Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians

by Mark A. Tietjen, Merold Westphal (Foreword)

Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) had a mission. The church had become weak, flabby and inconsequential. Being a Christian was more a cultural heritage than a spiritual reality. His mission—reintroduce the Christian faith to Christians. How could he break through to people who were members of the church and thought they were Christians already? Like an Old Testament prophet, Kiergegaard used a variety of pointed and dramatic ways to shake people from their slumber. He incisively diagnosed the spiritual ailments of his age and offered a fresh take on classic Christian teaching. Mark Tietjen thinks that Kierkegaard's critique of his contemporaries strikes close to home today. We also need to listen to one of the most insightful yet complex Christian thinkers of any era. Through an examination of core Christian doctrines—the person of Jesus Christ, human nature, Christian witness and love—Tietjen helps us hear Kierkegaard's missionary message to a church that often fails to follow Christ with purity of heart.

Genres: Theology, Philosophy, Nonfiction

177 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 4, 2016

Reviews

[Eric Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you heard Kierkegaard is dangerous? Have you heard his philosophy has undermined the church? Have you heard he is the"father of existentialism," that he proclaimed a gospel contrary to the Gospel?

Me, too.

You should read this book. You will find Kierkegaard is indeed dangerous but not for the reasons so many Christians have feared. He is dangerous because he calls us to the Gospel. As for undermining the church and having a paternal claim to existentialism, judge for yourself.

Mark Tietjen has written an excellent introduction to Kierkegaard as a Christian thinker, writer, philosopher, and missionary--an introduction that goes beyond merely clarifying Kierkegaard's intent to engaging in his intent--calling those who "know" to self-examination that they may know and so live.

[Michael Philliber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only exposure I had with Søren Kierkegaard was in some passing references in theological and philosophical works. So I was hesitantly interested in picking up the recently published “Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians” by Mark A. Tietjen, chaplain and Grace Palmer Johnston Chair of Bible at The Stony Brook School in Stony Brook, New York, former professor of philosophy at the University of west Georgia, past secretary-treasurer of the Søren Kierkegaard Society, and author. This 173 page paperback ended up being a pleasant read by an author who was knowledgeable and delighted with his subject.

After a short foreword by Merold Westphal, “Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians” cruises through five easy chapters. The first brings the reader up to speed on the life of Søren Kierkegaard, his loves, academic background, and format of writing. The author coaches us on how to pronounce his subject’s name properly, and addresses some of the bad press Kierkegaard has received from modern writers like Francis Schaeffer, Dave Breese, and Walter Kaufmann. In the end it is obvious that Tietjen sees that “there is no reason to think [Kierkegaard’s] personal Christian beliefs were outside the parameters of classic Reformed, Lutheran orthodoxy” (36).

The subsequent chapters address four themes the author perceives as central to Kierkegaard’s program: Jesus Christ (theology), the human self (psychology), Christian witness (communicating Christian truth to the world) and the life of Christian love (ethics). Throughout each chapter Tietjen makes clear that Kierkegaard was pushing for a genuine Christianity, one that included body, soul, mind, life and love. The author shows how he stood in opposition to the sterile Christianity of his day that was reduced to a social and civil religion. Keirkegaard believed that “when one views Christianity as little more than a collection of truth claims to which one assents, one engages in little more than a clever strategy to justify oneself before God” (69). That when “Christian truth is merely held true as a bit of knowledge one would give assent to, but does not find its way into one’s life, one is spiritually ignorant” (118). Earnestness is what could summarize Kierkegaard’s aim: a living integrity where our Christian beliefs integrate with each aspect of our lives, and we are genuinely honest before God (162).

“Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians” is an easy-to-grasp work that helps readers to poke their toes in and test the Kierkegaardian temperature; and Tietjen is saying, “Jump on in! The water’s fine!” This short volume would make a great addition to a seminary class on worldview or philosophical foundations; but it will also enhance anyone’s reading list who is interested in Christian thought. I highly recommend the book.

Thanks to IVP Academic for providing, upon my request, the free copy of “Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians” used for this review. The assessments are mine given without restrictions or requirements (as per Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255).

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is clear and open discussion of Kierkegaard’s mission, not only in Denmark, but to Christians everywhere. Soren Kierkegaard, in his work and life never whispered through a megaphone. But, calls out like John the Baptist, so love is sheer action, not only talk.

The five chapters of this book are well written and transition well, so the reader can see that discussions about Kierkegaard need not be confusing. Thus,preserving the author’s claim that Kierkegaard is not confusing, which I very much agree with. The author indicates, but not overbearingly, that Kierkegaard can overstate an idea. But, for him and other Christians repetition is always key, to growing in faith and becoming a follower of Jesus’s Way.

This book about Kierkegaard and Kierkegaard’s books are relevant now more than ever. In an era of, Christian enmeshment in American conservatism and Republican agendas, Kierkegaard’s words and philosophy is the lighthouse pointing us to Christ, away from those who deceive for vote and satiating their list for power-Trump family. Please read this book if you are wanting to find the reality of Christian living outside of American conservative Christianity.

[Tim Soper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kierkegaard is a boogie man to many Christians. I should have known better to do my own research, but I thought that I didn't have time for a philosopher, and an existentialist to boot; especially one from over 150 years ago. But somehow I stumbled on small summary of Kierkegaard's Christian thought: the idea to not be a part of the Christian tribe, but to be transformed by Christ. That led me to search for a primer on how Kierkegaard's ideas could be put into practice in my own life, and I stumbled upon Mark Tietjen's excellent book. Mark does a wonderful job of distilling Kierkegaard's thoughts into a format that is easily accessible to the non-academic layman. It's not a "how to book"; instead Mark walks the reader thru the highlights Kierkegaard's Christian perspective, ties them together, and presents them as food for thought. I can honestly say that after reading "Kierkegaard: A Christian Missionary to Christians", it has had the greatest impact of any text (save for the Bible) on my active pursuit of being "In Christ". I highly recommend this book to anyone, Christian or not, who is looking to transform their life.

[Willie Krischke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I was hopking Kierkegaard/Tietjen would give me some help, tips, insight into how to be a Christian missionary to Christians, but the answer they give is pretty obvious... live out your faith with integrity. Let your light shine before men that they make see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. I guess it's a case where the answer is simple to conceptualize and difficult to fully put into action... which is one of the most important things Kierkegaard has to say about Christianity.

What he has to say about Christianity is much more complex and nuanced and worth reading. I especially enjoyed the final chapter on love, and his points about how loving people who are like you is really just loving yourself, but loving people who are different from you is loving God, and God's image in them.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't imagine a better introductory book to the "mission" of Kierkegaard. I read this in 4 days - and could barely put it down. I've had some familiarity to some of his works and major concepts and so have no doubts that this book explains them simply but also quite compellingly. The depths of Kierkegaard remain full and undiluted in their transposition here.

[Michael Vogel · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Kept forgetting to finish this book since I started it almost 5 years ago). Truly an amazing introduction to Kierkegaard and how useful he is to the Christian witness… to other Christians. Offers powerful application for our day today and how to love others well in the neighborly love that Jesus commands.

[Shane Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good...the author almost makes Kierkegaard understandable!!!

[Pastor Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like what this book accomplished: it applied Kierkegaard to contemporary Christianity in a way that is accessible to a non-specialist. I think it would reward re-reading - with a highlighter and a pencil - not so much to mine it deeply for hidden nuggets, but to carefully take note of some solid insights of Kierkegaard through Tietjen.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a reader who is fascinated by Kierkegaard's influence and reputation, but with no personal experience with any of his primary texts, I have been on the lookout for an accessible, helpful introduction to the man and his works. Overall, I would say that Tietjen's little book accomplishes this. It is easy to read, and whets the appetite for more depth in Kierkegaard's thought, while providing a simple guide to his general approach to philosophy and theology.

However, my main reservation with the book is that it can be difficult to parse out the differences between Tietjen's thoughts and those of the philosopher he is studying. There were multiple times that I really enjoyed what I was reading, but I suspected that it was more Teitjen's paraphrase and interpretation. A second concern is that the subtitle is a little misleading - I didn't feel that he focused enough on the theme of "converting Christians" as the title indicates.

This being said, I quite enjoyed the content, and I feel much more confident in approaching Kierkegaard's work myself, now. If you are already well-versed in his writing, I don't know that this will be a great book for you to pick up.

[Coyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Tietjen’s A Christian Missionary to Christians is primarily about Kierkegaard’s ideas, and is presented in a roughly systematic way. He begins with a chapter surveying Kierkegaard’s reception through the years by Christians, scholars, and Christian scholars. The next four chapters discuss Kierkegaard’s view of Christ, man, Christian witness, and the Christian life. Tietjen ends with a brief summary of Kierkegaard’s basic ideas and explanation of why they matter for us today."

Read the rest here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/schaeffe...

[Ana Maria]

i loved