The Reason For God by Timothy Keller

I have read a couple of Timothy Keller's books before. They never disappoint. He is the pastor of a church in New York City so if it is one thing he understands it is having members of his congregation who are both seekers and doubters.

In this book he talks of The Reason for God. Not only the actual reason God exists but how the case for God's existence can be made.

He addresses both the Leap of Faith needed and then the Reasons for Faith that make one continue to believe in what he calls " an age of skepticism"

Mentioning Christianity's Critics by name, Harris and Dawkins for example, Keller makes a cogent appeal. Addressing many of the peripheral reasons folks turn away from religion he shows how, for example, many of those folks who proclaim thier own religosity from the rooftops and thus feel superior are missing much of the message of Jesus.

First and foremost is the fact that there is only one way to get to heaven and that is through the grace of God. Good works, being a good person, honoring the commandments these are, to Keller, outward manifestations of a desire to please God, but they in no way get you to heaven. If we were to get to heaven by our own works no one would be there. We all would fall short. Therefore God's s grace is the only way. Once one realizes this then feeling pride and better than those you feel live not as Godly as you do is silly. You all, rich and poor, those living in mansions and on the street, those who go to church and those who do not, will all only get to heaven by the goodwill and grace of God.

Talking of folks uncomfortable in church, turned off by what they perceive as hypocrites in churches Keller cautions that you will find sick people in hospitals and you will often find broken people in churches.

The book is not easy, it requires you to think about what he writes. It is broken up into sections and chapters and takes you on a good course through the book. As Keller says you do not have to wait to have no doubts to embrace God, if you do you might never do so. Let God find you.

A great religious writer Keller provides what he calls clues to God and makes a very plausible, not on just religeous means, but on secular truth and reasoning for those who want evidence that not only was Jesus real but divine. That he did die on the cross, their was an empty tomb and that he was seen after the resurrection. Depending heavily on Paul's letters which were written less than two decades after crucifixion he makes a historical case for Jesus and the resurrection.

If you are a seeker but faced with skepticism so common amongst the educated in a secular world this will not answer all your questions. It will make a case one can believe in however without feeling like they are believing in fairy tales.

Simply put the case for God and the creation, and Jesus and the resurrection is one that can be made. Alternative answers are just that , cases of their theory. For me I choose to believe in Jesus. I did before. I still do. This book however does offer some heavy arguments for apologists to believe in.

The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller

Having read some earlier books by Timothy Keller I was interested to read his next book. In this book Tim Keller writes about marriage and it's relationship to the love between Jesus and us. That is eternal, forgiving love.

Keller touches many points in this book but what he talks about consistently is that the love and passion felt at the beginning of a marriage, at the beginning of a relationship is not sustainable. We all know that. Most of us do not like it. Keller advises us that often in a marriage you wake up and say who is this person I am with. What has happened? They have gotten older. They have developed new interests. They have gained weight, gotten sick, changed careers or changed priorities. Keller tells us that for those of us who state we are bored with our spouses and want somebody new all we need to do is hold and in wait. People change, our spouses change.

Keller tells us that we need to act in a loving way. Even when we do not feel love. This is the hard part.

This is a good book. Several phrases and sections were strongly redeemable to most marriages. I found myself offering quotes to my wife. We have a strong marriage and I told her that we should feel good in that much of what I read in this book should make us feel good and positive about our marriage.

Well worth reading.

Under God by Gary Wills

I am a huge admirer of Gary Wills and his writing. He is cerebral and never writes down to his assumed audience. This critically acclaimed book about Religion and American Politics is a wonder.

Written after the election of 1988 we have views into many of the candidates including Dukakis and Bush but also Pat Robertson and Jesse Jackson. Wills also writes about the politics of abortion and the different viewpoints of different evangelicals.

This is not light reading. I have read Wills Catholic books and books on the Gospels, Paul and Jesus himself, this book is much less accessible. That said if one wades in it is profound. I read a chapter a day as the chapters being quite short provided plenty to think about and mull over for a day or two after reading.

For me the most influential section were the chapters on Jefferson and his views on church and state. Jefferson is one of the odd figures in history in that folks on both sides of an argument will claim his rhetoric to substantiate their claims. Wills argues that Jefferson, and this is borne out by some of his writings released well after his death, subscribed to Jesus as a great teacher but fudged on the miracles and spirituality. Jefferson subscribed to a separation of church and state but more to protect his view of proper religion. Jefferson felt that religion endorsed by the state had a power to corrupt both the state and those leaders of the state approved church.

If one looks at history since Jefferson's time one can clearly see that the seperation religion and politics is as important today as it has ever been and no one can question it's ability to mitigate religion.

It seems clear that Wills is a spiritual man and a follower of Jesus and the saints. However much as in his earlier works he seems to have little use for organized religion.

Books by Wills and Keller make clear that in thier view Jesus was not for religion he was for a relationship with God. Jefferson wrote that all of the layers and formulas for approaching God by clergy of all types reduced the ability of religion to serve as a good force. Jefferson acknowledged that of any religion the Quakers with their horizontal church structure and lack of leaders and interpretative bias was closer to what Jesus meant.

A very intersting book. Wills never disapoints.

King's Cross by Timothy Keller

Subtitled The Story of the World in The Life Of Jesus this book by Keller is a very rewarding book on the life of Jesus. Interestingly it would seem that no theological writers have the same opinions but even so they can make wonderful points. In reading Gary Wills I have been struck by his emphasis on Paul and that of all the Gospels he relates Mark as being the one most likely to be made into a story form and less accurate.

Keller makes a compelling arguement in his book refuting that opinion. Keller tells us the life and meaning of Jesus through the Gospel of Mark.

For me a book such as this is rewarding if it makes me think and if potentially gives me an understanding I did not earlier have or a thought of how to be a better person. Keller's book is very strong in this regard.

A few highlights for me. Keller talks about the difference between religion and Christianity and the meaning of the message of Jesus. He states his belief that religion is advice, a series of tenants to live by. By understanding this one can understand that religion under that guise can be dangerous. If you are given a set of rules to live by and you do not follow them you feel disheartened. You might feel you have fallen from grace, lost God's love. Or you could by doing a good job following these guidelines build up a sense of ego or that you are better than those who do not. Jesus wants neither. There is one way to be saved by Jesus and that is not through any good works you do or rules to follow. It is by God's grace. Jesus paid the price for all our sins and once we acknowledge that we are redeemed. To think that our good works or actions can get us redeemed is to lessen the impact of what Jesus did. Keller takes Gospel from the ancient Greek as meaning News as in Good news. Jesus did not bring religion. Jesus brought good news.

In a section called the Healing Keller speaks about the cripple who Jesus cures. Jesus does not tell the man to rise. He tells him his sins are forgiven. The reason for this Keller asserts is that Jesus knows what we really need. He reasons that we all have had something we really wanted and asked for it and felt that were we to get it our lives would be complete and wonderful. Yet this does not happen. People win the lottery, marry the person of their dreams, get the job they want and while they may be happy for awhile it does not last. A quote is made that sometimes the worst trick in the book is to get your wish because then you cannot avoid the subject of Jesus. Jesus is what you need, his unconditional love and acceptance.

This book is to me a treasure trove. But the most powerful story related to me is the story of the man who asked Jesus to drive the demons out of his son. The apostles had tried and failed. The man asks Jesus " Would you heal my son?" and Jesus says " Everything is possible for him who beleives." The man replies " I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief." Keller explains how meaningful this is. The man states that he wants to believe but is full of doubt. Jesus heals the boy. He states that Jesus could have said purify your heart, believe in me with all your will and I will cure your son. He does not. The man had said that he was not faithful. That he was riddled with doubts and cannot muster the strength to be all that he should but begs Jesus to help him. This is saving faith, faith in Jesus instead of oneself. If one waits to be pure and righteous to come to Jesus one will never do so. You must admit you are not righteous and need help. Later in the book Keller states that Jesus teaches us that faith is important and Jesus begs us to try but we must know that it is not the strength of our faith but the strength of what we have faith in. That is Jesus himself.

These are just a few of the lessons and thougtful messags in this book. I read this book slowly, a short chapter a day because I wanted to savor and think on each idea through the course of each day. This book is revalatory.

Religion and fellowship are wonderful things and in fact Keller is a Minister with a large flock at his church. Still he makes clear that our relationship with God is a personal one and often religion as we practice it can get in the way.

I cannot reccomend this book too highly for those questioning how to live in God's grace