In a word, it's brilliant. Or rather - Vandy's summary of Kierkegaard's life and ministry is fascinating, and he makes it easier to understand a mind steeped in such difficult (and often seemingly-conflicting) subjects such as theology, philosophy, and psychology.
Here's a small sample of what Kierkegaard brought to the discussion about faith and reason - a tension we continue to live in today:
"1. The truth that is revealed in Jesus' life is not like that of Ghandi or Socrates - Jesus, as God, can reveal Eternal Truths...which cannot be revealed in other ways.
2. The incarnation, in which God became human, is a decisive event in human history. It is not merely a matter of another baby being born who affected the world in a major way. If Jesus is God, then Jesus' birth is the moment when God decisively intervenes in creation.
3. If this is true, then for an individual to come to accept the message of Jesus is not like acquiring one more piece of information. It will have a decisive impact on the individual which will affect the whole of his or her life.
4. The moment when a person accepts the incarnation and decides to take seriously the Eternal Truth that Jesus brings will be decisive. It will affect the individual's whole life. It marks the passage from error [which Kierkegaard equated with sin] into Truth. If Jesus is God and if the message that Jesus brings is decisive for all human beings, then Jesus is effectively the Teacher as he brings truth that could not be known elsewhere, and the Savior of those who take on board that message as he brings people from error into Truth." - Peter Vardy, p. 12-13
So what does this have to do with faith, or with anything in the real world? I've found that some of the best works I've been able to encounter - theology and philosophy being my cup of tea - don't immediately branch into my life. What they provide is fertile soil for thinking about real-world issues. Or, they provide a more adequate architecture for faith in Christ that is both personal and discuss-able in winsome ways.
And I also recognize that for some people, this kind of thinking just doesn't make a lot of sense. Believe me - I don't understand all of it, either. But it's good to have a variety of insights into what we believe, and it looks like Kierkegaard might become one of those conversation partners for me who - even posthumously - helps me grow in my faith.
May God lead you to someone who helps you grow as well.
Solo Dei gloria,
Travis
PS - If you're a K-12th grade student's parent or grandparent, don't miss the Children's & Student Ministries' Fall Kickoff event next Sunday - August 25 - at 4pm at FPC. We'll have goodies, games, and plenty of opportunities to connect with the staff and teams behind these vital ministries. And just for fun, we'll have a slide show of pictures of our leaders from their glory days of high school and beyond. Three cheers for Big Time 80s hair! I'll see you there.
No comments:
Post a Comment