quote of the day

I know, I know. Most people don't like reading long quotes; they see a huge block quote, stop really reading, and start skimming. But I'm about to post a block quote anyway.

I'm reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship. The start of the book sets the stage for the rest of it; Bonhoeffer discusses the difference between "cheap grace" and "costly grace." In this case, cheap grace is bad and costly grace is good. But grace is supposed free, right? That's what they teach in 4th grade Vacation Bible School anyway. So how can "costly grace" possibly be a better thing than cheap grace? Read on - really, read - and see Bonhoeffer's beautiful description...

"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 which the merchant will sell all 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 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 at 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 confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus. It comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light."...

For those still reading, it looks like costly grace is better than cheap grace after all. And yes, it's still free, just like our VBS teachers told us. But it's costly...very costly. What, then, are we going to do about it?