Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Tim Keller and Prayer

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.


Tim Keller sure is proud of himself.

Quote:

I like to use Luther's contemplative method that he outlines in his famous letter on prayer that he wrote to his barber....There are two kinds of Bible reading that I try to do. I read the psalms through every month using the Book of Common Prayer's daily office. I also read through the Bible using Robert Murray M'Cheyne's reading calendar.

Besides morning prayer (M'Cheyne, Psalms, meditation, and petition) and evening prayer (Psalms and repentance) I try as often as possible to take five minutes in the middle of the day to take a spiritual inventory, either by remembering the more spiritually radioactive ideas from my morning devotion, or by a quick look at my most besetting sins and idols. I do that to see whether so far that day I've given in to bad attitudes such as pride, coldness and hardness of heart, anxiety, and unkindness. If I see myself going wrong, the mid-day prayer can catch it. The problem with mid-day prayer is finding a time for it, since every day is different. All I need is to get alone for a few minutes, but that is often impossible, or more often than not I just forget. However, I carry a little guide to mid-day prayer in my wallet which I can take out and use.

End quote. Source.

Problems:

Luther taught a false gospel of justification and salvation by water sprinkling and the eucharist. Gal. 1:8-9 says such a man is accursed. He was blind to the Truth and promoted Romanism despite his tiff with his Mother Roman church. Between his Larger Catechism and 95 Theses, this is very clear. Therefore, use of this man is the broad road that leads to Rome.

The Book of Common Prayer is from Rome’s daughter the Anglican church. Why use what an illegitimate and dead church uses….unless you actually have common ground with them. In that case, then, one is lost. There is no life in the flesh.

I’ve noticed he’s gotten on the Piper-loves-M’Cheyen wagon. Seems that’s the latest trend. I find this troublesome.

There’s a lot of of pride and arrogance dripping from Keller as he props himself up as an example of Contemplative praying. First and foremost, Keller denies the Creation account as Genesis has dictated; he is very Emergent and worldly, and has promoted Eastern Mysticism at his church, in addition to his feminism in allowing women to teach men at church. Here’s a list of why he’s dangerous is here.

So he can pat himself on the back about how he’s found the secret to praying that is somehow on another spiritual plain (Gnostic); the fact of the matter is, the man doesn’t even hold Scripture very high, nor does he believe what it says. Scripture alone tells us to meditate on Scripture and on Christ---we don’t need all these programs and dead lost men who can’t lead us to Christ anyway, to bring us into a higher level of spirituality. That, however, is exactly what Keller seeks (his church taught “The Way Of the Monk” and Lectio Divina prayers). He is the blind leading the blind.

What Scripture says:

Eph 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Eph 4:20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Mat 6:6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Mat 6:7 "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.

Mat 6:8 "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Mat 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Mat 6:10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

Mat 6:11 'Give us this day our daily bread.

Mat 6:12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Mat 6:13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]'

3 comments:

Valkur1 said...

Denise,

I came across your blog from a link I got in a Google search and I think your criticisms of Keller & Piper are quite harsh.

Was I happy that Piper invited Rick Warren to his conference, and then defended him in a YouTube video? No.

Do I agree with Keller's "missional" theology? No.

Do I think that people are being saved through Piper's and Keller's preaching? Yes.

May I remind you that all of heaven rejoices when one sinner repents (Luke 15:7). I also remind you that even Paul tells us in Phil 1 that there are those who preach the Gospel out of envy, rivalry, stemming from selfish ambition, but even he rejoices in the fact that the Gospel is spread because of them.

Now I don't think either Piper or Keller is preaching the Gospel for those selfish reasons. I also draw a line and distinction between Piper & Keller vs. false teachers that preach justification by works, justification by "sinner's prayer", or other heresies that will send the false convert to hell.

Scripture tells us to rejoice in any way the Gospel is preached. As a stranger who came across your blog, I sense that you have a very negative sentiment towards teachers who do not share your same view of Ecclesiology. You are not criticizing their Soteriology (doctrine of salvation), but you are questioning their methods of evangelism and the impact is has on the church. And part of this negativity has led you to personally attack the ministries of these teachers.

Denise said...

Vulkur,

It appears you didn't read my article carefully because I clearly state what is wrong with Keller and his sources of "truth" that he proclaims.

Defiantly and repeatedly defending and promoting a false teacher like Rick Warren clearly shows how dangerous Piper is. Scripture says that to even GREET a false teacher is condemned, and Piper rebels against such a clear command. Moreover he thinks its GOOD to offer Warren to his audience as healthy food for the sheep. This is absolutely dangerous and I believe disqualifies Piper from being a shepherd.

Both men deny the beginning of Genesis of a literal 6 day creation (the basis for biblical Christianity) as God clearly stated and then restated in Exodus.

Both men promote Roman Catholic philosophers, both men promote Contemplative prayer (eastern mysticism), both promote the heresy of Federal Visionism.

There is nothing to be positive about in regard to these men. They have clearly forsaken the command to teach faithfully the Word of God and to reject false doctrine and teaching. A little leaven leavens the whole loaf. These men should know better but in their pride they rather have the applause of men instead of God. They are both cancerous to Christianity and should be rejected.


http://surphside.blogspot.com/2009/10/tim-keller-and-rick-warren-reflections.html


http://surphside.blogspot.com/2011/04/why-john-piper-should-be-rejected.html

SCB said...

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Denise,

I too saw the Youtube video of Keller's answer to Genesis 1 & 2 and was amazed at his answer. How many times must the Torah, Prophets and even Christ Himself state "Moses wrote" before they take notice of it?

I was baptized young (walked the isle) but in the past 2 years have finally come back to the faith and found a real love of the scriptures (Thank you Lord Jesus)... and Keller has been a pastor for some 20+ years and he cannot find these same passages on the authenticity of creation?

Something is really really wrong...