by Pastor Ralph J. Mineo
Søren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher, known as the “Father of Existentialism” was actually a rather strict Lutheran who opposed abuses in the church! Certainly his most well-known reaching about religion is that, to be a Christian, you need to make a “Leap of Faith.” (It was used well as a visual vehicle in the third “Indiana Jones” film.)
But the truth is, this phrase may well be a mistranslation from the Danish! What Kierkegaard really said was that Christians must make a “Leap INTO faith.”
His illustration was that the story of Adam and Eve was a leap into sin. That leap totally changed their lives forever. Life changed from “no sin” to “sinful.”
To use the words of Paul, faith is a leap from “heading for destruction” to “being saved.” The cross of Jesus Christ divides the world into two groups of people: those “headed for destruction” and those “being saved.” Jesus used a parable of sheep being separated from goats. So Christians say with confidence, “The Lord is my Shepherd, and I’ll follow him for my salvation.”
Jesus offers us his very faith. We are given the opportunity to leap into that faith, in the lifestyle that Jesus calls us to, into forgiveness, into service, into love for one another as Jesus loved us.
The full quote from Paul is powerful: “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. We preach Christ crucified!”
When you get right down to it, it’s FOOLISH to believe that the power of God, the power of eternal life, the power of salvation is found in the cross, in an empty tomb, in bread and wine. If you believe it, you’re foolish. Call me a fool. Call me a fool for Christ. It you believe in the cross of Christ, I rejoice with you for making this FOOLISH leap into faith!
It’s the best exercise you’ll ever get! It’s a good idea to re-commit to this leap into faith on a daily basis! Go for it! Amen!
