God in Gotham: Tim Keller’s theology of the city

Abstract

The mass exodus of white evangelicals from urban life after World War II created numerous injustices for the minority populations that remained in the city. Evangelical missiologists have attempted to remedy these injustices in recent decades by organizing a return to the city. Although the theological leaders organizing this return are aware of the injustices associated with the initial urban exodus, they do not typically evaluate how classic, evangelical theologies perpetuate the cultural rhythms creating the injustices in the first place. One such theology may be found in the writings of Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, in New York City. This article carries out a detailed analysis of Keller’s recent work, Center City, to evaluate the adequacy of his theology as a corrective to the social injustices of the evangelical exodus from the city in a post-World War II era.