan in New York City. In rented auditoriums, Keller preached in professorial style to thousands of young professionals and families. The services and locations multiplied around Manhattan. Before long, Redeemer planted dozens of churches in other cities. In his later years as a pastor and into retirement, Keller wrote bestselling books and remained active in public life.

The Redeemer family of churches and ministries exist to help build a great city for all people through a movement of the gospel that brings personal conversion, community formation, social justice, and cultural renewal to New York City and, through it, the world.