Later tonight I’ll participate in a public discussion over the legacy of Tim Keller. Peter Leithart will host for Theopolis Institute with James Wood offering appreciative critique of Keller.

Especially since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, criticism of Keller has proliferated on some of the most popular and influential evangelical podcasts. I don’t understand why Kirk’s supporters choose the contrast with Keller, whose calling as a pastor bore little resemblance to Kirk’s overt political activism and organizing.

Nevertheless I’m sure we’ll discuss Keller’s public theology and priority on evangelism, which Wood has critiqued. (See J. D. Greear’s recent entry into the debate.) Keller saw Christianity as the cure for renewing a truly pluralistic society in the West—but not through dominance of political power. And certainly not through any compromise with left- or right-wing versions of identity politics.

As a pastor primarily concerned with the health of the church, Keller championed both special and common grace—that is, evangelism as well as service for our neighbors, regardless of their belief. Today’s epidemic of identity politics hinders both causes. As Keller predicted and practiced himself,

Polemics are sometimes necessary—but they are medicine, not food. You can’t live on medicine. In the long run constant polemics are exhausting and they don’t build us up spiritually. The movement will succeed that becomes the most famous for preaching and writing and teaching and pastoring that is astonishingly good and that spiritually nourishes and changes the readers or listeners right in their seats.

This is not a third way between left and right. It is following the way, the truth, and the life, Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is risen from the dead, we are optimistic about what God is doing in the world. Because Jesus has not yet returned, we are pessimistic because we know the creation remains subjected to futility under sin (Rom. 8:20). Yet we know with all confidence that Jesus is coming quickly (Rev. 22:12). He is the hope who holds all things together (Heb. 1:3). Keller wrote,

[W]e believe Christianity is relevant to society because it is true—it is not true because it is relevant. Christians do not believe in and promote the faith because it brings so much hope (though it does), or because it fills you with joy (though it will), or because it creates deep and strong community (though it can), or because it can heal our society of many ills (though it might). Rather, Christians seek renewal of the church as a way to love and serve the One who saved us. . . . There is . . . a great need for a new Christian church movement that practices love and justice, that equips its members to do enormous good in society, YET at the same time resists the forces seeking to make it a political instrument; that speaks to and answers the great questions of the human heart and of the human race—of purpose, meaning, hope, happiness, guilt and forgiveness, identity—questions to which the secular culture cannot speak as powerfully.

Some may dismiss this church movement as naïve. Its leaders may be despised by identity-branded politicians and partisans. Maybe their efforts will be ignored by the broader world, even by other Christians. But this kind of church can endure the deeper challenges of the cultural crisis we have entered after Christendom, after the Enlightenment. This kind of church—because it’s based in Scripture, empowered by the Spirit, and ruled by Christ—can even become the catalyst for an unexpected, mighty movement of God in our day.