70 Quotes by Timothy J. Keller

Political polarization... is one of the bitter fruits of the secular project, the first effort in history to build cohesive societies without a common set of shared moral and religious values.

For 30 years, we’ve been told that Western society is becoming post-Christian and that the church must adapt to a changing culture in order to remain relevant. Despite this gloomy prediction, Christianity has displayed remarkable staying power.

Many say that it is ethnocentric to claim that our religion is superior to others. Yet isn't that very statement ethnocentric? Most non-Western cultures have no problem saying that their culture and religion is best. The idea that it is wrong to do so is deeply rooted in Western traditions of self-criticism and individualism. To charge others with the "sin" of ethnocentrism is really a way of saying, "Our culture's approach to other cultures is superior to yours.

When the church, in the interests of acquiring political power, aligns too much with the current age’s secular left or right, it is sapped of both spiritual power and credibility with non-Christians.

The Christian teaching on forgiveness and “turning the other cheek” created a community of peace-making, reconciliation, and bridge-building.

Much of the energy of Christian growth today is among non-white, non-Western people and young people who want chosen religion, not inherited religion. This is why the great cities of the West may become hotbeds of new, growing churches.

The main problem in a person's life is never his suffering; it's his sin.

The benefits of suffering are the inner transformation into greater Christlikeness of character and therefore a deep joy that is independent of circumstances.

a commitment to put God first and love and follow him supremely is necessary before God can grant out prayers without harming us. If we are living lives in which God does not have our highest allegiance, then we will use prayer instrumentally, selfishly, simply, to try to get the things that may be already ruining our lives.