My Problem with Religion: An Open Forum

Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

Tim Keller

Religion & Spirituality, Religion, Religion & Spirituality:christianity, Christianity, Spirituality

4.8 • 15K Ratings

🗓️ 30 August 2023

⏱️ 37 minutes

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Summary

There are two problems people have with God today: the problem of evil and suffering, and the problem with the exclusiveness of religion. We’re all in the same boat here. Whether you believe in God or you don’t believe in God, you still have these two problems. Because they get at something that really is a problem. But the real question is, are they insurmountable? Can we find a way through them? I’d like to give you something to consider as a possible way through: it’s important to see 1) that people’s problems with religion are themselves beliefs which in turn have their own problems, and 2) that Christianity has a unique resource for each of these problems. This talk was given by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on November 9, 2003. Series: Redeemer Open Forums. Today's podcast episode is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Gospel in Life. Today's teaching is from an open form. My problem with religion
0:09.4	held at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City in 2003. This talk by Dr. Keller
0:14.9	was given to introduce people to Christianity who did not yet have a personal relationship
0:19.6	with Christ.
0:23.6	I've been listening to that Leonard Cohen piece all week. I had never heard it before. I was
0:31.6	getting ready for it tonight and it's extremely tender. And yet, as you read the lyrics, did
0:39.6	you get it? Of course not. It's impenetrable, though it's about David and it's trying to figure
0:46.8	out what happened to David and the place where it talks about the fact that he wanted proof
0:52.8	what that really means is David thought that he believed what he asked God to test him.
0:56.8	And he failed the test and that's talking about the great failure with Bathsheba.
1:02.8	But I think Leonard Cohen hits the cultural mood when he says basically in that song,
1:10.8	I got all these problems with religion, but that doesn't mean that I can just give up on God.
1:16.8	Now, here's what I'd like to do. The two objections we just talked about, the two problems people
1:23.8	have with God today, which are, first of all, the problem of evil and suffering.
1:28.8	How could a good and powerful God allow that? And then secondly, the problem of the exclusiveness of religion.
1:37.8	If you think you have the truth, if you think your religion is right, if you think you have the superior
1:43.8	take on spiritual reality, doesn't that lead to exclusion and oppression and abuse?
1:49.8	What are we going to do with those two problems? Now, the first thing I want you to know right off the bat,
1:56.8	you say, well, you're a minister, so obviously you don't think they're that big. Those problems are very big.
2:01.8	No, I think that's quite wrong. They have great weight. And I think that whether you were on the same boat here,
2:10.8	whether you believe in God, or you really don't believe in God, you still have those problems.
2:17.8	Those problems are with you, whether you believe or not, because they're true. They have weight, that is to say.
	...

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