I’ve come to enjoy reading thoughts from Søren Kierkegaard. I’ll confess to never having read an entire book of his. But I’ve read a number of thought-provoking quotes. Here’s one that I find intriguing:
The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I ever get on in the world?
Kierkegaard, Søren. Provocations spiritual writings. Farmington, PA: Plough House, 1999, p. 201
It’s a little like the old Mark Twain quote: “It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.” That’s how I feel much of the time.
And I heard people call Kierkegaard a heretic…well he nailed on that quote.
Grace and peace,
Rex
Kierkegaard nailed that one. We debate minutiae because it’s so much easier than just doing what we read.
Rex,
I admittedly make no claims as to any of Kierkegaard’s beliefs. I’ve read some insightful statements, but can’t tell you anything about his personal beliefs.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Wow, Tim. You’re on a roll! The story from yesterday about the fishermen was just sickening..too much truth to it. And, your quote today was convicting, too. I’m going to read these everyday til I think I’ve got it…oops, I sound like a fisherman. I mean, to inspire me. I don’t want to be like that! thanks
Tim,
My comment wasn’t aimed at you in any way. I have only read very little of what Kierkegaard actually wrote. From what I gather (and I could be wrong), he regarded himself as a Christian but also was quite willing to criticize with brunt force the fallacies he perceived in the institutional Christianity of his day.
Grace and Peace,
Rex
I didn’t feel rebuked, Rex. I just realized that some might think that I endorse some of Kierkegaard’s other thoughts, when I really have a very limited view on what he believed. I just know that he had quite a way with words.