The irony of Tim Keller's winsomeness that his detractors will never get chrisjwilson.me
@ChrisJWilson I haven’t seen any of the pushback (probably for the best) but as I was reading some of Acts 17 this morning, even Paul practiced a winsome approach with the Athenians. He was greatly troubled by the paganism and idolatry he saw in the city but as he began to address them at the Areopagus, he praised their piety as a way of introducing them to someone who’s actually worthy of that piety, namely YHWH.
@danalcantara So funnily enough, a preacher two weeks backed contrasted Paul's approach in Athens with Corinth and how he rested in Christs power. Personally, I don't know if that means he adapted to the group he was with or if he grew in his approach. I can see either being true and I don't really see evidence in the text which is true.
Tim Keller:
Here it is. It is good.
Three too many words? The preferred Orthodox line of recent years in North America:
Come and see.
@ChrisJWilson I think the tricky thing with trying to find a contrast in approach from Paul in Athens and Corinth is the fact that Corinth had a synagogue whereas there isn’t any mention of one in Athens. That being said, it does seem like Athens is the anomaly in Paul’s normal pattern of going first to a synagogue to teach (the other example that comes to mind being Philippi, though Paul did go to where he knew there would be God-fearers and diaspora Jews).
@ChrisJWilson I met Tim Keller twice. Once in person, when he came to speak at KL 2020. I believe that was his last conference. Again, I met him on a Zoom call.
What struck me was his genuine desire to hear and understand. He seemed interested in what you had to say. That was winsome.
@ChrisJWilson This is from that conference, it was aimed at mainland Chinese pastors and started the day after Wuhan locked down. youtu.be/q5BpmVmta...
@KyleEssary I appreciate the link. I agree with that. It separates him from so many polemists who just want to convince people on their side that they’re right.