Soren Kierkegaard

The geese went to church each Sunday. They listened attentively to the sermon preached from a huge pulpit, where the old Gander exhorted his flock that the Creator intended a greater purpose for them. They were given wings to enable them to fly. They were most pleased to hear this and honked in approval. Every Sunday, they gathered to hear the same lofty sermon about using their wings. And each week after church, as they dispersed, they waddled home. If you were to ask them why none of the geese flew, they would be quick to tell you about the dangers associated with real flying. The Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) often resorted to parables like the “The Tame Geese” to challenge churches for their refusal to apply what was preached. The old Gander served as the perfect embodiment of preachers whose sermons had little impact on people’s everyday lives. He took congregants to task for treating the church as they would theater, as performance and little else. Like geese, they listened to the message and waddled home. Soren believed that true preaching must lead to real-life transformation. Don’t be a Christian in name only. No, invest your whole life in actually becoming one. Many of the people I research I’m hard-pressed to find a written prayer attributed to them. Not so with Soren Kierkegaard. His private papers are full of them. He wrote of prayer, “The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.”