The Great Dane, Soren Kierkegaard, lived in the middle of the 18th century wrote words which have infuriated and captivated Christians. Here is a sampling from his "Provocations:"
"It is well known that Christ consistently used the expression 'follower.' He never asks for admirers. No, he calls disciples. There is nothing to admire in Jesus, unless you want to admire poverty, misery, and contempt . . . Admirers keep themselves at a safe distnace. They are only all too willing to serve Christ as long as proper caution is exercised, lest one personally come in contact with danger. As such, they refuse to accept that Christ's life is a demand. In actual fact, they are offended by him" (p.85-86).
"When everything is favorable to our Christianity, it is all too easy to confuse an admirer with a follower. The admirer can be in the delusion that the position he takes is the true one, when all he is doing is playing it safe . . . The difference between an admirer and a follower still remains, no matter where you are. The admirer never makes any true sacrifices . . . He renounces nothing, will not reconstruct his life, will not be what he admires. Not so for the follower. No, no. The follower aspires with all his strength, with all his will to be what he admires" (pp.86, 88).
Are you a follower or an admirer of Jesus?
"It is well known that Christ consistently used the expression 'follower.' He never asks for admirers. No, he calls disciples. There is nothing to admire in Jesus, unless you want to admire poverty, misery, and contempt . . . Admirers keep themselves at a safe distnace. They are only all too willing to serve Christ as long as proper caution is exercised, lest one personally come in contact with danger. As such, they refuse to accept that Christ's life is a demand. In actual fact, they are offended by him" (p.85-86).
"When everything is favorable to our Christianity, it is all too easy to confuse an admirer with a follower. The admirer can be in the delusion that the position he takes is the true one, when all he is doing is playing it safe . . . The difference between an admirer and a follower still remains, no matter where you are. The admirer never makes any true sacrifices . . . He renounces nothing, will not reconstruct his life, will not be what he admires. Not so for the follower. No, no. The follower aspires with all his strength, with all his will to be what he admires" (pp.86, 88).
Are you a follower or an admirer of Jesus?
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