Absurdity of Faith

   In Fear and Trembling, Soren Kierkegaard attempts to explain faith abstractly. He uses the faith of Abraham (i.e. his decision to sacrifice his son, Isaac) as an example: either Abraham was a knight of faith or a murderer. Kierkegaard admits that he is not qualified to make a judgment; he can only stand in awe of Abraham’s decision because such faith proves itself to be a solitary, individual endeavor, which when subjected to the intelligible world loses its riddle. In other words, faith requires a disregard for the universal laws that govern our day to day lives. That fact, alone, makes faith absurd and truly horrifying to the outside observer. Faith cannot be compartmentalized because it is an exclusive relationship between the individual and the absolute. Which is why Kierkegaard has trouble categorizing Abraham's decision to sacrifice his son. It just doesn't make any sense.
   I suppose had Abraham been questioned regarding why he choose to sacrifice Isaac, his response would've been similar to Jesus' answer when asked why he choose to heal on the Sabbath (Jn 5:19). Jesus was well aware that his decision broke the Jewish Sabbath laws, however, his response to the criticism of the religious leaders reveals much about the absurdity of faith. It wasn't that Jesus set out that day to break the law. Instead I would argue that he really couldn't help himself, he was simply responding to what the Father was already doing. "I can only do what the Father is doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does." The source of Jesus faith, and disregard for the rules of his day, was the will of his Father. In other words, Jesus motivation was the Father's will. 
   In the greek the word is poieo, it is translated do or doing, but its meaning is much deeper than the mere performance of some task. Instead, interpreted it means the motivation behind the action. Translated here, it reveals a deep intimacy between Jesus and the Father. The same type of intimacy that Abraham had with Yahweh. Jesus was so intimately connected with the Father that he merely responded to the Father's voice. Could it be concluded then that our faith is really just a response, a response to what the Father is already doing and/or has done for us. Recognition of his voice and responding accordingly is faith. Because God is not subjected to the laws of nature and works outside of created order, so to our faith must be. That is why faith is always considered an absurdity universally.