Jeremiah 9:23-24

Thus says the LORD: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; 24 but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the LORD; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the LORD.

From Background Notes [BN] for September 14^th & 15^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Two very different worlds confront each other on the lips of God’s messenger. One advocates boasting, while the other brings the personal knowledge of the Lord. One creates alienation, while the other offers reconciliation through love, justice, and righteousness. This other world is the one offered by Jesus.

 

Nearly two centuries ago, the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1955), raised the alarm about this crisis. A devout follower of Jesus Christ, and a critic of the state church, Kierkegaard made alienation — lostness — a major theme of his philosophy. Alienation is a term applied to a wide variety of phenomena including:

·         any feeling of separation from, and discontent with, society

·         feeling that there is a moral breakdown in society

·         feelings of powerlessness in the face of the solidity of social institutions

·         the impersonal, dehumanized nature of large-scale and bureaucratic social organizations.

For Kierkegaard, the present age is a reflective age, one that values:

·         objectivity and thought over action,

·         lip-service to ideals rather than action,

·         discussion over action,

·         publicity and advertising to reality,

·         fantasy to the real world.

For Kierkegaard, the meaning of values has been sucked out of them by a lack of real authority. Instead of the authority of the past or the Bible or any other great and lasting voice, we have emptiness and uncertainty. [BN,8]

Join us this week in Study, Worship, Praise and Celebration at Chicago First Church of the Nazarene:

* Saturday 6:00pm
* Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am, 5:30pm