Why Did Jesus Come?
Tim Keller caused a stir this week on Twitter when he wrote, "Jesus didn't come primarily to solve the economic, political, and social problems of the world. He came to forgive our sins."
Jesus didn't come primarily to solve the economic, political, and social problems of the world. He came to forgive our sins.
— Timothy Keller (@timkellernyc) December 18, 2017
Responses varied:
I think it’s because “primarily” suggests that redeeming society/culture/the world is “secondary” to Christ’s call. I would strongly disagree with that.
— Rachel Held Evans (@rachelheldevans) December 19, 2017
And no first-century Jew would even conceive of parsing the personal from the collective like this. The vision was always for Kingdom Come, for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, for the ultimate Year of Jubillee. (Luke 4:28)
— Rachel Held Evans (@rachelheldevans) December 19, 2017
Nice use of the word "primarily"
— Verble Gherulous (@VerbleGherulous) December 18, 2017
But here's the thing: BECAUSE he paid the price for our sins, it is now OUR DUTY to make a just and equal society, serving and loving all, to demonstrate how He loved us.
Keller been on the Justice and equality in the social sphere long before it was trendy. He wrote a whole book on it. If you are familiar with his work, then this tweet has no issues. We keep looking for stuff to bash people over
— Joseph Solomon (@WhatIsJoeDoing) December 18, 2017
“Before it became trendy” = Before white Calvinists started talking about it.
— Rachel Held Evans (@rachelheldevans) December 19, 2017
I think the problem with this post is dividing the personal from social by making personal “primary” over social, which which is against the law, the prophets and Jesus.
— JR Woodward ن (@dreamawakener) December 19, 2017
Alas, I would argue that the focus on sin while allowing horrific and ongoing systemic racism, sexism, and homophobia in the name of Jesus/Christianity has been pretty darn hypocritical of the church.
— Nancy Hightower (@NancyHightower) December 18, 2017
Did Jesus come to save us from our sin? Was the purpose of the incarnation to correct the economic, political, and social problems of the world?
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