Bierkergaard: The Writings of Soren Kierkegaard

Kierkegaard writes that Jesus had to be the "Lowly One" in order to save the world. He had to take on disadvantage, humiliation, slander, and even death on the Cross in order to redeem us. He did not use the advantages of being God to dodge suffering. Instead, He took it all on and overcame it. We are being redeemed from and redeemed to.

My dad passed away last Thursday. In this episode, I reflect on his life. Kierkegaard had a very complex relationship with his father also. No matter what our fathers did or did not say and do in this life, we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and made provision for us in Christ. My dad was reading the "Four Loves" by C.S. Lewis which I did not know until my brother and I cleaned out his room at the Assisted Living facility on Monday. That has given me great encouragement that my dad was seeking and finding before he passed from this world. This episode is dedicated to George Bierker, 1935 to 2026.

Kierkergaard saw Christendom, where all are Christians, to be in direct contradiction to the Scriptures where the faith is presented as both kindness and severity. God doesn't water down the Gospel to make it agreeable to those who are perishing.

We are not to love the things of the world but love the people in the world. The love of things of the world is idolatry. The love of people is a commandment. Christendom loves the things that the world provides. While its heart is far from God.

One of my best friends passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, 4/18. I talk about him, what he taught me and what we experienced as good friends of 4 decades. I weave in some Kierkegaard and also share an essay that I am working on about stillness. I will miss Todd so very much yet so happy that our paths met all those years ago when we were in our 20's!

Kierkegaard writes of the "Poor Simpleton" who believes in the Church Militant based on his reading of what the Bible and Jesus says.

Kierkegaard writes that one does not become a Christian by being born in Christendom. Instead, it is being born-again by Faith in God. Put personal updates mostly at the end besides talking about Sam the dog.

Kierkegaard continues to develop the idea that the Triumphant Church is just another term for a Worldly Church. As a side note, based on the stats for the podcast, it seems like the listeners of Bierkergaard enjoy the foray into my personal life stories. I know that is not everyone's cup of tea but many more seem to like it versus not.

Kierkegaard demonstrates the errors of the Triumphant Church vs. the Militant Church. In a culture where almost everyone is a Christian is likely a culture where few are. I get into a riff on bitterness at the front of the episode.

"I only know Truth when it becomes a life in me." Kierkegaard. Knowing truth intellectually is only part of knowing Truth in our whole Being.

When Pilate asked this infamous question, he was staring right at the Truth. Today's episode explores this exchange as well as who Pilate was.

Kierkegaard reminds us that Jesus being crucified casts the human race in quite an unflattering light.

"Now existence has racked him as hard as it can rack a person." (Kierkegaard). Sometimes all we can say, like Martin Luther, "I can do no other. God help me."

Kierkegaard writes in his book "Works of Love" that if you hold humanity up to the light, you will see the watermark of eternity. Regardless of what is written on the paper. We are made in the image of God. The Incarnation is the eternal God coming into the temporal world. What Soren calls "Perfect Ideality" in "Training in Christianity." We must treat others as glorious first before anything else.

Life for most of us is long enough to weigh what we believe and why. Yet, life is short in light of eternity. Too many people exchange what is passing for what is eternal. Kierkegaard reminds us it is a period of trial and examination. It comes to an end.

Kierkegaard writes, "The world in which they crucify love and beg acquittal for a robber." The Resurrection of Jesus is both a physical reality and a spiritual necessity. For love is stronger than death.

This is Soren at his best. Creating a story about a child, who for the first time, sees a picture of Jesus crucified. And then hears that Jesus loved all people, Saviour of the World, and is both the Humiliated and Exalted One. We cannot allow the familiarity of the story cause us to not be jarred by its incongruity.

Every day was a preparation for His Burial. Listen to the podcast episode to find out why!

Christ is both the Humiliated One and the Exalted One. The word is translated as contradiction. I think a better word is paradox. He is both without being divided. In human terms, might often makes right in the politics of power in the world. God is both might and right.

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 Copenhagen.

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 beliefs.

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 hard teachings and words of Jesus.

"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 John doubted points to the fact that the Bible's heroes outside of Jesus are so very human. And, in my estimation, point to the accounts of John's doubt as being accurate. None were, born of a woman, greater than John. According to Jesus. And John doubted.

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 to be a Tapestry of Tragedy and Hope. I just decided to hit record and talk.

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

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.