...provocative, indeed:

...defending against the Bible

The matter is quite simple.  The Bible is very easy to understand.  But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers.  We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly.  Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly.  My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined.  How would I ever get on in the world?  Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship.  Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close.  Oh, priceless scholarship, what would we do without you?

Source: Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard, ed. Charles Moore

...thanks to Inward/Outward

Comments

[Glen Peterson]

I told a Denver Seminary professor once that I was compelled to stop learning *about* the Bible until I started *doing* what I already knew what it says. I cannot remember who I said that to, but remember he seemed confused.

[Anj]

I continue to be frustrated with those who call themselves christians. What you highlight with this reading is just one of my frustrations. I wish I had the words to explain where I am, but the words are just not there. So I sit with my frustration and my judgmental and I ask for ....whatever it is I am seeking to be made clear, and to grow in mercy.