Deeper shade of grey | Faith House 13

Not far from any sermon illustration website is the name and thoughts of Søren Kierkegaard. I’ve had a book of his parables on my bookcase for years and have started to slowly make my way through. Here’s the first one.

THE HAPPY CONFLAGRATION
What happens to those who try to warn the present age?

It happened that a fire broke out backstage in a theatre. The clown came out to inform the public. They thought is was just a jest and applauded. He repeated his warning, they shouted even louder. So I think the world will come to an end amid general applause from all the wits, who believe that it is a joke.
-Kierkegaard Kierkegaard, S. (1989). Parables of Kierkegaard (Kierkegaard’s Writings). Princeton: Princeton University Press. 

I suppose the idea of these sayings and parables is for them to provoke and to stimulate thought. We sang the words of General Albert Osborn this week and I have been provoked!

“Only as I know thee can I make thee truly known…”    - Albert Orsborn

There is a link here somewhere. At what level do we make God truly known? Too often I worry that a prevalent ‘consumer bar code Christian’ theology covers much of the profundity of God with stage paints, a big red nose, outlandishly large shoes and a ruff. There’s an irony here that presents itself, in that, in order to engage with the mystery of God we have to slip our God given enquiring minds into neutral.

I’m not sure that taking a leap of faith means our theology needs to become irrational in order to appreciate the mystery of God. Nor am I sure, that an attitude of ‘Many are the things I cannot understand, all above me mystery I see…’ is an excuse to be lazy with our thinking and theology.

Albert Orsborn and Søren Kierkegaard have got me thinking, if I present God at an superficial level what does it say of what I know of God? If I present God at an superficial level is it any wonder that no-one really listens!!

 

Writer: Capt. Gordon Cotterill lives in London, England, is married to Kate and has two daughters Bethan and Eryn. He has been a Salvation Army officer for ten years and ‘cut his teeth’ in ministry with his wife as the corps officers at Poplar in the East End of London. The lessons he learned there in his day-to-day ministry, amid the chaos of the inner city, continue to shape his understanding and passion for biblical and grace-centred mission. His latest appointment as Spiritual Programme Director at the William Booth College, London now offers him the opportunity for the fusion and exploration of ‘mission’ and ’spiritual formation’ while trying to inspire a new generation of Salvation Army officers as to their role in God’s plan for His creation. Gordon keeps a blog where he mulls over themes of mostly, mission and spiritual formation.

No comments yet.

Leave a comment