Though largely known for his cultural engagement that led to a successful mega-Church plant (though not in his plans when he moved to Manhattan – see Timothy Keller), Timothy Keller’s real asset to Christianity was his intellect. Those who are not part of the Christian faith commonly hold the belief that Christians have “checked their intellect at the door.” This prevailing perception is rooted in the fact that many Christians have indeed demonstrated this behavior and, at times, even exhibited a sense of arrogance regarding their stance.
I think of people like Mark Driscoll who bragged about his lack of education when he planted a church at 25 years of age (cf. Rise and Fall of Mars Hill). Wise people like Keller and Dallas Willard would suggest we think otherwise. Willard reminded his readers of Romans 12:2: Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature (CEB).*
We tend to focus on the beginning of the first sentence of the passage, trying hard not to conform to the patterns of this world (which is simply moralism, by the way). As a result, we end up conforming to something else. Twenty years ago we lived in a smaller fairly churched community with a plethora of churches possessing a variety of worship styles. I have often quipped that when at an ecumenical gathering in that community, I could tell where they attended based on the way they prayed. *
We conform to something, which I posit can be a result of checking our intellect at the door. Mars Hill’s intent was that people come to know Jesus. After salvation, people’s intellects weren’t a necessity – Mark Driscoll provided them with what they needed. His messages pushed back against the culture of the world (do not conform to the patterns of this world) and gave them a different set of patterns to conform to. And they did – 15,000 thousand attendees and staff. Then Mars Hill collapsed.
Shifting our attention from conformity, let’s direct our focus towards the latter portion of Paul’s statement: but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature. I’ve talked about the word transformation before (see Metamorfoo). How does transformation happen? Not through conformity, but by feeding the intellect.
Renewing our minds cannot happen if we are “mindless” and rely only on others to tell us what to do and believe. Paul’s letters were full of intelligent thought and I assume he expected the groups to whom they were written to ponder together and discuss together. Jesus told stories and asked questions that drove his hearers (especially his followers) to become critical thinkers. Keep in mind that for first-century Israelites conformity trumped mind renewal. Former conformers were part of Paul’s audience when he wrote his letter to the Romans.
What does renewing the mind look like? In pointing Christ-followers to the second part of the passage, Dallas Willard stressed the need for intentional spiritual practices and intellectual cultivation of a Christ-centered worldview that might lead to a genuine transformation in every aspect of life. He appealed to biblical discipleship – be with, learn from, become like, and join Jesus in his mission. He appealed to the intellect. Willard often said that Jesus is the most intelligent person in the universe – learning from Him can/will lead to authentic and comprehensive transformation in one’s life.
Timothy Keller’s emergence as a prominent figure for engaging with culture within the evangelical community can be directly attributed to his intellectual agility and the development of his critical thinking skills, which he began cultivating during his college years. He grappled with the prevailing evangelical ambivalence towards racism and apartheid, perceiving them to be incongruent with the life and teachings of Jesus. He also wrestled with the more liberal theology that showed concern for “the other,” yet omitted Jesus from the equation. It compelled him to turn to Jesus, seeking a critical understanding of his teachings rather than conforming to the expectations of others.
Keller became a well-respected pastor, theologian, and author known for his intellectual approach to Christianity. He became widely recognized for his ability to engage with philosophical, cultural, and intellectual challenges to the Christian faith in a post-Christian age. His numerous books and sermons reflect a culturally thoughtful and intellectually rigorous approach to theology.
Keller emphasized the importance of engaging the mind in matters of faith and encouraged believers to explore and wrestle with difficult questions. He sought to bridge the gap between faith and reason and presented Christianity as intellectually compelling. Blaise Pascal (the brilliant 17th-century mathematician and physicist, who, after a profound conversion redirected his intellectual pursuits towards Christian philosophy), provided Keller with a quote that described his philosophy of ministry:
Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it may be true. The cure for this is first to show that religion is not contrary to reason, but worthy of reverence and respect. Next, make it attractive, make good men wish it were true, and then show that it is.
What we get to intelligently do: Make Christianity attractive, make people wish it were true, and then show them that it is.
* We want to keep in mind that Jesus always appealed to the intellect – asking questions and telling stories to help people “rethink their thinking.” Remember that repentance begins with a shift in one’s thinking. It’s important to consider Jesus’ enhancement to the Shema’s (Deut. 6:4-5) meaning and significance by replacing the word “strength” with “mind,” thus expanding its richness and depth: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37). In Mark 12:30, we observe that Jesus retained the term “strength” and added “mind.”
* Addendum 7/17/2023. I stumbled onto this quote by Henri Nouwen: “Often we hear the remark that we have to live in the world without being of the world. But it may be more difficult to be in the Church without being of the Church.” [Nouwen, H. J. M. (1997). Bread for the journey : a daybook of wisdom and faith 91st edition). Harper SanFrancisco.]
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