Bierkergaard: The Writings of Soren Kierkegaard

Spotify announced it is ending its podcast creation and editing platform tonight at midnight. It will still host podcasts. Spotify now has a collaboration with an application called Riverside which is “supposed” to provide the platform for the creating and editing functions of podcasts and then to then post episodes into Spotify and other podcasting platforms like Apple and etc. As I mention in this episode, Spotify and Riverside appear to be having tech glitches with the two not working together as they should right now. Hopefully, they’ll iron out the issues but that is out of my control. So, if my podcast on Wednesday is not posted, it is likely going to be because of tech problems that are not within my domain to fix. Stay tuned and thanks again for listening!

The Apostle Paul, calls his earthly affliction, “brief and light” compared to the eternal weight of glory. The expectancy of salvation.

Today is the day of salvation. Not tomorrow or eternity. Soren admonishes us readers to hear his words and to act now rather than delay and presume that God is subject to human demands and wishes. That presumption is dangerously arrogant. We are to accept this gift of His salvation on His terms, and thus experience that happy calmness in the midst of trouble.

Not all wishing is frivolous and selfish. Soren reminds us that to truly wish for salvation is sound. For ourselves, for others, and is fundamental. And we even can have fun! Bierkergaard, putting the fun in Fundamentalism.

Today we have Kierkegaard scholar Dr. Marilyn Piety who is a distinguished college professor share her insights on how Kierkegaard speaks to the 21st Century young adult in some very profound and helpful ways. This was a fun interview.

“O God, preserve a recollection of youth that preserves a youth’s thoughts of his Creator….those thoughts are the child’s most beautiful ornament, and the bride’s most beautiful jewel, and the dying person’s best garment.”

Thinking about your Creator when young grounds and grows your life on and in the foundation of Truth. In reviewing the audience of the podcast, 80% of the listeners are between 23-44 years of age, with nearly 40% being 23-27. Have a relentless commitment to the Truth and It shall set you free. Nothing else can. Nothing else will. You will have the ability to walk confidently in an often antagonistic world.

Soren, in citing the Preacher’s admonition of “Remembering One’s Creator” when young, does not go too far in the other direction by telling the young to become adults too soon. Enjoy being young. Just remember your Creator.

The episode title is the name of a book by Henning Fenger. It seeks to establish that Soren’s life has a good amount of fiction in it, in terms of Soren’s own presentation of his life story. I dispute a decent amount of Fenner’s allegations. By seeking to correct a series of errors, he seems to commit his own errors in interpreting Soren’s life and writings. I don’t entirely dismiss all of Fenner’s points. But, neither do I accept them on the whole. This episode incorporates the “Remember Your Creator” admonition by The Preacher and Soren.

“The thought of the Creator is youth’s most beautiful splendor.” Soren contrasts this with the vanity of the world and the pernicious toil of meaninglessness. Life is hard. And useless. Work hard and it means, ultimately, nothing. Which is where the prominent ideology of our day Materialism, takes us-to nothing, where if it is only matter, nothing ultimately matters. Thinking of our Creator animates and redeems the dust and decay of despair. The Easter message.

We finish up (phew) Patience in Expectancy, through the story of the noble one, Anna. Enjoy the sawing of trees noises in the background at the end of the podcast! Special bonus.

Jesus came into a world torn by division, conflict, hatred, apathy, worldliness, false gods, and misplaced hopes. Not much different than our own. Despite our toys and technology, the key matter of life is still essentially this: Where do we place and put our hope? On the world and all that it offers and is passing away or the eternal God and His promises? Don’t “Waste the power of our souls and the content of our lives in calculation and the irascible unwholesomeness of worldly probabilities.”

When we have an eternal perspective, the “New Oil in Readiness” we eschew the temporality of the “Goblet of Intoxication.” Then, the patience in expectancy becomes manifest. Eternity triumphs over the world. A world that often is shaded by pain. https://youtu.be/g9Uoup9Gjn4?si=sTxt2OVSGoPqf0qP

Soren writes, “Once again, cast your sorrow upon the Lord…for this heavenly expectancy begins precisely when the earthly expectancy sinks down powerless in despair.” Cast our hope upon God. Not this world. Keep Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door. https://youtu.be/rm9coqlk8fY?si=lL2EF3bp9Nir5jcw

Soren writes much about Anna, that she is, despite her age, the eternal’s young fiancée; this tranquility in her eyes that nevertheless is expectant. Of God’s coming in Jesus. It is the fulfillment of all her hope over all those years. She is an example to all of us to put our hope where it belongs, onto God. Not this world which is passing away.

Soren writes, “If a person’s soul comes to a standstill in the monotony of self-concern and self-preoccupation, then he/she is bordering on soul rot unless the contemplation stirs and moves him/her.” The contemplation of God and His promises for deliverance. In this world and the world to come.

Expectancy is a hope. For the night of troubles to end and for the day of hope to begin. Jesus, we are reminded on this day of Valentine’s and Lent, took our ashes and gives us his beauty. What love is this!

Patience does not abandon anyone in any distress. It waits even if we push it away. For patience is ultimately based in the character of God in eternity. Let patience create eternity in our temporality, peace in our problems, tranquility in our troubles.

Our guest today is Soren himself! Rather than blather on about it, give it a listen!

How is it that Impatience is both cold and a fire? Those two things are never paired together. Soren employs this dichotomy to tell us that Impatience will leave us alienated and alone and yet still burn without ceasing. It sounds like Hell itself. The worst possible condition. Seek out Patience. For she is a faithful friend.