Bierkergaard: The Writings of Soren Kierkegaard

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.”

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.

When we lose patience, fail to find and preserve it, our souls get bruised and eventually broken. We find ourselves discontent and with others who are discontent. The Council of the Mockers. The Jaded. The Cynical. Take time, make time, for God. For he is our resting place.

“The soul that has the courage to give up everything else…and when the soul does not believingly aspire to the eternal, does not hopefully hurry toward the future, is not lovingly in understanding with God and human beings, it is lost. On the contrary, if it announces itself in this powerful presence, then the single individual has indeed saved his soul.” (p. 193, 18 Upbuilding Discourses).

When we have the soul patience and trust that God is working in us and through us for our and others’ good and His glory, then we can lay aside impatience and be at peace with our past, calm in the present, and tranquil about the future. We trust he is making our souls better. And not bitter. Ephesians 4:31-32. That is a solid thought for 2024! * A reminder that Bierkergaard is on Instagram and X. Join me!

By pleasure, Soren means the pursuit of things of this world without eternity in mind and lacking the patience in our souls. Make space for the eternal. Therefore, we won’t “Slave in worry’s deliberation.” Trust God. Take time, for we have eternity.

In losing our soul, it is us that does it. No one else has that power and authority. We trade our souls to gain the world. And in death, have lost both our souls and the world. * I use the word “We” as admission that no one is safe from making this transaction with eternal consequences. ** I am also working on being more patient behind the wheel and just enjoying the drive despite the chaos. Happy Holidays!

We gain our soul by surrender. We preserve our soul likewise by surrender. To God. Refusing to allow the world to cross the walls of our soul and fill it inordinately with the cares and frustrations of this life.

The world says if you want something, go after it. Be strong and take it. In matters of the soul, we gain by losing. A letting go versus a taking up. Surrender to God is victory. Lose oneself to gain oneself.

Soren considers trading the soul for the world; eternality for temporality. Some reflection at the beginning on parenting and then a brief discussion on post-Temple Rabbinic Judaism. Then, Soren.

“The world can be possessed by only possessing me…may it not be the world’s stratagem to lead a person to think that if he possesses the world that he is not possessed by it.” We end with a prayer of St. Augustine.

Soren calls Patience a “Poor Bird.” As compared to a bird that comes “parading and posturing.” Instead, “It comes like a soft breeze and the incorruptible essence of a quiet spirit. Patience is a poor art and yet it is very long.” Cultivating patience of soul is a lifelong endeavor, as we look to eternity versus this passing world’s adversities and prosperities. As a note, I’ll add another survey for you to assess the new microphone and audio quality of this episode. Correction: The Euphrates is in Iraq. I know that. I said Iran.

To gain one’s soul in patience. Soren writes, “Patience is a poor bird.” “It does not come parading and posturing but comes like a soft breeze and the incorruptible essence of a quiet spirit.” Also reviewed in this episode are the first 8 Upbuilding Discourses. P.S. My apology on the excessive background noise in the recording today. I was moving a lot more material around and the like. I will be more mindful of such in the future.

Soren concludes this Upbuilding Discourse: “The equality of love which lasts and is the only thing that lasts.”

We are most like Jesus when we give with an open hand, a pure heart, and a clear conscience, where we have no demands of reciprocation. Doing so greatly assists us when encountering feedback that is negative or apathetic. God blesses us spiritually.

Soren writes that we are to offer good gifts without lording it over the recipient. We are to be humble. We are just stewards. The gift then is from God. Not us.

Soren challenges us to use our talents not for worldly acclaim or deflecting criticism, but to genuinely do good in the world. Give without expectations of applause or avoiding boos, and let God take it from there. As mentioned, I will be on WITF-The Spark on November 3rd. I’ll be talking about my book “On The Edge: Transitioning Imaginatively To College” and will definitely be sneaking some Soren writings into the conversation. Pray that I am joyful.

Alan Torrance and Andrew Torrance joined us today to talk about their book (the podcast title) and the profound implications of Kierkegaard and Barth for the 21st Century Church and world, and the influence of Kierkegaard on Barth. This conversation is a theological tour de force with many implications for us as Christians in our present day as we peer into the future.

Soren writes in this Upbuilding Discourse #8 “the divine equality that like a fire burns ever more intensely in the difference without, however humanly speaking, consuming it.” We are to treat all people equally before God, despite the differences we have.

Soren writes that we need to be meek and humble before God, to receive the Word implanted, which saves our souls. We thus conclude Upbuilding Discourse #7, “Every Good Gift.”

Soren writes, “What happened at the beginning of days is repeated in every generation: the consequences of the fruit of the knowledge could not be halted,” Sin is like a serpent. Smooth talk and then suffocation.

Soren writes, “And yet there is no hiding place in the whole world where trouble will not find you…so then, be earnest with yourself; fix your eyes upon Job.”

Job faced the loss of everything clearly. He didn’t romanticize the past but neither did he deny that God had been good to him. Soren develops these ideas in depth. This podcast is dedicated to the memory of Lucy Kirkman and her essay, “What If Tomorrow.”

Soren emphasizes that Job is thankful that the Lord gave. Job, in this way, reminds us that God gives us everything we have. And that ultimately, everything in this world will be taken away. Only that which is done for eternity will last.

Job teaches us not only by what he said but also by what he did. He worshiped God in his trials and tribulations. Giving us his life as an example. “The Lord gave, and the Lord took away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

We finish up Upbuilding Discourse 5 “Strengthening the Inner Being” and start 6, “The Lord Gave and the Lord Took Away. Blessed Be the Name of the Lord.” Soren’s writings about Job’s sufferings provide sustenance in hard times. We can lose everything but still have God.

The inner being, Soren writes, “Looks not at the gifts but the Giver.” God gives us Himself. So whether we have adversity or prosperity, or some combination, looking to the Giver (God) allows us to experience increased calmness and peace, even as our concerns increase.

This is a re-post due to a tech glitch. Both adversity and prosperity can strengthen the inner person through God’s Spirit.

Soren writes, of the Apostle Paul’s ministry, the power of this miracle: “To transform hardships into a witness for the truth of a teaching…is this not like making the lame walk and the mute speak?” We gain confidence that the Gospel transforms trouble into eternal Truth.

Spotify is doing some work on the podcaster side of its platform on Wednesday, when I typically do the podcast. So, I will do it on Thursday instead. You can listen to episodes on Wednesday, I just cannot do one. So, I decided to read the prayer at the beginning of Upbuilding Discourse #5 while also mentioning that the next podcast will be published Thursday.

We finish this Upbuilding Discourse of “Love Hiding a Multitude of Sins” with a revisiting of Jesus loving a woman who the religious men hated. And she learned to love Him and herself in the process. And to turn away from her past.

Soren brilliantly explains that love is not a blind and fanciful but fleeting feeling. It is sober-minded and sees sin clearly. Yet, love also forgives and extends grace. A paradox for sure which is the genius of Kierkegaard at his best in interpreting and applying Scriptural truth.