The Dangerous Instrument

I wonder if a man handing another man an extremely sharp, polished, two-edged instrument would hand it over with the air, gestures, and expression of one delivering a bouquet of flowers?  Would not this be madness?  What does one do, then?  Convinced of the excellence of the dangerous instrument, one recommends it unreservedly, to be sure, but in such a way that in a certain sense one warns against it.  So it is with Christianity.  If what is needed is to be done, we should not hesitate, aware of the highest responsibility, to preach in Christian sermons – yes, precisely in Christian sermons – AGAINST Christianity.”

-Soren Kierkegaard, Works of Love, p.191-

I’ve read this a good number of times and each time I think I understand it a bit more.  What do you think?

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Advent

Heavenly hosts burst forth in hallelujahs (not tears) at the sight of their naked, helpless Creator in the straw.  Heaven’s best lavished on the least of earth.  Glory to God, they exclaimed.  The first fruits of the new world order have come, and he has revealed the values of his kingdom:  vulnerability, obedience with abandon, lavish giving, faith that defies reason, volitional downward mobility.

Foolishness.  God has chosen the weak to lead the strong and the foolish to confound the wise.  His end?  That all may know his utter dependability to care for those who will risk trusting him.”

-Robert Lupton-

Their’s is the Kingdom: Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America

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Snarky Morality Club

Christians believe some things very deeply, but they don’t always see things clearly or express them with Gospel wisdom. When they forget the Gospel, they forget who they are and start finding ways to be justified in comparison to “real sinners.” There’s nothing about the Kingdom of God in a snarky morality club, but too many people don’t know the difference. They usher people out as if they are the angels gathering the elect at the last day, not signs pointing every person, no matter what their sin of the day, to the savior and the wedding feast at the end of the world.”

-Michael Spencer @ iMonk-

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