10 Thought-Provoking Quotes by Timothy Keller That Just May Challenge Your Perspective on Life and Faith

#4: “The problem with self-esteem is…” (Read below to find out)

Portrait of Timothy Keller as imagined by MidJourney

On the morning of May 19, 2023, Timothy Keller passed into eternity following a 3-year battle with pancreatic cancer. His family said that, in his last days, he said, “I’m ready to see Jesus!”

Tim Keller was a renowned Christian author, pastor, and theologian known for his wise demeanor, winsome personality, and thought-provoking insights and perspectives on faith and culture.

The founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, Keller had a unique ability to engage with intellectual and skeptical audiences, combining intellectual rigor with a deep understanding of the human heart.

Keller’s writings and sermons often tackle complex topics, addressing the relevance of Christianity in the modern world and exploring the intersections between faith, culture, and everyday life.

I first became acquainted with Keller’s work around 2009 when I picked up a copy of The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. He went on to write many more books, but The Reason for God remains my favorite.

Having written about Christianity on several occasions, I know that Medium isn’t always exactly (shall we say?) friendly to Christians (which is a shame).

Nevertheless, I hope readers who share Keller’s faith will find these quotes encouraging and that a few open-minded and reasonable skeptics will find them insightful and thought-provoking:

• “Tolerance isn’t about not having beliefs. It’s about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you.”
• “If you are intolerant of intolerant people then you are intolerant and doing the same thing you accuse of others.”
• “It is no more narrow to claim that one religion is right than to claim that one way to think about all religions (namely that all are equal) is right. We are all exclusive in our beliefs about religion, but in different ways.”
• “The problem with self-esteem — whether it is high or low — is that, every single day, we are in the…