This life is just a practice run for the real thing—an eternity spent in God’s presence.
If someone spent two years chatting to your closest friends and family, how would you feel about it? What could they possibly say about your upbringing, awkward adolescence, or parenting methods?
I had no idea what I’d find out about Tim Keller, the world-famous preacher who passed away on Friday at the age of 72, when I started interviewing people in January 2021. Since 2010 through The Gospel Coalition, I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.
But I had to look deeper if I wanted to discover the factors that shaped his mind and soul. I was curious as to what he read, who influenced him, and what circumstances led to his rise to prominence as a 21st-century Christian leader. I appreciated his willingness to let me interview some of his closest friends and his assurance that they could be candid with me.
It’s simple to be sceptical about religious authorities, especially in modern times. They don’t always have a happy ending as Keller did. Far too many pastors have been caught contradicting themselves in private and in front of the cameras. As a podcast host or published author, it’s best to keep your audience at arm’s length. Use caution when opening a cloakroom door. After all, you never know when a bone will break.
