Timothy Keller, founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and a noted Christian author, passed away on June 7 at the age of 72 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Keller’s son Michael confirmed the news on Twitter, saying his father had died at home. The announcement was also made on Twitter by Redeemer City to City, a nonprofit organization co-founded by Keller that seeks to promote gospel-centered ministry in global cities. The organization stated that a livestream worship service would be held in the near future.
Keller was a prominent voice in the evangelical community and authored numerous books on Christianity, including “The Reason for God”, “The Prodigal God”, and “Generous Justice”. He was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2017.
Born in Pennsylvania in 1950, Keller attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and later studied at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he met his wife Kathy Kristy. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church of America and became the pastor of a PCA church in Virginia. In 1989, he moved to New York City to establish the Redeemer Presbyterian Church, which grew to have 5,000 weekly worshippers and became a network of five ecclesiastically independent campuses across the city.
While Keller was a noted theologian, he also focused on themes such as forgiveness and reconciliation in a fragmented society. He opposed pastors using a political litmus test for Christians and was theologically conservative. However, he was denied the Kuyper Prize by Princeton Theological Seminary in 2017 due to his church’s stance on LGBT+ issues and female ordination.
Keller was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May 2020 and underwent treatment, but the disease returned in March of this year. He announced his retirement from pastoring in June due to his condition.
Former US President George W Bush offered condolences in the wake of Keller’s death, describing him as “one of America’s foremost Christian thinkers”. Keller is survived by his wife Kathy, their three sons, seven grandchildren, and a sister.
In conclusion, Timothy Keller’s passing is a loss for the evangelical community and the world of Christian literature. However, his legacy lives on through his writings and the ministry he built at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. His focus on forgiveness and reconciliation remains a crucial message for a society that is often divided, and his commitment to remaining true to his theological convictions while rejecting political divisiveness is a powerful example for Christians and non-Christians alike.
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