THIS IS THE QUOTE TIM SHARED WITH US FROM THE BOOK "CENTER-CHURCH" by Timothy Keller
“A church that truly understands the implications of the biblical gospel, letting the ‘Word of Christ dwell in (it) richly’” (Col. 3:16), will look like an unusual hybrid of various church forms and stereotypes. Because of the inside-out, substitutionary atonement aspect, the church will place great emphasis on personal conversion, experiential, grace renewal, evangelical-charismatic church. Because of the upside-down, kingdom/incarnation aspect, the church will place great emphasis on the deep community, cell groups or house churches, radical giving and sharing of resources, spiritual disciplines, racial reconciliation, and living with the poor. This makes it an Anabaptist “peace” church. Because of the forward-back, kingdom/restoration aspect, the church will place great emphasis on seeking the welfare of the city, neighborhood and civic involvement, cultural engagement, and training people to work in “secular” vocations out of a Christian worldview. This makes it look like a mainline church or, perhaps, a Kuyperian Reformed church. Very few churches, denominations, or movements integrate all of these ministries and emphasis. Yet I believe that a comprehensive view of the biblical gospel – one that grasps the gospel’s inside-out, upside-down, and forward-back aspects – will champion and cultivate them all….” Timothy Keller – Center Church Pg. 47-48.
“A church that truly understands the implications of the biblical gospel, letting the ‘Word of Christ dwell in (it) richly’” (Col. 3:16), will look like an unusual hybrid of various church forms and stereotypes. Because of the inside-out, substitutionary atonement aspect, the church will place great emphasis on personal conversion, experiential, grace renewal, evangelical-charismatic church. Because of the upside-down, kingdom/incarnation aspect, the church will place great emphasis on the deep community, cell groups or house churches, radical giving and sharing of resources, spiritual disciplines, racial reconciliation, and living with the poor. This makes it an Anabaptist “peace” church. Because of the forward-back, kingdom/restoration aspect, the church will place great emphasis on seeking the welfare of the city, neighborhood and civic involvement, cultural engagement, and training people to work in “secular” vocations out of a Christian worldview. This makes it look like a mainline church or, perhaps, a Kuyperian Reformed church. Very few churches, denominations, or movements integrate all of these ministries and emphasis. Yet I believe that a comprehensive view of the biblical gospel – one that grasps the gospel’s inside-out, upside-down, and forward-back aspects – will champion and cultivate them all….” Timothy Keller – Center Church Pg. 47-48.