kierkegaard thoughts

This week I was reading a bit about Søren Kierkegaard (the 19th Century father of existential philosophy). One of his greatest concerns was how lightly people take their faith and spiritual commitments.

He said, “The difference between an ADMIRER and a FOLLOWER still remains, no matter where you are. The admirer never makes any true sacrifices. He always plays it safe. Though in words, phrases, songs, he is inexhaustible about how highly he prizes Christ, he renounces nothing, gives up nothing, will not reconstruct his life, will not BE what he admires, and will not let his life express what it is he supposedly admires.”

You ask anyone in America today and you will find that most have an admiration for Christ. But what is it that characterizes a true follower of Christ?