Balancing Word and Deed: A Review of Keller’s Serving a Movement

BETHANY HERRON
Vice President of Education
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The Purpose of the Book

In Serving a Movement, Keller writes to encourage the Church to rediscover what it means to live out Missio Dei – the mission of God. He explores the missional movements of the past and seeks to provide a holistic, biblical commission to the modern Western Church. Keller’s purpose is to encourage the body of Christ to “keep the text in context,” meaning to ensure that the spoken Gospel of Christ is delivered in partnership with godly social action. 

The Perspective

The late Tim Keller had extensive experience leading a vibrant church in New York City. He writes from a place of deep understanding and firsthand ministry. Keller’s perspective is grounded in a Judeo-Christian worldview. He combines theological depth with practical wisdom, drawing from historical examples and contemporary experiences to make his points, all while being grounded in biblical truth. 

The Key Points

Keller hits on many points within his book. Two central, recurring themes revolve around the call of the Church to balance word and deed, especially in social action and care for the poor, and the rediscovery of the Missio Dei.

Here are three key takeaways: 

1.  Integrating Evangelism and Social Action

There must be a partnership, or balance, between word and deed. The Church’s mission is not only to call people to salvation in Christ, but also to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of Christ and to confront societal idols like materialism and hyper-individualism.

In Keller’s book, the Church is encouraged to engage in both relational evangelism and social, community mission, to show that the Gospel renews not just individuals but entire communities and creation.

2.  Adapting to Cultural Shifts 

Keller addresses the need for the Church to understand and adapt to cultural changes, particularly in a post-Christian, increasingly secular world. He argues that the Church itself should be made up of resilient, servant-minded community members who sacrificially serve for the common good and welcome doubters, fostering local unity. 

Ultimately, Keller encourages the Church to find new ways to engage with the culture. This includes calling every believer to take up their role as a missionary – a missionary who balances word and deed. 

3.  Leadership and Vision in Missional Living

Emphasizing the importance of leadership, Keller calls for the training and equipping of people within the Church for missional living. This involves discipling lay people for ministry, moving beyond volunteering to relational evangelism. The call for those being discipled is to proclaim the Word while the call of God’s grace to be oriented to biblical justice. 

Details We Love

Shalom. Missio Dei. Imago Dei. Biblical Justice. Kingdom of God. 

Many of these themes are at the heart of True Charity. Keller’s approach is centered around a holistic view of Scripture that calls the local church to move from an evangelism-only focus to a faith that engages their community and those in need – seeking Kingdom transformation. Every day, churches in the West wrestle with their call. Is the mission to simply proclaim the Gospel? Or is it to proclaim the coming Kingdom of Christ? Keller argues that the biblical view is a partnership between the two; this partnership seeks the spiritual Shalom of individuals while working towards the Shalom of those in the city.

Considerations

Keller walks through many differing views of the mission of the Church. Therefore, readers should be prepared to engage with various understandings of the local church. Moreso, Keller himself writes from a conservative Christian background rooted in the doctrine of grace, which some readers may find controversial. 

It should also be noted that this book is not directly written to address serving those in poverty. Instead, Keller seeks to call the local church to engage with their communities – politically, socially, and relationally – bringing a taste of God’s Shalom to a world that is crying out for biblical justice. 

Who Should Read This?

Serving a Movement is ideal for church leaders, pastors, and those involved in Christian ministry. It’s also valuable for the Christian nonprofit leader who is seeking a biblical, holistic view of the Church’s mission in their daily work. 

Serving a Movement can be purchased at Amazon. If you purchase the book through this link, True Charity will earn a small amount as an Amazon Associate.