In a characteristically dumb tweet for the aging Marxist, Tim Keller tweeted a nonsensical Confusious-Say type thought that speaks to his increasingly bizarre theology. Keller’s social religion has absolutely poisoned his brain.
Writing on Twitter yesterday, Keller claimed that “it’s impossible to forgive someone if you feel superior to him or her.”
No doubt, the sentiment came from the portion of Keller’s brain that is entirely devoted to notions of “diversion, inclusion, equity” that pervade his thoughts.
However, it’s woefully untrue and theologically disturbed.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Who is the Chief Being who must forgive sins? It is God. In each and every sin against another person, we also sin against. God.
Consider David’s sentiment when he sinned against Uriah. After effectively murdering him, David says…
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest (Psalm 51:4).
And yet, the God who forgives knows very well that he is superior to every human being on the planet.
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all (1 Chronicles 29:11).
Does God not think himself superior to each and every sinner that he forgives? Of course, he does.
As sinners, we recognize that when we forgive others, we do so because we have been forgiven also. The Scripture says, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
However, we do not have to predicate forgiveness upon the false humility and facade that all sinners are equal in the gravity or seriousness of our sin. While all sin is worthy of death (Romans 3:23), the Bible actually teaches that some sinners are greater sinners.
Paul called himself, for example, the “chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Some sinners are worthy of tougher judgment (Matthew 23:14).
We should forgive everyone of every trespass against us. But it’s not because no person is superior to another. It’s because God is superior to us.
And he knows that.
