When I finished reading Eric Metxas's biography, I was really grateful, even relieved, to find this blog. Phew! I don't have to close the book and be done... I have (several) ways to keep current in discussion and learning from the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. For example, Bryan Galloway (author of that blog) has several posts about the top reasons Bonhoeffer can impact us today. The first three are: Scripture Meditation, Christian Fellowship, and Costly Grace. I need this... need every one of these "reasons."
About Costly Grace, here's some of what is zealifying me from Bonhoeffer's own pen... the first chapter in Cost of Discipleship:
"Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy for which the merchant will sell all of his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.
Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "ye were bought with a price," and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God." (p. 44-45)
Oh God transform us that our lives would boldly display You as the Treasure at the center, the Treasure we have sold everything else just to own. And we will lack no good thing. May it be Lord! In us and in this land, may your kingdom come!
Wow...what a stark contrast to my church and the Christian culture around me. We hear about forgiveness, but not about repentance. About grace but not sacrifice. The argument is that people might be offended, people might leave. But I worry more about those that stay, who may never know that Christ, who gave everything for me, desires nothing less than all of me.
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