Bierkergaard: The Writings of Soren Kierkegaard

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