SOUTHEASTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY WAKE FOREST, NORTH CAROLINA A BOOK REVIEW OF TIMOTHY KELLER, MINISTRIES OF MERCY: THE CALL OF THE JERICHO ROAD SUBMITTED TO J. D. GREEAR AND ALVIN REID IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE9940 THE MISSION AND MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH BY JEREMY P. ROBERTS JANUARY 17, 2011
Keller, Timothy. Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road, 2 nd ed. (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 1997), 236 pages. Reviewed by Jeremy P. Roberts. Why should Christ followers engage in social action? How should they engage in such a ministry? Based upon the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, Timothy J. Keller answers these questions in his text. Keller utilizes this book to explain a well-rounded perspective of expressing the truth of Jesus Christ through social actions while ensuring Christ is the focal point of such vital service to a dark and dying world. Timothy Keller (M.Div., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; D.Min., Westminster Theological Seminary) writes with the perspective of both an academician (he formerly served as an associate professor at Westminster Theological Seminary) and a practitioner (he currently serves as senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City). Keller is known throughout evangelical circles as a leader in church planting, social ministries, and has written the best sellers The Reason for God (New York: Dutton, 2008) and Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (New York: Dutton, 2008). The author writes Ministries of Mercy in two sections: part one pertains to Principles of social ministry and part two is about Practice of this service (33, 121). As is Keller s background, he ties the theology and application of mercy ministry together to teach readers of his text to have balance in their orthodoxy and orthopraxy. 1
Principles Keller begins his text with an introduction analyzing the societal needs of impoverished, homeless, and imprisoned Americans with statistical analyses to conclude that twentyfirst century Americans... do indeed live on the Jericho Road... and... the church of Jesus Christ must squarely face its responsibility for the neighbors lying in the road... (25). Keller then explains the political divide the United States faces in various realms including social ministry while explaining the only plausible way America can solve her social problems is through the local church (26). Keller divides his theological analysis of mercy into seven chapters. Each of the seven chapters focuses on a different element of the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30 37. At the outset of his theological probe into mercy ministry, he persuasively argues that the willingness to carry out this vital service... is a critical sign of our submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ (37). Keller clarifies that mercy is not an option for a Christ follower every believer in Jesus must exhibit mercy (38 39). Going into greater depth with the necessity of mercy ministry within local American churches, Keller explains that it, unfortunately, is often neglected in time and finances in lieu of satisfying one s own educational and evangelistic ministries first (38). He reasons that if the Kingdom of God is the only way to receive complete restoration from the havoc that sin causes theologically, psychologically, socially, and physically, then the church... must intentionally use its resources to minister in every circle (47). While it takes Keller more than fifty pages to address to what extent the church is to minister to social needs, he finally pontificates with keen eloquence an answer to this issue: The church is [1] the pilot plant of the kingdom, and [2] the agent of 2
the kingdom (54). Keller argues that since the church is the agent of the kingdom (1 Pet 2:9; Acts 1:6 8), then it must spread by more than winning people to Christ; the church is spread by... working for the healing of persons, families, relationships, and nations; it is doing deeds of mercy and seeking justice... (54). Therefore, according to Keller, mercy ministry is not for the sole purpose of evangelism and conversion. Keller supports his argument by parenthetically referencing a multitude of passages (including Ex 20:18 21; Jn 1:14; Lk 24:19; and Matt 27:55), but fails to address the issue raised by Acts 6:4 of a pastor to diakoni,a tou/ lo,gou proskarterh,somen (continue with the ministry of the Word). Keller elaborates on the importance of deed ministry while neglecting to give much attention to the ministry of the Word. Toward the end of the first section of his text, he explains that both word and deed are means to the single end of the spread of the kingdom of God, but does not exemplify that statement anywhere else in the theological section of his text. Keller s neglect of the importance of the ministry of the Word stems from his understanding of the mission of the church. Jesus commissioned His followers to turn people into disciples as they are going (Matt 28:18 20) and for the church to be His witnesses to... Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). While deed ministry is important, the principality Keller places upon it does not equate to the centrality of the ministry of the Word (Lk 4:42 44; Mk 1:35 39; Matt 13; 28:20; 1 Tim 4; 2 Tim 4; Titus 1). 3
Practice The process of applying what the Bible teaches about the importance of mercy ministry is a difficulty with which all Christians struggle. In order to assist with solving this problem, Keller opens the second half of his text by explaining the four channels of mercy : [1] families, [2] local church, [3] voluntary associations or mission societies, and [4] government (123 24). If one goes through all four channels, the transition of the ministry of mercy will move from the heart and head to the hands and feet. The remainder of Keller s application section includes preparation, mobilization, expansion, management, church growth, and his conclusion of the difference between simple poverty and deeper poverty. Within every aspect of applying mercy ministry to life, the communication of the gospel must be kept at the forefront (214). Keller concludes with his strongest chapter in the latter half of the text Meeting Needs (225 33). He reiterates that... grace is undeserved caring that intercepts destructive behavior... and concludes that a ministry plan must be outlined by individual Christians and corporate local bodies of believers (227, 232 33). Conclusion Tim Keller is one of the great American Christian authors of the baby boomer generation, but his eisegetical hermeneutics in building a theological argument in the first half of his text causes the second half of his work to have a cloud of poor biblical interpretation to loom over wise application and implementation of mercy ministries found in the second half of the book. Despite his imbalance theologically on deed over Word, this text still 4
serves as an encouragement to followers of Christ to become more involved than ever before in social ministries. Keller s point in his introduction is the key to his entire text: the only plausible way America can solve her social problems is through the local church (26). May the Lord s people unite together to serve socially-problematic Americans for the glory of God. 5