Bierkergaard: The Writings of Soren Kierkegaard

When Christ draws us, we become truly ourselves.

As we look behind and peer ahead at this time of year, let's keep our faith in God and take it a day at a time. The daily altar of coming to Him.

Today, the episode goes further in-depth on the Kierkegaardian idea of not taking a risk is the greatest risk. Then, a bit of Training in Christianity is read. Finally, we end with an allegory of the King and the Maiden which shows the Incarnation in an imaginative way. All the blessings of the season!

Soren establishes both the reality of Christ's Humiliation and His Exaltation. It is exaltation through humiliation. Both are required for an understanding of how God used what looked like overwhelming defeat for ultimate victory. An application of what this looks like in our own lives is explored.

Soren writes that to forget the regrets, sins, and vanities of our past, we need to look to Jesus. Those difficult memories must be replaced by something and someone greater. Look unto Jesus lifted up.

Soren continues to write about "Indirect Communication" so I named this episode Indirect Communication II. I am committed to reading Soren line-by-line so the repetition of themes are unavoidable. Hopefully, you as the listener still find new insights!

Soren writes about the internal "Soul Sorrow" of Jesus. The "Divine Incognito" obscures an inner sorrow of coming into a world broken by sin. One that the God-Man has been ordained to restore by His broken body. Lowrie suggests that Kierkegaard has soul sorrow in his breaking of the Engagement to Regine. While having an outward incognito of being the least serious man in Copenh...

This episode, Soren writes quite a bit about "Indirect Communication" as a reality of Christ willing to be Incognito. The footnote comments by translator Walter Lowrie are helpful in this matter. Also discuss the ramifications of having a Theology of Exaltation versus a Theology of the Cross. How human beings can twist this into dangerous political movements. Using the sword to compel be...

Jesus Christ, as the "Divine Incognito”, is the God-Man who willingly laid down the prerogatives of Deity to become a servant. Even to death on a cross.

When coming to the "Sign of Contradiction" we will either respond in faith or be offended. The sign reveals the thoughts of the heart. The podcast episode was cut-off at 50 minutes by Riverside so it ends abruptly.

"For thou mindest not the things of God but the things of men." Jesus to Peter. “A true friend expresses his/her views when the other person/friend is in evil paths." Soren. We all likely overestimate our courage when the test comes. Good to stay humble and pray that God gives us the strength to endure persecution and adversity because of our faith. If and when it happens. Soren does not dodge the...

"It is a whole musical tone deeper than common human suffering." Soren knew what it felt like to be mocked, derided, and dismissed, in his attempts to shake Copenhagen from its sleepy civil rectitude and Christendom. God uses the lowly and humble to confound the worldly-wise. Christ and His message is hope for those with faith and an insult to those who have not faith.

Soren details Peter's denial of Jesus. The Offense of God being a lowly man on trial for blasphemy.

"They are offended that He, this lowly man, should be the extraordinary one."

Jesus asked this of the 12 Disciples who had seen his miracles. The Offense. Proofs make us attentive but it still requires Faith.

When John was thrown into prison, he began to doubt Jesus as the Christ. "The huge folios which develop the truth of Christianity" (S.K.) were incinerated in the jail crucible of doubt. Proofs can make a person attentive to the claims of Christ. Faith is always required. "Wilt thou believe or wilt thou be offended?" The question then. The question now. That the Bible shows that...

The Established Order(s) in the the U.S., where ideology trumps truth. And trumpery is practiced in spades by the Right and Left political factions that are religious in character. About ultimacy. No deviance from all positions is the requirement. Or else.

"The Pharisees and the Scribes here represent the established order...which had become empty externalism." S.K. Matthew 15: 1-12

Kierkegaard writes that humanity is offended by Christ's assertion that He is God. And if God, how could He be a lowly man? "The God-man is the paradox, the absolute paradox."

Soren tells us not to fear the enemy within or outside. "Blessed is he/she who is not offended in Him but believes." Fear taking offense at the Cross.

"Admit candidly before God how it stands with him, so that he might accept the Grace which is offered to everyone, who is imperfect, that is everyone." Soren Kierkegaard

"He will not suffer Himself to be transformed to a nice...human God: He will transform men and women and that He wills out of Love." Soren Kierkegaard.

Jesus liberates the Believer from sin. Sin is hard labor, subjecting the soul to a burden we cannot bear in time and particularly, in eternity. Soren was no Existential Mocker of God. He was on the sure side of orthodoxy.

My buddy Jeremiah (the actor) and I talked about a film this morning. The Shrinking Man. And the lesson thereof. I matter, you matter, more than matter. God raises the human spirit here and now also. Foretelling Resurrection at the End of the Age. Then, I read of a recent suicide in Lancaster City off of the highest place in town. As rooftop restaurant on top of the Marriott. These two things seem...

The crowd became bitter and disillusioned with Jesus because He failed to conform to their vision of the Messiah.