By: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Year: 1937 (original, in German)
Genre: Theology, Ethics
“Cheap grace is the mortal enemy of our church. Our struggle today is for costly grace.” And with that sharp warning to his own church, which was engaged in bitter conflict with the official nazified state church, Dietrich Bonhoeffer began his book Discipleship (formerly entitled The Cost of Discipleship). Originally published in 1937, it soon became a classic exposition of what it means to follow Christ in a modern world beset by a dangerous and criminal government. At its center stands an interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount: what Jesus demanded of his followers-and how the life of discipleship is to be continued in all ages of the post-resurrection church. “Every call of Jesus is a call to death,” Bonhoeffer wrote. His own life ended in martyrdom on April 9, 1945. Freshly translated from the German critical edition, Discipleship provides a more accurate rendering of the text and extensive aids and commentary to clarify the meaning, context, and reception of this work and its attempt to resist the Nazi ideology then infecting German Christian churches.
This was one of my text books. And, wow.
I have read a little Bonhoeffer before and he is a challenging read. But this was some heady stuff. He begins by introducing the reader to Cheap Grace and Costly Grace. So simple and so powerful. Cheap Grace: Grace without a price. Grace is given to the sinner but nothing is changed in the sinner’s life. Costly Grace requires something. We don’t have to work for Grace, but a change is required when we receive it. And this is how the book starts.
What does it mean to follow Christ? It is not an easy road by any means. In Part One, Bonhoeffer takes apart the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew. He shows us what Christ meant in his words and how the disciple is expected to live. This is tough stuff and honestly, I know I don’t measure up (even a little). In Part Two, Bonhoeffer discusses the Church and discipleship including baptism, the saints and the image of Christ.
This is not an easy read. Don’t pick up the book and expect to be through it in a weekend. Bonhoeffer doesn’t discuss easy topics and I’ve learned that Germans like to be a little, shall we say wordy in their theology. And as much as I liked this book (and Bonhoeffer’s theology in general) he is repetitive in making his points. If written today, would this be as long? Of course, would it be as powerful either?
If you want to dig a little deeper into what it means to be a disciple and why Grace must be a Costly Grace, this is a must-read. I would suggest learning a little more about Bonhoeffer’s life, as well, if you can. He acted as a double agent against Hitler and the Nazis and was eventually killed for his actions. His actions as a disciple are as interesting as his writings.
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars