Bierkergaard: The Writings of Soren Kierkegaard

What are we to make of Jesus stating that He is God? Are not all such claims shrouded in darkness making all claims to Deity grey? Soren writes that it is Jesus's humility which makes Him unique in His Deity. It is not a posture that any individual could and would think up. Our claims to Deity would elevate us; not humble us. Even if we were bonkers and off our rocker.

Soren writes that Jesus was/is the Expected One. Who was so Unexpected!

This bonus episode was supposed to be THE episode today until my phone alarm went off at 7:00 AM. Rather than chuck it, listen to it if you like my meanderings using Kierkegaard as the jumping off point. I get into Christendom and also what I term COSTCO Christianity (U.S. version of Christendom).

Soren riffs on the idea that Jesus, had nowhere to lay His head, and that being the case, how could He offer rest? Can God truly be homeless? The answer is "Yes" because the rest He offers all is soul rest. Knowing that God is working in us for our good

I used the song "Drowning Man" by U2 to show the profound difference between Christendom, which is some Dialectical System of Principles which have made accommodation with the world, versus Christ, the God-Man, who offers us His Hand and His Peace.

As Soren writes in today's reading: "He humbled Himself and was swaddled in rags." The God-Man is a paradox and Faith in Him is not the result of mere historical knowledge. It is the belief fundamentally that He is who He says He is. That Faith is as contemporary now as it was 2000 years ago.

Kierkegaard strongly affirms that until Christ returns in glory, Christians are called to live as he did. In humility. For in humility, we will find rest for our souls.

"He (Jesus) went, in sooth, the infinitely long way from being God to becoming a man, and that way, He went in search of sinners." The Grace of God. The Weight of Glory, as C.S. Lewis phrased it in his essay. BTW, "In Sooth" means "Truly."

Rituals and Religious Observances often become part of the problem rather than providing any relief. They are fine in their place but no amount of ritual and rites provides forgiveness. Just one more burden to bear. Come to Jesus and find rest for your souls.

"Oh, wonderful! That it is this very Helper who invites all." So Soren writes of Jesus, who says, "Abide with Me, for in abiding with Me there is rest."

Soren begins "Training In Christianity" with an exposition of the verse where Jesus promises to give rest, to those who are heavily burdened. As the Suffering One, he knows our troubles and is well-acquainted with grief. Yet, as the Eternal One, he is able to give us rest for our souls. That promise is as fresh and valid as it was 2,000 or so years ago when Jesus first said it. Rest conn...

Today we finish the General Introduction. Hooray! My voice had a frog in it all podcast that I could not shake. Just a head's up. Soren was emphatic that he was claiming no moral superiority compared to the Danish Church. He, as a Christian, was a work in progress just like all of us. That is what "Training" and "Practice" presupposes. He wanted Christendom to confess that...

Worked through the Preface and began the General Introduction today for Training In Christianity. It has been an interesting review of the background of this last book written by Kierkegaard.

We are almost finished reviewing the timeline of Soren's life including the writing and publication of "Training In Christianity." Soren writes, "What is able thus to inspire individuals to sacrifice everything, to venture life and blood, must be truth. This is the proof which is adduced for the truth of Christianity."

Well, thought I might be able to get through the summary timeline of Soren's life as written by Walter Lowrie in his translation of "Training In Christianity." This book was the final tome Kierkegaard wrote in his lifetime so it is very useful and interesting to review the progression of his life and literary career chronologically. Hopefully, we can finish up the timeline next week...

This week and next week we will get into the backstory of this book as well as review a timeline of Soren's life, his book publishing dates, and the events that contributed to his writings. This episode is not a reading line by line of the Introduction and Preface type of materials. Just selected quotes. I may decide to do this selected quotes approach of his remaining books because there are...

Soren called himself "One without authority." He had considered the pastorate but felt God's call to be a writer. So, the Upbuilding Discourses were first for him. To uplift himself and perhaps also the series of the "single individuals" who'd glean spiritual benefit from his writings and whom he called "My readers." His goal: "Introducing Christianity to...

Selected entries from Kierkegaard's Journals and Papers pertaining to 18 Upbuilding Discourses. I thought I could finish it off today. Alas, one more week! After next week we'll be moving on to "Training In Christianity."

Soren writes, "So the struggle goes...his prayer calls on God for help against himself." The greatest enemy is yourself.

Soren writes, "The one whose calm eyes seek only God...this inwardness is guarded as a sacred fire within a person."

Soren writes, "Even though He does not fulfill every wish, He still lives closer to us and is moved by the strugglers cry." God may answer "No" to our prayer as it is not in accordance with His will. No is an answer. Yet, He hears us. Draw comfort from that.

Soren writes that we "Win By Losing" in prayer. We let go of our will and pray for God's will. Peace is at a premium in this world and the way to have it is to lay down all manipulation, probability, and scheming.

The purpose of prayer is to will the good. To want what God wants. Today I used the line from Kierkegaard "Don't be a Reward-Hungry Sensate Person" as the basis for my rant. And it is rant, yet not fly-off-the-handle rant, but a reflection of where we are at as a culture. Kierkegaard gives us the insight to be better than our culture. Being just like our adversaries makes us no bette...

Soren writes that a conciliatory spirit is the hardest revenge. "The worst punishment for insults is to forget them." Losing is winning.

Soren writes in this Upbuilding Discourse, "The turbulence of life which carries the child and the youth earlier and earlier out into the pandemonium, gather them into the vociferous crowd or make them vociferous." Sounds like social media. And us adults are no better. Prefer to make your resolutions in silence with God. Keep the crowd out of it. At least that is my takeaway. There is a...