Timothy Keller Warns Christians Not to Assign the Church a Political Party

Christian author and American Theologian Timothy Keller argued in a New York Times op-ed that Christians cannot and should not assign the church a political party in an effort to combat modern social issues.

Keller wrote on Saturday that the Christian approach to social concerns could be argued from both the left and the right.

“For example, following both the Bible and the early church, Christians should be committed to racial justice and the poor, but also to the understanding that sex is only for marriage and for nurturing family,” he wrote.

“One of those views seems liberal and the other looks oppressively conservative. The historical Christian positions on social issues do not fit into contemporary political alignments.”

Keller asserted that he is not saying that Christians should avoid making stands on important issues, in fact, he counters that idea pointing to the churches in the 19^th century that did not speak out against slavery. Keller said, “American churches in the early 19th century that did not speak out against slavery because that was what we would now call ‘getting political’ were actually supporting slavery by doing so.” 

The founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church continued, “The Bible shows believers as holding important posts in pagan governments — think of Joseph and Daniel in the Old Testament.” “Christians should be…