Hi there,
I was reading the other day about grace. It is a classic treatment of grace. It was written by the German Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He contrasts cheap grace with costly grace. It is very challenging and even uncomfortable to read. But essential. Read and reflect on it. Pray about it. May the Spirit guide and bless you as you do:
Cheap grace means grace sold on the market…the sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church’s inexhaustible treasure, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits…The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing…What would grace be if it were not cheap?
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without 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 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 found 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. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon His Son too dear a price to pay for our life, has delivered Him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.
(Quoted in Burghardt, Walter J., Long Have I Loved You: A Theologian Reflects on His Church (New York: Orbis, 2000), 134-135.)
Peace of Christ and His costly grace be with you
Geoff and Ruth