Sunday, January 02, 2005

Kierkegaard: followers, not admirers

Kierkegaard says that Jesus came to call disciples, or followers.

And yet so many in Christendom are admirers of Christ, not followers.
The difference between an admirer and a follower still remains, no matter where you are. The admirer never makes any true sacrifices. S/he always plays it safe. Though in words, phrases, songs, s/he is inexhaustible about how highly s/he prizes Christ, s/he renounces nothing, gives up nothing, will not reconstruct [personal] life, will not be what s/he admires, and will not let his [or her] life express what it is s/he supposedly admires. Not so for the follower. No, no. The follower aspires with all strength, and all...will to be what s/he admires. And then, remarkably enough, even though s/he is living amongst a “Christian people,” the same danger results as was once the case when it was dangerous to openly confess Christ. And because of the follower’s life, it will become evident who the admirers are, for the admirers will become agitated with him [or her].

Convicting words.

God help me!

Amen.



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