3.1              Serving One Master

         Kierkegaard observes the words of Jesus in the gospel according to St. Matthew, “No one can serve two masters.” He says that we must go into the world and observe what the lives of people express. They express only one thing that no man can serve two masters.

He means that we can’t serve both God and the World. Choosing to serve either of two means complete dedication. Either we can serve God or the world and not both. Even the lives of religious who profess to have dedicated them in the service of God can’t live on two planes. They serve either of them. As the time passes with people becoming more and more sophisticated and cultured, they try to use their knowledge and common sense to suit their needs. Sometimes people also try to change the teaching of Christianity to suit the needs of the time. They say that they require a faith or teaching that is relevant to their age not that was practised by people of earlier age which could have been relevant for them at that time. But Kierkegaard affirms that Christianity can’t be changed. It is unchangeable. He gives an example of a child who just because can’t climb the top of it commands it to get aside from the place.  People can do away with Christianity or give up their faith but can’t change its teaching. There are absolute requirements of Christianity which are to be fulfilled.

       Why do people feel that original teaching of Christianity is not pertinent to this time? It is because they may not be or are not able to fulfil the absolute requirements. Therefore the solution Kierkegaard puts before is like our forefathers accept the fact that lack to fulfil these requirements. Why Christianity is not willing to change? Because if it does so there will be different teaching at every time. People will create their own Christianities to suit their motives and the essence of the real teaching will be lost.

       Therefore every Christian must strive to fulfil the absolute requirements. There may come a time when nobody will fulfil it but the fact will continue to remain the same that one has fulfilled it at the cost of His life. He is none other than our Lord who served only one master by fulfilling the absolute requirements when he was on the earth.

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