How’s your relationship with broccoli these days?
TK: Terrible.
I heard you mention recently that your son works in urban planning. Why do you think that’s a field Christians and the Church should engage in? And do you think we bring any type of unique perspective to the matter?
TK: My youngest son works in urban planning. I believe Christians can bring a unique perspective to every field of labor. Urban planning is an important vocation for the common good.
How we do know if we are under-contextualizing or over-contextualizing in a missions context?
TK: Stay close to the Bible, and get a lot of counsel. It takes a lot of wisdom. If you under contextualize it will look a lot like your culture, and if you over-contextualize it will look like the one you are ministering to. Therefore, it should look distinct from both cultures.
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What is the God-given role of the State?
TK: Read both Romans 13-The State is God’s institution, but also the book of Revelation-where the State can become demonic.
What has been your most significant theological shift in the last 25 years?
TK: I have not had a significant theological shift since seminary which is about 50 years ago. I talk about it more here: Handling a Hostile Culture.
How did Lucifer become prideful, living in the presence of God, and choose to rebel?
TK: God did not reveal it. There are some things God does not reveal because we don’t need know them in order to obey him–Deuteronomy 29:29.
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How do you guard against burnout in your vocation and ministry?
TK: In your earlier years it’s having formal and informal cohorts of supportive friends. As time goes on the prayer disciplines become increasingly important. Why? Friend cohorts tend to thin out as you get older. Prayer is always important but as a means against burnout its crucial.
I recently heard you teach on the traditional and modern identities. I also heard a sermon from you in 1998 you included a postmodern identity. Do you think that identity is still relevant today or is there a reason you didn’t mention it recently?
TK: Modern is discovered. Post-modern identity is created. They kind of end up in the same stop where you end up in charge, so it’s not always necessary to make a distinction.
Do you watch TV? If so, what do you like to watch?
TK: I’m enjoying Foyle’s War right now.
, Tim Keller made a rare personal appearance on Twitter to answer questions posted with the hashtag #asktk by his social media followers. ){kind=link}