Featured Timothy Keller: Only Elderly Pastors should Write Books?!

About a week ago over at The Gospel Coalition blog Josh Blount published an interview with pastor and BioLogos guru Timothy Keller, where Keller made the assertion (to state it bluntly and succinctly) that only elderly pastors should write books.
In the article, Keller reveals, I believe, just how humanistic and worldly his reasoning is….but I will get to that in a moment.


Continue Reading:

 

That is simply not true. He said, I am quoting here, that a man should not write for the first "2/3" of his ministry. Absurd (no one can say when "2/3" of their ministry is..they might die the next day)

That is elderly. Say a man goes into the pastorate at 25 (young for a pastor), and stays in the ministry until he is 70 (I would say till death, but let's be conservative).

70-25= 45

45 * 2/3 = 30

30 + 25 = 55

So the youngest would be 55 years old. Now, we can quibble over 5 years (whether or not those 5 years are "elderly"...I would say 55 is elderly), but just about everyone would agree that a person talking about "55 and older" is talking about elderly folks, and everyone (even the P.C. U.N.) would agree that 60+ is elderly.

So, I stand by my statement. Keller says only elderly pastors should write books.

 

I am aware of there statement of faith. If I say "I built my house in six days," and you tell me you believe me, but then turn around to another guy, and say, "It took him two years...I just know it...look at those boards...they are weathered," then you DON'T believe me. No matter what you say. Words have meaning.

A person that says they believe in the infallibility and inerrancy of scripture, and then denies that same scripture, is speaking out of both sides of their mouth.

 

Sure they do. They have two different options, both of which are allegorical and symbolic....neither of which are what the text, or Jesus, actually says/said.

 

If they do not have humility, experience, and maturity, they have no business being a pastor.

It takes much more experience, humility, and maturity (biblically defined) to preach and lead a church, than it does to write a book. Plenty of people that are none of those things, can fake it, and write a good book. Its much harder to live your life with other people who are holding you accountable.

By the way, Kellers humanistic qualifications not only eliminates the vast majority of reformed writings in church history (such as Calvin and the Institutes), it would also eliminate books of the Bible (the book of James, for instance).

 

I think that is a concern, but I also think we need to be very careful. A person who is doing a lot of writing and such, is not necessarily trying to make "a name for themselves." Some just see a lot of stuff that needs to be addressed, that isn't being addressed and are trying to fill a void.

 

1Ti_4:12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.


I think really young guys should not be pastors, simply because they have not had the necessary training in the scriptures, and mentoring by other pastors.

It is silly to put a number on it, but for the sake of argument, I would say between 25 and 30. Certainly not 55.

 

I believe in the doctrine of sufficiency. Scripture is sufficient for instructing a pastor on what he should and should not be doing. And a lot of brilliant authors, with something important to say, may now be going, "You know what, my hero Tim Keller said I should wait."

Then they get hit by a bus at 45. If the church had followed Keller's advice throughout history, most of the great works that we have today, would NEVER have been produced. Calvin's Institutes, or heck, the Book of James!

Keller has a responsibility as a pastor to guard his tongue. His statements were humanistic, unbiblical, and silly.

I disagree with the humanistic way that this is being reasoned. Worldly wisdom is useless in determining what a pastor should, or should not be doing.

But even if we were going to make such silly, blanket assertions, you could just as easily say it the other way. "Old men should not write books. Write books when you are young and have energy. Write books when you are still burning with passion about new ideas." Even, "Your not being fair to your family and church to write books as an older man. A younger man has the energy to be spread out in many different activities. But as an older man, you need to guard your time, for the sake of your family and ministry."

It is humanistic reasoning, that makes teaching in a book, different from teaching face to face. Writing IS ministry.

Keller's "advice" is humanistic. It is also irresponsible. He makes some fairly dogmatic assertions in that article.

Again, anyone can come up with humanistic reasons to do, or not do anything. Our authority should be scripture, and when it comes to ministry, a public figure like Keller has the responsibility not to influence younger pastors away from ministries they have been called to. Again, teaching through writing IS ministry. The Bible makes no distinction. Paul's most important teachings were writings.

And a book takes exactly as much time as you want it to...it doesn't take anymore time than posting on forums, like this. Now, if you want to finish it in a week, I guess it would take a lot of your time.

Again, the point of my article is the humanistic way he answered the question. Scripture is the guide for various ministry work, not some guru's worldly wisdom. He could have given all kinds of scripture. He didn't, because it did not say what he wanted to say.

 

Well, my "buddy" Luke was wrong. Keller continually drops the ball. I am so tired of people giving others a pass (not saying that this is what Luke is doing; I don't know), just because they are "on our side."

I'm quite sure Keller is not interested in talking with me.