Category Archives: Christian Life

Leadership Involves Conflict

20 Monday May 2013

Posted by in Christian Life, Grace, Humilty, Pride, Relationships

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Leadership always involves conflict. John Newton’s famous letter on ‘controversy‘ observes how easy it is for criticism to create Pharisees. ‘Whatever it be that makes us trust in ourselves that we are comparatively wise or good, so as to treat those with contempt who do not subscribe to our doctrines, or follow our party, is a proof and fruit of a self-righteous spirit.’

All leaders, and especially Christian leaders, must be on guard against this inevitable temptation and this terrible sin. It is natural, when under criticism, to shield your heart from pain by belittling the critics in your mind. ‘You stupid idiots.’ Even if you don’t speak outwardly to people like Moses did, you do so inwardly.  That will lead to self-absorption, self-pity, maybe even delusions of grandeur, but the great sin is that the growth of inner disdain leads to pride and a loss of humble reliance on God’s grace. Moses treated God with contempt when he became contemptuous toward his people.

This is what leaders face. Is there any hope for us? Yes, because we are in a better position than Moses was for understanding the grace of God. Don Carson writes: ‘In light of 1 Corinthians 10:4, which shows Christ to be the antitype of the rock, it is hard to resist the conclusion that the reason God had insisted the rock be struck in Exodus 17:1–7, and forbids it here, is that he perceives a wonderful opportunity to make a symbol-laden point: the ultimate Rock, from whom life-giving streams flow, is struck once, and no more.’

- Tim Keller

*Words found in Redeemer City to City Blog – “Speaking With Contempt” by Tim Keller

Taking Criticism

15 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Christian Life

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The biggest danger of receiving criticism is not to your reputation, but to your heart. You feel the injustice of it and feel sorry for yourself, and it tempts you to despise not only the critic, but the entire group of people from which they come. ‘Those people…’ you mutter under your breath. All this can make you prouder over time. Newton writes: ‘Whatever…makes us trust in ourselves that we are comparatively wise or good, so as to treat those with contempt who do not subscribe to our doctrines, or follow our party, is a proof and fruit of a self-righteous spirit.’ He argues that whenever contempt and superiority accompany our thoughts, it is a sign that ‘the doctrines of grace’ are operating in our life ‘as mere notions and speculations’ with ‘no salutary influence upon [our] conduct.’
 
So how can you avoid this temptation? First, you should look to see if there is a kernel of truth in even the most exaggerated and unfair broadsides. There is usually such a kernel when the criticism comes from friends, and there is often such truth when the disapproval comes from people who actually know you. So even if the censure is partly or even largely mistaken, look for what you may indeed have done wrong. Perhaps you simply acted or spoke in a way that was not circumspect. Maybe the critic is partly right for the wrong reasons. Nevertheless, identify your own short-comings, repent in your own heart before the Lord for what you can, and let that humble you. It will then be possible to learn from the criticism and stay gracious to the critic even if you have to disagree with what he or she has said.

- Tim Keller

Excerpt from Redeemer City to City Blog, “How Do You Take Criticism of Your Views?” by Tim Keller

Come On, Crosses!

27 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Christian Life, Death, Redemption, The Resurrection, Worry

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Christian friends, do you believe in the risen Christ? Is he your Savior? In that case, you can face death but you can face anything. Can you face worry? Can you face troubles? You already sang about it in the first hymn: ‘Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.’ If you believe the risen Christ is now in control of history, even the bad things that happen to you are crosses that are going to raise you. ‘Come on, crosses!’ says a Christian. ‘The lower you lay me, the higher you’ll raise me.’ ‘Come on, crosses!’ you say. ‘Jesus the risen Lord is in charge of everything.’

- Tim Keller

Live for God

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Christian Life, Idolatry, Worship

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To live for anything else but God leads to breakdown and decay. When a fish leaves the water, which he was built for, he is not free, but dead. Worshiping other things besides God leads to a loss of meaning. If we achieve these things, they cannot deliver satisfaction, because they were never meant to be ‘gods.’ They were never meant to replace God. Worshiping other things besides God also leads to self- image problems. We end up defining ourselves in terms of our achievement in these things. We must have them or all is lost; so they drive us to work too hard, or they fill us with terror if they are jeopardized. 

- Tim Keller

Christianity is Knowing God

25 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by in Christian Life

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What is Christianity? Some say it is a philosophy, others say it is an ethical stance, while still others claim it is actually an experience. None of these things really gets to the heart of the matter, however. Each is something a Christian has, but not one of them serves as a definition of what a Christian is. Christianity has at its core a transaction between a person and God. A person who becomes a Christian moves from knowing about God distantly to knowing about him directly and intimately. Christianity is knowing God.

‘Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.’ – John 17:3 

- Tim Keller

Running Through You Like Lightning

13 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by in Christian Life, Love

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The call to love your brothers and sisters, to love one another as Christ has loved you, is so hard. It’s so silly to think all we have to do is hold up the ethic of love, love your neighbor, to the world and it will become a better place.

You must be born again. The life of God has to be running through you like lightning. You’ll never do it otherwise.

 - Tim Keller

The Big Picture

08 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by in Christian Life, Community

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Now if you are perplexed, if you are oppressed, if you don’t get it, if God looks like he doesn’t know what he’s doing, I’m telling you, you’re in too close. You’re looking just at the present and not at the end, like this guy does. Or you’re looking only at, ‘Isn’t God loving?’ Yes, but he’s holy. Or if you just look at, ‘Isn’t God holy?’ Yes, but he’s wise. It’s not until you stand back and begin to look at all the sides of things. ‘Aren’t human beings sinful?’ Yes, but also they’re made in the image of God. ‘Aren’t human beings valuable and dignified?’ Yes, but also they’re wretched, wicked sinners.

Don’t you see? Only Christianity looks at the whole thing. If you’re in a problem right now, if you’re in trouble right now, you have to do what Asaph did. You have to do what the psalmist did. You have to go into the sanctuary. ‘… then I understood …’ What did he do? He stands back. He sees the big picture.

- Tim Keller

 

Becoming Wise

31 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by in Christian Life, Wisdom

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When you listen and read one thinker, you become a clone… Two thinkers, you become confused… Ten thinkers, you’ll begin developing your own voice… Two or three hundred thinkers, you become wise.

- Tim Keller