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Keller Dismantles Biggest Doubts about Christianity

As skepticism toward Christianity grows and more people identify themselves as having "no religious preference," a Manhattan pastor and now author says robust, orthodox beliefs in the traditional faiths is growing as well.

"I think these younger Christians are the vanguard of some major new religious, social, and political arrangements that could make the older form of culture wars obsolete," Keller writes in his book. "After they wrestle with doubts and objections to Christianity many come out on the other side with an orthodox faith that doesn't fit the current categories of liberal Democrat or conservative Republican."

It's this young crowd that he has largely drawn to Redeemer.

Although he hasn't put himself out there as a kind of megachurch pastor who is deliberately in jeans or who's "hip," he says, his challenging sermons and orthodox Christianity has reached thousands of young professionals.

There are no video screens or a rock band, and the Redeemer congregation sings hymns to wind instruments and an organ. But the congregation is largely young, single and diverse and has grown to five services at three different locations on Sunday.

His way of putting the Gospel in a nutshell: "You are more wicked than you ever dared believe, and yet you are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than you ever dared hope."

Considered "a pioneer of the new urban Christians," as dubbed by Christianity Today magazine, Keller has also helped plant 60 churches in the city.

And now out with his first-ever published book, Keller hopes to provide an intelligent platform on which Christians can stand their ground in an age of skepticism.

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