Update: (08/09) This post from early 2008 was written with the assumption that Tim Keller was an ardent defender and proponent of the Reformed Faith. It wasn’t until after this post was written that I learned that he endorses, encourages, and practices contemplative meditation i.e. Eastern Mysticism (see his endorsement/back cover blurb of female pastor Adele Calhoun’s book on “spiritual disciplines”). Had I been more familiar with Keller’s background and frequent appeal to Roman Catholic authors (including Romanist G.K. Chesterton, one of the most vicious anti-Protestant antagonists of history, as one who has truly understood grace), this post would not have been written as it was. With this understanding now, it comes as no surprise to learn of Keller’s defense of female leadership in his church and his approval of the workshops they teach such as The Way of the Monk. In comparison to this, my post below concerning the “potential” implementation of Roman Catholic doctrine in the Reformed churches pales.
Ignatius of Loyola, first superior-general of the Jesuits, ordained by Pope Paul III, was confident that he could stop the spread of Protestantism with the strategic revivication of ancient Eastern Hesychasm – what has been called the Ignatian retreat: The Spiritual Exercises. Ignatius would have been pleased to learn that Keller has hired his own Retreat Lady to lead his sheep to the pastures of monasteries where they too can embrace their “inner monk,” honeymoon with Jesus, and learn how to use the prayer rope (similar to the Rosary). The prayer rope replaces Scripture as the sword of the Spirit and is held in the left hand leaving the right hand free to make the sign of the cross.
Regarding the Roman Catholic Church, Ignatius is said to have said: “if she shall have defined anything to be black which appears to our eyes to be white, we ought in like manner to pronounce it to be black.” The comments at the end of this post reveal that many in our time say the same thing, but replace the church with Tim Keller. Whatever he says is true in spite of any and all biblical arguments that oppose, and whoever opposes him is automatically and without question, guilty of schism. This, the Reformers never dreamed of…
Read full post on Tim Keller's troublesome teachings here.
