New York Times bestselling author Tim Keller says Christians could get to grips with why they should help the poor more easily if they began to see themselves spiritually in those that lack materially.
Keller is the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, and the author of many books including his latest ‘Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just’.
In a recent interview, Keller said:
“The more you see yourself as spiritually poor and the recipient of God’s wonderful grace the more your heart is going to go out to the poor. When you look at the materially poor you know that in a sense you are looking in a mirror.”
Keller also applies this technique to common fears regarding sharing with the poor. For example, quite often people wonder whether the poor person will abuse their charity and grace, but then Keller says they should remember that they have also “trampled” on God’s charity and grace by not living the life they should.
The influential leader also pointed to Deuteronomy 15:4 (“However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you”) and Acts 4:34-35 (“that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need”) to illustrate the theological continuity from the Old to New Testament regarding generosity and sharing so that everyone has enough.
“The more you understand the gospel of grace with the mind and experience with the heart, the more likely you are to care about people who are poor, marginalized, [and] hungry,” added Keller. “I think that is a very important biblical theme.”
Keller sees justice as empowered by an experience of grace. He defines justice simply as giving everyone what they deserve according to what God thinks is fair to give to those made in His image.