What struck me the most was that Pastor Timothy Keller uses his theological studies with everyday people in New York. Timothy Keller’s book, The Reason For God, is a combination of his education in Christian doctrine, theology, history, and apologetics and on his experiential use of this knowledge with people. In combining the two, Keller creates a book with a cumulative, though introductory, argument for God’s existence that is as moving as it is reasonable. I was a bit skeptical at the beginning of the book. Keller makes a generalized claim that the discourse between the church and secular culture was completely polarized (which is too overarching of a claim—found on page xv). Though, as I read on, I realized he did not really accept this view. His own church is a testimony to the crossing over supposed “barriers” between secular and sacred. His book is thoughtful, yet accessible, and his doctrine is conservative. Keller does not apologize for the foundational tenets of Christianity: the sin nature, atonement, the imputation of righteousness, sanctification, Jesus’ actual death and resurrection as the Son of God, and the Trinity, to name a few. Instead, he explains the necessity for each with part formal argumentation and part common sense argumentation (i.e. no one can live out certain ideology). There is much material in his book I would like to discuss, but for practicality I will only touch on the highlights. First, Keller presents a cumulative defense of God in a very readable way; he covers the bases—or what I would consider as “need to knows.” He discusses religious and moral relativism, the problem of evil and suffering, human rights in a naturalistic evolutionary worldview, the compatibility of religion and science, and the reality of great human failing in the history of the Christian church. Second, he combats faulty views of the Christian God. This is a battle in which I participate frequently. A person, usually unknowingly, will set up an unorthodox view of the Christian God and then proceed to attack that version. Keller clears up misconceptions according to Christian views and then demonstrates the practical problems with these versions of God, as well. He also reminds the readers to set the Christian concept of God, as found in the Scripture, back into the cultural-historical context of the earliest followers. This is an extremely important reminder for understanding Christian ideas such as resurrection. Third, Keller defines “sin” and “religion” as appropriate to the Biblical understanding of these two terms. Sin is “not just the doing of bad things, but the making of good things into ultimate things. It is seeking to establish a sense of self by making something else more central to your significance, purpose, and happiness than your relationship to God.”(page 162) Religion is referred to as “salvation through moral effect.” (page 175) He contrasts religion with the Christian term, “gospel,” which is referent to “salvation through grace.” Keller reminds us that “religion” was spoken against by Jesus where it meant man’s works to get to God or to gain approval. He even described a kind of avoidance of Jesus as Savior through the keeping of all “the rules.” Very morally upright people can place their trust in their own actions rather than solely in the action of God’s grace through Jesus. Fourth, Christians fail to use the resources available to them in Christ. The reality of the gospel is the possibility of a radically different life. Keller states, “Christians are people who let the reality of Jesus change everything about who they are, how they see, and how they live.” (page 231) However, he reminds us that at the core of that reality is a freeing grace, not conforming people to certain cultural standards, but allowing for the full expression of culture through freedom found in Christ to be exactly who God made you. Finally, what struck me the most was that Keller uses his theological studies with everyday people in New York. To cite a couple of clichés, he is not holed up in an ivory tower or waxing poetic from a philosopher’s armchair. He is amongst people; and his concern for the individual pours from the words of his book. Thanks, MJ