“Questions arise in our minds and hearts every day. . . . But one question rises above all others, the supreme question that each of us asks ourselves time and time again: What is wrong with the world? What is wrong with the human race? . . . Whatever form it takes, this question is central in making sense of existence.”- the late Timothy Keller (1950-2023)
A gulf has opened up in our culture between the visibility of evil and the intellectual reserves available for coping with it.”- Andrew Delbanco
In the Preface to Timothy Keller’s latest book, What is Wrong with the World? The Surprising, Hopeful Answer to the Question We Cannot Avoid, his widow Kathy notes that sermons her late husband preached in the 1990s form the basis of this book. A sermon series titled ‘The Faces of Sin.’
Above all, Kathy Keller sees the need to explain sin in its many dimensions as clearly necessary. As well as its universal contagion of all people. Because people often resist this familiar concept. For sin fails to fit in our good/bad, right/wrong, I’m in/you’re out world. As a result, we deceive ourselves most concerning our own sinfulness.
Moving on to the Introduction, Timothy Keller underscores that the question of what’s wrong with the world should burn in your heart. Otherwise, he chides, your head is in the sand.
Hence, Pastor Keller presents his explanation for why people do such heinous things. He writes:
“The answer the Bible gives us . . . is both simple and complex. The answer is sin. Many people reading this may be irritated and think this is a primitive and old-fashioned analysis. My response — and the Bible’s — is yes! Of course it’s primitive and old-fashioned — because it’s true and deeply woven into the world and its entire history. It would be a terrible answer if it weren’t old-fashioned.”
Above all, Timothy stresses, we must extend the concept of sin to our own selves. Because we need to understand sin in order to answer questions about our own failures.
Today’s question: How would you answer the supreme question? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Moral-dignity pants”