Peace in Times of Suffering and Uncertainty

We've all been shocked by the rapid developments regarding the Coronavirus. As we do our best to navigate these uncertain times together, we invite you to join others for a special talk by Dr. Timothy Keller on how we can find “Peace in Times of Suffering and Uncertainty.”
Listen to other talks and sermons by Tim Keller here: link.chtbl.com/TimKellerPodcast
To support Gospel in Life and Redeemer Churches & Ministries, you can make a gift here: raisedonors.com/gospelinlife/...
Watch the next video in the series "Hope in Times of Fear": • Questioning Christiani...

[@gospelinlife]

Watch the next video in the series: "Hope in Times of Fear" kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3OVo4ZtZquWi68

[@marjorieegert4085]

I listened to this on September 8, 2022. I have OCD and have obsessed about these topics over the years. I call them the unanswerable questions. I have gradually embraced God's view of me as one who needs Him as savior and now as adopted child of God. But, after listening to this last night, I sawmore clearly that He doesn't mind my questions. That He welcomes conversation with me. I felt relief! I felt lighter! I now think of myself as a confident child, walking temporarily on this planet, under God, and with God through the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Keeping you and your family in my prayers. Thank you.

[@celenecranenburgh9566]

Bless you Marjorie...wherever you are in the world...you and I are family...right there...right now. Jesus is holding us together. He was killed...and it was God's plan...and Christians trust that He rose from the dead. And that's IMPOSSIBLE. Yet the eye witness accounts show Him alive. Over and over again. You have a good day now...it won't be long long to wait. Big love to you and yours...in Jesus...from the old country (England)... Xxx

[@celenecranenburgh9566]

God bless you! Xxx

[@ben300ethos4]

Beautiful, thanks for sharing 😊❤

[@hberrysc3517]

I love you so much, Tim! I need you to know how much you’ve helped my soul and my heart and hopefully it will have generational impacts. I’ll look for you in heaven to give you a big hug of thanks.

[@lloydlloyds7017]

Thank you so much for this, Pastor Tim Keller. I hope you realise how impactful your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ has been to the world. God be praised for you and your team!

[@elizabethmcilwain9418]

Thank you to Pastor Keller and the wonderful team that put this splendid series together. As a young mom to three sweet babies, these recordings feel a deep need that I have to prepare my children for the world that waits at their feet. These videos answers the question of why Christianity? And fulfills it to the uttermost, showing how it stands in contrast to the other major world religions and secularism. Thank you for giving me the tools I need to prepare my children.

[@followerofchrist198]

Watching from the U.K. please keep posting these videos regularly. We need spiritual guidance during this time more than ever. Thank you and peace be with you.

[@trafficjon400]

bait clicker delusions

[@deadandgone70]

Love what Tim says round 34:50

[@AlbertChyn]

I can’t hear him. He’s muted, until 40:38 :( was this a recent audio change?

[@AlbertChyn]

Found the fix: my left phones plays the audio of the host, while my right headphone plays the audio from Tim Keller XD

[@carakerr4081]

God bless you Tim. I was saved in 2013 at age 39 in quite a unique situation. I have found your talks and sermons incredibly comforting and meaningful in my imperfect walk with the Lord. God bless you. Truly a miracle.

[@nikkiejones4606]

Hi Cara .iv was also saved in quite a strange way too! I would love to hear your testomony! I hope to hear back from you as this was 2 years ago you posted! God bless you abundantly in Jesus precious name Amen xxxx

[@celenecranenburgh9566]

Hello... Would you mind saying what the "unique " situation was?

[@steflondon88]

I so appreciate that you guys have made these sessions!!!!!!!!!!!!! and shared them with us.

[@simpleteachings]

Very grateful for this video and for Tim in general.

[@amandamontgomery3021]

Thank you, Timothy for this excellent video. I was led to this video through my subscription to IF:Gathering emails, so I am appreciative to IF:gathering for their connection to you and desire to hear God‘s wisdom through you! I am a believer however, I am storing this one away to send to those who are suffering not just because of this pandemic but because of other life issues as suffering. I am sending this to my unbelieving brother, Jeremy. He suffers greatly, adding to that mix he is an alcoholic, still working through his recovery and simultaneously dealing with loss of job and loss of family due to his alcoholism. Please pray for him as he watches this video (I pray he watches this video!) for wisdom and understanding, for belief in truth. Thanks again.

[@askangelinacheng]

Totally agree with Paster Tim: recorder our lives. Many people came to me for career advices actually don’t know their life purpose. If one doesn’t understand what God made him/her for, he/she is unlikely to find the dream career. Everything will just be like chasing the wind.

[@dakotataylor4696]

I love you so so much Dr. Keller.

[@jesuschristbiblebiblestudy]

God bless you and keep you.

[@darlameeks]

Thank you for this, Tim. I went through a time of suffering some years ago, and it drove me to God and the Scriptures, including the book of Job. I had a perfect storm of calamities, only one of which included the economic collapse of 2008...it drove me to my knees to a renewed relationship with Christ. As you pointed out, God praised Job after all his wailing and complaining. This was such a surprise! At the end of that, God said that, through all his sufferings, Job had never sinned with his mouth. I also read the teachings of Jesus on prayer in which He said, "Ask, seek and knock...not just once or twice, but importunately. St. Paul said, "Pray without ceasing". St. James said, "You have not because you ask not..." All these other religions and philosophies you've mentioned tell us to shut up, while God bids us *speak*. We humans, of all the animals, are given the gift of language...yet what strikes me about faithlessness is its utter silence. It is mute! God wants our trust, and He wants our cares cast squarely on Him, with the knowledge that He cares for us. He wants our love for Him to be true, steadfast and patient. To be Christian, I found, was to find my truest humanity...as if, like only a human child can do, I had spoken my very first words. By the way, I can report with praise and thanksgiving that my troubles were many in that time, but the Lord delivered me out of them all! (Psalm 34:6) I have faced more troubles since then, and I know I will face more, but now God has given me the facility of language to deal with them. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.." (Job 13:15)

[@sandracoombs2255]

Darla Meeks Thank you so much for your testimony Darla. Greatly encouraging to me! Blessings. Sandra 🙏🙏

[@darlameeks]

@@sandracoombs2255 Be well & safe, Sandra! Blessings to you! - Darla

[@jennymeyer6706]

Thanks so much, my friend, I needed to read this today. As someone who is regularly driven to her knees, like you I find such inexpressible comfort from knowing God wants to hear our thoughts and cries of anguish, he wants to hear it all. I hope that you and yours made it out the other side of the pandemic whole, and thanks again for what you wrote here!

[@bbrosser694]

Thank you for teaching and sharing

[@titabell360]

Thanks you thank you thank you, From Canada Ontario. Alot of common ground born Catholic and attended Buddhist lectures and so on books read that suffering comes from condemnation Christan citation.

[@cannuroglu3812]

Thank you Pastor Keller. Enjoyed hearing you in North Cyprus.

[@yhalee345]

Thanks so much for your insights! I love listening to your sermons !

[@ultiawesome]

Brilliant! Interesting contrast with other worldview's ideas of suffering. Very practical as well. Thank you Pastor Keller!

[@jbw3]

With the United States and the world at the very beginning of a crisis that will define our generation, I would like to encourage Tim and others to start broadcasting via KZbin to the world. The internet has the capability of bringing the best minds in the world to the masses. I greatly appreciate all that y’all do and hope to see this channel’s content grow as well as its followers. God bless you all!

[@louisadu-amoah1504]

It is the reason why I have given a like, subscription and a bell notification. Oh how we need these messages in these days!

[@rickysewell3948]

This was beautiful!

[@davidpauley5859]

Reorder your loves and hope

[@Rubberglass]

Thank you for doing this brother Timothy. Grace and Peace.

[@alisahale6017]

Job’s deepest desires were answered in his suffering. In the beginning he was a “rules” person, in the end he saw the Father’s love, grace, and the call to a deeper relationship. This is illustrated for us in the final verses - his daughters were the most beautiful in all the land (see I Corinthians 11:7 (don’t get distracted by the “covering/hat, scarf” part)). Their beauty is the reflection of the changes that were wrought in Job, as a husband and a father. And now he is reflecting this love back toward his own family. This profound love was preceded by his humiliation before the people (in his suffering) in his life and then God when Job’s focus was cleared which was preceded by his suffering!!! In other words, God in His mercy answered Job’s prayers for his family that could only come forth through God’s severe mercy.

[@miriam9775]

A very good Video. Thank you so much! Next time in stereo, please. The first speaker talked in the right ear and the second in the left ear. :-)

[@wnomebrown]

That's what I finally figured out as well, lol.

[@jvbenjamin]

Greetings from India! Thank you.

[@joyces.1805]

I like what you shared that your OT professor said about Job-that he took his fight directly to God. I know & love someone exactly like that.

[@joshroyeca]

Beautiful message, greetings from Manila! 😊🇵🇭👌

[@nickvoutsas5144]

The message is in times of darkness ,Christ illuminates our sadness it’s as if we see an invisible hope which the world is blind to. May the Holy Spirit always shine in your soul.

[@trafficjon400]

u think when suffering comes no one will help and let u die like a shrub wilts. Heart is broke and Gods angels laugh

[@hsetiono]

Superb content!! Hope it brings some light to many whom are lost and feel hopeless in this unprecedented hard times...

[@jameshamm801]

Praise Jesus!!!!

[@andripratignjo5876]

Where can i find the transcript for this video? So i can translate it in bahasa indonesia

[@ruachfree5771]

Hello from Asia

[@michelhaineault6654]

Fear GOD ALONE.

[@sarahmarden4619]

Is anyone else having trouble with sound once Keller starts talking?

[@wnomebrown]

I could hear the fist guy in my right earbud, and only hear Keller in the left one. Glad I figured it out since I only had the right one in at first. I had no problems with phone speaker.

[@Yohanan552]

It's because of his knowledge of the force.

[@davidpauley5859]

Pray and think

[@hjlydia]

"Well, Father, it's all fated - it's all predestined, why should I even ask?!" Now, that's something I probably would have said 😅

[@ellapark8770]

I love pastor Tim 💗💗💗

[@mimishkaz]

Is anyone else getting sound in just L and R? (Right at the beginning, on the Left while Mr Keller is speaking)

[@snohing]

I dont mean to be complaining, but this is not the first time in the youtube series where the audios is like this...

[@wnomebrown]

I could hear the fist guy in my right earbud, and only hear Keller in the left one. Glad I figured it out since I only had the right one in at first. I had no problems with phone speaker.

Thank God for letting us hear the Good New time after time since time after time our soul falls.

[@sjohnny3920]

Thank you.

[@rogerrumer2558]

Content starts at about 5 minutes in 😊

[@phloem4]

Thank you to taking the time to make and share this! For the future, turn off auto focus, and set the manual focus. Also, increase the aperture a bit to expand the depth of field. Then, the subject will stay in focus regardless of moving around.

[@janzenpt]

Am I the only one that has no audio with Dr Keller? I can hear everything else in video except when he is speaking alone in video

[@kimberlydekastle8097]

This was an excellent message. I really am interested in the next part of the series, however, I am not local to NYC. Would love to see it live streamed as well or recorded or a later date.

[@aunghtoo3359]

Keller mentioned that Siddhartha saw four sights - a sick man, an old man, a dead man, and a poor man. But the las man he saw was not a poor man; it was a monk or a man who was sitting and doing a meditation. I understand we make mistakes since we are human.

[@enlightenedturtle9507]

As an atheist, I value theologians, because contrary to psychologists or optimists, they at least admit to the problem of evil/ theodicy. I would reframe the theodicy question as a question of procreative ethics (so as a Anthropodicy).

[@enlightenedturtle9507]

The way I see it, humanistic atheists are the worst of all, since they are inconsequential. If you reject God, you must face up to the consequences.

[@cobyleebrooks]

this is what scares people into belief. rejecting God is the scariest idea I can think of. walking away from offered companionship is the saddest thing I’ve ever done. which is why I came back. the problem of evil is less significant in light of how beautiful God is. if we focus on his beauty, it doesn’t matter if we prove humans are fundamentally good or not. their is something wrong with us and that is no mystery. God’s beauty is in his action. he did something about it... and that something is the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. in his forgiveness, mercy, and grace. in his empathy and solidarity with the human race... God’s beauty is also his trinity, his mystery, his creation, his love, his wisdom, his goodness, his perfection etc. there’s so much beauty to look at, but we usually dwell on the shit, and we do it without him and his input. gaze into the beauty, not just the story, but into his person.

[@Lillypad3183]

This was greatly encouraging thank you for uploading and sharing ❤

[@ALIKOKA1953]

Acts 9 New Living Translation (NLT) Saul’s Conversion. 15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

[@mlikiceteamilky9939]

Suffering is part of life in this world 🌍 of mankind, nobody is born in this world 🌎 suffering free.even Jesus Himself Hebrews 5:8 we can't understand everything, but learn to live through everything because everything needs to be learned.

[@davidpauley5859]

Weep and trust

[@boxingfit]

iv worked in my hospital for 20 years, i was sacked from my job 1 month ago because 2 of my friends told lies about me, not a single bit if compassion or luck has went my way... iv prayed deeply and been through great suffering because of this...my wife has now taken over the bills and morgage and im heart broken.... my faith has been tested and i hang by a thread.... i have appealed my sacking of my job and yet still they leave me wait like a poor man asking for change, iv 2 daughters and iv got lupus... im so angry at god for all this and yet i wait.. the unfairness of all this is beyound extreme.. everything has gone against me even my union cant do anything... iv never known such unfairness and betrayel... all the while God sits watching.. iv every right to be angry at God and yet still i pray while nothing happens

[@celenecranenburgh9566]

Dear person... Okay. You were angry with God two...three...years ago? I think God has coped with your anger SUPREMELY...blasting His Son to death...instead of you and me. He died. Was buried. He rose from the dead 3 days later. I'm willing, sitting in my living room after midnight on Thursday night, to work with the Truth of Jesus Christ till I die or get raptured. There's LIFE in the struggle. So struggle on and I hope to meet you later. Big love to you in Jesus... Xxx

[@silavlis233]

suffering happens for rich an poor people in the same existencial level when parents inevitably lose their loved ones, with sickness , disasters, depression caused by the void inside people.... the only difference is money and power in the hands of the minority causing the rest of humans to suffer more. So, it´s about the degree of suffering that each of us get from life that disturbs us.

[@finalbossediting]

To the gospel in life crew: What was the book on the resurrection that Tim talks about during the Q&A at time 1:03:30? I'd love to give it a read.

[@matthewbeem198]

This is just a hunch, but I believe he's talking about N. T. Wright's "The Resurrection of the Son of God." Debates about justification aside, Keller references Wright often and has a high appreciation for Wright's work on the resurrection and new heaven/earth. If you want a shorter primer from Wright before reading RSG, try his book "Surprised by Hope."

[@AlbertChyn]

The first 15-20 minutes he’s muted. 40:38 the audio finally comes back :(

[@AlbertChyn]

Found the fix: my left phones plays the audio of the host, while my right headphone plays the audio from Tim Keller XD

[@timothyfray6050]

That was powerful! What was the mane of the book that Dr. Keller referred to on the resurrection that was so powerful in his time battling cancer?

[@jurandirbarbozadasilvafilh7090]

Hello, Timothy. I think is The Ressurrection of the Son of God, by N. T. Wright

[@simonespiegel7088]

The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright. It’s a long book.

[@TheSmittyj]

Wright also wrote a shorter, more readable book on the resurrection called Surprised By Hope

[@steflondon88]

LOL Tim. 6:23

[@frankcorrea6953]

can't hear anything

[@909petey]

Isn’t secularism just the difference if a religion controls the government?

[@Erin__D]

How would a person be eternally happy in heaven knowing that some of their loved ones are in hell? unless the personality is also altered in the Christian view, in which case a person is some sort of avatar of the original. That doesn't sound like unimaginable happiness or love to me.

[@tamrab2708]

My pastor often references the verses at the end of revelation where God will wipe away all tears from our eyes. (He still has unsaved family). Praying your loved ones accept Christ! Also I just thought God loves us and them far more than we can comprehend. If he spanned eternity and the gap between us and himself, you can know this to be true, therefore the greatest grief of all is his. But as far as altering our personalities, it isn’t our personalities or memories he is erasing but I think more so he is easing them. There’s the difference. It won’t be that we won’t have tears but we will have a God who knows our feelings and experiences them more exquisitely than we do. Then in his great love we can rest and experience joy in knowing and being known. But we do know the former things will pass away so there is a point I believe in which we will not be remembering those who are eternally suffering. The best thing to do is warn everyone and live in such a way as to encourage everyone to believe.

[@feeltheforce10]

Eternity was never in the Ancient Hebrew texts.Its been purposely added to the Bible to give a " concept" of eternal life etc.OLAM is the Hebrew word........it does not mean eternity.In the translators dictionary there is a note that clearly says - Do NOT translate Olam as eternity - yet is has been. There are many more serious errors - this is just one.

[@duncanhollands5218]

Keller starts at 11:13

[@sheilabell316]

Go volunteer in an ICU COVID unit and come back and tell me we are making this political trying to be socialists.

[@silavlis233]

Adam sinned because of his sin nature. Adam does not represent us like an ambassador cos this representation would not be perfect. Adam is us. This way, we are fully represented in a symbolic way.

[@silavlis233]

Suppose all of rich people from the beginning of history had cared about their poor neighbor and everybody would have their share in this life. What if there was no poverty because human are "generous" so that we would get rid of at least one kind of suffering in the world which is inequality that we all struggle and question God about. Ok, this way we couldn´t complain anymore about the injustice of inequality and we wouldn´t be asking ourselves why my neighbor is more privileged than me anymore. Now, we all have the same share and possession on earth, done!....we are still suffering at least equally. It wouldn´t work either, we would still be charging God for our other sorrows, but at least not for inequality. And inequality plays a really big role in our society against God. At the end of the day, we are out there making our mistakes, putting God on trial in our place and denying our own sinner being....the same old man.

[@user-he1vp1nt2x]

如果有中文翻译就好了！ 我听不懂 😂

[@kbeetles]

余仕崴 - ezzel mit akarsz mondani, Csillagvirág?

[@atikulhuq9601]

Prayer delights God a scourge for Satan.

[@hol-upLIL-bit]

I doubt it's actually "questioning". There's too many trailer trash who vote for Trump who would complaint enough so it's not really questioning anything but simply just promoting it (business as usual).

[@wonfinity]

21:00 lets back this shit up. from my studies in college, that aint true. anyone who actually are buddhists, chime in.

[@kathleenwharton2139]

It is following Jesus Gospel that Works..Not Christianity. Christianity is the commandments of men.

[@paulklenknyc]

kathleen Wharton Christianity “is” following Jesus, and trusting in His atonement for our sins on the cross.

[@kathleenwharton2139]

Paul Klenk That is Not Jesus Gospel..however. Jesus Gospel is what Jesus Said..”Obey My Sayings and Seek My Righteousness..I will Give you everything you need and deliver you from evil.” That is Jesus Gospel and Jesus Promise. He Saved me from the doctrines of Christianity which is the doctrines of men.

[@LaymensLameMan]

*googles infralapsarianist*

[@lindsayjaelherrondavis4817]

Let me make one little critique if I may, when in the Q&A you talk about the idea of an afterlife where there is love... I'd disagree about Islam. Islam is a monistic religion with an impersonal deity (therefore incapable of love) that judges you on your obedience with no grace or mercy whatsoever, so a person's chances of "being best bud of Allah" are very slim even if your a man (in my worldviews class, we learned about how in Islam no women can enter heaven only men and how men will be given 72 virgins made by Allah). Islam is a religion of hate and violence so I wouldn't consider it similar to Judaism and Christianity in that sense and I don't understand why you even mentioned it here as it should be a separate talk (being radically different theologically).

[@lindsayjaelherrondavis4817]

Also on the panic about the pandemic, when you talk about our leaders thought the virus from China wouldn't come to their countries and then mention racial pride, don't say "we all participated in it". I think some may have but I didn't. I thought for sure it would come here. We've always had deadly and highly contagious special pathogens. But in our modern world these can spread anywhere and fast.

[@thotsaboutGod]

Kellers comments would be correct (and no doubt his intentions were noble) if the solutions given and promoted by the "experts" on this bug were the best possible options. Time has proven what many were concerned about, their recommendations were far from correct. Over time it has become increasingly apparent they were not the best options st virtually every level...health wise, emotionally, socially, spiritually, or economically. How could such a huge mistake be made on such a far reaching, critical, life and death issue? Because of fear. Decisions based on fear never lead to a good decisions other than fear of God Himself. I highly respect Kellers wisdom and insight into the gospel, but Keller is only a man and his wisdom (or anyone elses) is only as good as the input he receives (or believes). Wisdom in one area does not necessarily translate into other areas. Unfortunately Kelley's bad advice on such a critical matter as our health actually hurts the advancement of the gospel and results in loss of credibility. Placing trust in meer men in such a critical matter must be done with caution and wisdom. I too am merely a man so do not accept my comments without an unbiased gathering of information on this or any subject. Truth should never be avoided or feared. It can stand on its own. If you refuse to do sufficient due diligence on a matter, it is wise to remain silent. Prov 9:8 Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

[@Connor3G]

The speaker believes that life is suffering that is unavoidable. I disagree. I think anyone can change themselves to be mostly content regardless of their surroundings. Says that the secular view is that the only real world is the material and physical world. This could be better phrased to include that secularists do acknowledge the existence of the mind and consciousness, which is different from a physical thing. Quotes someone that says that secular society has no strategy for handling suffering. This is just false. There are many strategies, but I agree that there is no single, agreed upon way to deal with it. Quotes that the Japanese (the most secular modern society) are way better at handling suffering than modern Western people, contradicting what he says later. Comments that secular society doesn’t prepare people well for suffering, but then uses America as an example, which is mainly Christian? America is not a secular society. If the United States has a harder time with suffering, it is due to Christianity rather than secular ideas. Says that secular people can only have meaning in life based on things in this life, which means that they can all be taken away. This is simply false. Just to name a few that can’t be taken away from a person... Leaving a legacy (like having children) Making scientific findings or writing books Becoming a more mature person He generalizes secular people far too much. There is far more diversity than within a religion. 1) How does he know that Jesus and God experienced human-like suffering? He says that Jesus cried, but tears can mean a lot of different things. Christians believe that Jesus was no ordinary man, so it’s possible that he never felt pain. 2) He says Christians have a “promise” of an afterlife filled with love, but it isn’t a promise. According to the Bible, some people who commit their lives to Jesus will be sent to hell regardless. Some people won’t even have a chance to hear the stories of the Bible. There is no way to tell for sure whether any person will receive a good afterlife. He says Christianity ‘offers’ an afterlife, implying that it’s like someone offering you a loan. The Bible is not a reliable source to determine this, other sources are needed. Only a single book says it is “god inspired”, and Luke even admits that his book is just a result of his own research. When you lose someone: “Don’t love them less, love God the most.” 3) “God is going to recreate this world and wipe it free from all suffering.” 6 steps to deal with suffering: Weep, but trust Pray, but think “Think about the fact that you can’t see as God can”. This is horrible. He’s telling people to throw away their own logic. Does Christianity not make sense to you? Does the God of the Bible not seem to be acting how the Bible says he would? Well, just don’t think about it. Your logic isn’t good enough. You’re far more stupid than God. Here’s my advice: Admit when you think God is wrong. Reorder your loves, and hope Uses the book of Job as reasons for these steps, but that story reveals that God was the reason for Job’s suffering. If a guy lets his attack dog loose on a woman, is it the dog’s fault that the woman was harmed? No, it’s the guy’s fault. He says that Job trusted God throughout the story, but this isn’t true. Job is very angry at God and doesn’t see any point in what is happening. While referring to heaven, he says: “The world that we were designed for.” It’s pretty clear that we aren’t designed given the mountain of evidence for evolution. Natural processes have led to Homo sapiens. “I’m always going to be recommending Christianity to you, you know that’s just what I’m gonna do.” He is offering only his interpretation. I’m sure many other Christians would disagree with him that Christianity offers a good way to deal with suffering. I agree with him that secularism doesn’t offer a way to deal with suffering, and I agree because it isn’t a worldview in itself. In my opinion, it’s much better to have freedom to find the strategies that work rather than be stuck with a single, old book. “I don’t deserve a great life.” Why not? Just because you made a few mistakes in your life? “Unless trouble has come into your life, you actually don’t grow and mature.” What? How does he know this? According to him, no one has ever tried this out. Can’t someone read books to grow as a person? Firsthand experiences don’t have a license over personal growth. “You should never believe something only because it seems useful.” Couldn’t agree more. “Isn’t it just wish fulfillment? Yeah, you’ve gotta be careful about that.” He says that unless people think Christianity is useful, they won’t investigate if it is true. I disagree completely. There are multiple, huge areas of study that aren’t necessarily useful but have many people researching them. “Listen, sometimes Christianity is not going to seem like it’s working for you.” Shouldn’t the one true religion always be helpful to the people who believe? It seems like God is playing hide-and-seek. He says that the experience of God is part of what makes it true for him, but thousands of other people from other religions say the exact same thing. There is no way to determine which people are right purely from their own accounts of their experiences. It’s clear that the brain can manufacture what it wants to experience. Placebo is very powerful. “Don’t let anybody tell you you shouldn’t be anxious. Of course you should be anxious.” I couldn’t disagree more. There are mental strategies to almost completely eliminate anxiety for years at a time. I disagree with the overall message. Obviously, prayers aren’t a consistent way to get help. Secularists learn to deal with life by themselves whereas a Christian tries to rely on a being that doesn’t always show up. Even Christians should admit that they need strategies to deal with things themselves for the times when God just decides not to answer prayers. “The Devil wants us to be panicky” How does he know this?

[@DH-kl3ob]

It amazes me what lengths Christians will go to to worship this god that creates so much UNNECESSARY suffering. You need your faith so bad, because without it you would have no idea what to do with your lives, that you will come up with any reason to maintain these ridiculous beliefs... When are you going to finally get that none of this is real? That Christianity is false?

[@joehandoko]

So do you believe in God or not? If not, then God is not responsible for your so called "UNNECESSARY SUFFERING" coz He doesn't exist, right?

[@DH-kl3ob]

Joe Handoko you are correct. The god Christians worship only exists in Christians’ minds...

[@paulklenknyc]

D H Then how do explain the existence - and the content - of the New Testament? It isn’t possible to be dismissive of it without confronting the reality that those events happened as they are described. The world history changed radically and immediately as a result.

[@DH-kl3ob]

@@paulklenknyc People come up with all kinds of stories all the time... And believe them to be reality by being convinced by others. How do you explain the existence of the Quran, and how it changed the world? Or the Book of Mormon? etc... You have to look at the NT the same as any other holy book from an outsiders perspective to see this...

[@joekingjoekingjoeking]

I agree that suffering tests the Christian faith. But it tests any worldview, secular or religious. And I still think Christianity gives the best account and solution to suffering that any other world view.

[@Erin__D]

I'm an atheist and I don't think you represented secularism well at all. There'a no need to push back on suffering in the secular worldview. Suffering is expected in a natural world in a universe clearly undesigned, and unhospitable to human life. Its not a shock, and it doesn't do anything against my own personal meaning in life. In anything it enhances it. My family are so dear to me, and with a Pandemic I am further motivated to speak lovingly and express my appreciation for those relationships. I was a Christian for over 30 years, suffering did not make sense in that worldview. Prayer doesn't work. Things are not ok just because there is a hypothetical "next" life. This is all we have, and its beautiful and worth experiencing and worth protecting. Stop giving people false hope.

[@annemarienelson458]

One spoon at a time - I’m amazed you were a Christian for over 30 years. How come you stuck with it that long ? Were you forced to be one ?

[@Erin__D]

@@annemarienelson458 I wouldn't say forced, but I was raised in it and there was definitely an expectation that I would continue to be a Christian.

[@annemarienelson458]

One spoon at a time , ah. I get it. I too was raised in a Christian home, dad being a minister... If I’m correct, you may have felt you never got a choice regarding God? You were ‘expected’ as you say to continue. However, did you ever start ? Ie, no one is ‘born’ a christian. It comes out of choice, as an adult in particular.. i do understand the frustrations of having parents that ‘expect’ or put pressure on you to conform to their way of thinking, without simply, giving choice to children to choose, ie free will. Cheers.

[@barry.anderberg]

What does it mean for prayer to "work"? Is it like a lever you can pull to get what you want? Why do you think Dr. Keller is still a Christian when you aren't? What do you know that he doesn't?

[@barry.anderberg]

What does it mean on your world view to "speak lovingly"? Is that a choice you make? What's the standard for love? What makes something loving? How do you explain free will and loving feelings in a material universe of cause and effect?