The message of the Bible and moral exemplars

Tim Keller on the problem with using biblical characters as moral exemplars:

When both liberal and conservative people read the book of Esther - in fact, they read the Bible - so many of them get so upset, because they say, "Look at these people! Look at what they're doing! These are supposed to be moral exemplars, aren't they? What kind of people are these? I don't want to read about this!"

If you ever feel that way about reading the Bible, it shows that you don't understand the message of the Bible. You're imposing your understanding of the message on the Bible. You're assuming that the message of the Bible is "God blesses and saves those who live morally exemplary lives." That's not the message of the Bible. The message of the Bible is that God persistently and continuously gives his grace to people who don't ask for it, don't deserve it, and don't even fully appreciate it after they get it.

Comments

[Brian]

Do you have a cite for this great quote?

[dsd]

It's from an April 15 sermon on Esther:http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=18633