Armodoxy for Today: Grace is not cheap

Deitrich Bonhoeffer was a Protestant theologian, living in the first part of the last century, until he was executed by the Nazis in 1945. Bonhoeffer’s writings remain today as a testament to a man of courage and deep faith. In his book, The Cost of Discipleship (1937) he writes about “Costly grace” in contrast to “Cheap grace.”

“Cheap grace,” Bonhoeffer says, “is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting today for costly grace… Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks’ wares. 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. Grace without price; grace without cost! 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.”

Bonhoeffer describes one of the menaces of Christianity, not only Protestant Church but all of Christianity. God so love the world, that he gave us His Son. Or, Jesus died for our sins. The debt has been paid, are catchy phrases that get thrown around without a second thought.

Armodoxy, unapologetically, says that Christianity points to action. That action is our response to God. He is not the Great Puppeteer in the sky guiding us on strings. He invites us to a life of reaction and interaction.

Dear God, my prayer begins with you. Open my ears to your words and move my hands and feet toward your invitation. Amen.