For Christians within the YMCA, these words of Kierkegaard hold much wisdom for how we embody the Y mission and gospel of Christ. When it comes to Christian Emphasis in the YMCA, it’s the humble imitation of Christ, it’s the vulnerable submission to reality and truth, the decisive act to trust Christ in our participation in the Y and the world as we love, care and serve for all.
“Without a life of imitation, of following Christ, it is impossible to gain mastery over doubts. We cannot stop doubts with reasons. Recall that the Savior of the world did not come to bring a doctrine; he never lectured. He did not try by way of reasons to prevail upon anyone to accept his teachings, nor did he try to authenticate it by demonstrable proofs.
“His teaching was his life, his existence. If someone wanted to be his follower, he said to that person something like this, ‘Venture a decisive act, then you can begin, then you will know.’
“What does this mean? It means that no one becomes a believer by hearing about Christianity, by reading about it, by thinking about it. It means that while Christ was living, no one became a believer by seeing him once in awhile or by going and staring at him all day long.
“No, a certain setting is required – venture a decisive act. The proof does not precede but follows; it exists in and with the life that follows Christ. Once you have ventured the decisive act, you are at odds with the life of this world.
“You come into collision with it, and because of this you will gradually be brought into such tension that you will then be able to become certain of what Christ has taught. You will begin to understand that you cannot endure the world without having recourse to Christ. What else can one expect from following the truth?”
– from Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard, p. 78
