Pastor Emeritus, Tim Keller, had written:
·
[Jonathan] Edwards agrees that God enables
nontheists to be capable of great good and love. It’s the doctrine of “common
grace”—namely, that sin makes believers less good than their supposedly right
doctrines should make them, and the image of God in non-believers makes them
more virtuous and wise than their wrong beliefs about God should make them. So
in the end, I think Edwards argument is right and hard to refute. https://www.facebook.com/TimKellerNYC
If this had been Edwards’ argument, Keller has not
demonstrated this. Instead, Keller has misused Edwards to claim that “the image
of God in non-believers [and their behaviors] makes them more virtuous and wise
than their wrong beliefs about God should make them.” Keller is claiming that
the love of the non-believer is just as virtuous (and perhaps even more
virtuous than) as the love of believers.
While this is certainly true in the eyes of man, it is not true where it really matters – in the eyes of God:
While this is certainly true in the eyes of man, it is not true where it really matters – in the eyes of God:
·
And without faith it is impossible to please
him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he
rewards those who seek him. (Heb 11:6)
To not acknowledge God for His gift of love and compassion,
is to take the gift and to reject the gift-Giver. Therefore, in God’s eyes, His
children – those who trust in Him – are children of the light, while those who
do not trust in Him are in rebellion against the light, which is manifestly
obvious to all of us (Romans 1:18-20):
·
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For
what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has
light with darkness? What
accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an
unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the
temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and
walk among them, and I will be their God.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)
Contrary to these verses, Keller has placed believer and
non-believer on the same plain before God. While these verses might be
offensive to many today, they are clearly the authoritative Word of God.
Therefore, we can only reject them at great harm to ourselves and our Church.
Contrary to Keller, our beliefs and the regenerated heart
that have made these beliefs possible serve as the foundation for the rest of
our lives and our relationship with God. This is also the preaching of Jesus:
·
“You are from below; I am from above. You are of
this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your
sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” (Jn
8:23–24)
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