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Keller, Driscoll and Other Men Like Paul

It is no secret that I am a big fan of Tim Keller and Mark Driscoll, but its going to sound a bit over the top when say that guys like Tim Keller and Mark Driscoll can be seen as reflecting men like Paul(the Apostle, not the Beatle). It might be noted that all three men(not the beatle) would dislike any praise in their direction, simply point to Jesus, the one who has given them what they have.

Whether the praise is accepted or not, its still true. In 1 Corinthians 9:20-23 Paul gives what pastors today might call his philosophy of ministry. Paul states that to “the Jews I became as a Jew”, and so on. This is a remarkable statement in the fact that with, the help of Acts, we can see what Paul saw as the acceptable way of ministering. In Acts 17:23-32 we see what Paul citing the pagan poets of the day and speaking about his analysis of the state of Athens, at the time.
It seems simple enough that what Paul lays down in 1 Corinthians 9 is a example of how one should speak to the culture around you.
Paul was simply using language and ideas that the Greeks could follow. When he preached in the synagogue he does the same thing.
Even today no Pastor would be in a church for very long if he could not use language and ideas that his people could follow.

So why say that Keller and Driscoll and other men are following in the footsteps of Paul? I say this because these men, just like Paul, are speaking to their audience in a manor that is fitting for that audience. But even more than just knowing who their audience is, like Paul these men seek to know as much about their audience as they can. These men, just like Paul, are diagnosis the audience before they speak. They are asking questions like: what do these people value above all else? What are their habits? How do they see themselves in the world? What do these people fear? This last question of fear is what Paul deals with at the Areopagus. Paul saw that these people were afraid of their gods, and that this fear had cause them to make sure they didn’t offend even a god that they did not know. Yet in the end Paul was not praised by everyone for his actions, infact Luke does not say that the whole crowd was converted, but simply that “some men joined him and believed”.

Call it what you will(knowing the audience, being relevant, exegeting the culture, being missional) Paul, did do these things, not to be praised among men, not to make sure his ministry legacy would last but for the sake of the gospel and so that he might “share with [the converts] in [the Gospel's] blessings.”

Let us Pray that more men are like Paul, and ultimately like the one Paul followed.