Books, The Cost of Discipleship and a Baby Christian

Can The Cost of Discipleship be a good book for a new believer?

I became a Christian while attending Trinity Lutheran Church. A Lutheran church was a great spot for me because it married a love of music, learning and history and focused it on God. While the church of my youth also spoke of God and Jesus, tradition was more important than explanation.

I needed both.

I was unaware of religious books beyond the Bible, and my knowledge of the Word of God was sketchy at best.

The Bible was my starting point, of course, and I attended Bible study under the very capable leading of the  smart, funny, and devoted Mrs. Hahn.

But this particular church had a bookstore, and there I first saw books about Christianity. Up front was the best-selling The Christian Family, written by Larry Christenson–the pastor of the church.

I obviously saw Pastor Christenson’s lime green book around a lot, but there was another that intrigued me more.

Also in paperback though with a dark green cover, the title alone caught my attention along with the author’s complex name: The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

I liked the sound of that name sloshing around in my mouth.

Why not take a copy to Europe for summer reading?

I was not a theology-minded person even as a teenager, so I didn’t get around to tackling Bonhoeffer’s tome until my twentieth summer when I traveled to Europe with just a few English books to read.

There, by the shores of Lake Como, I dipped into a way of thinking and a call to devotion the like of which I had never dreamed  After all, what do you do with the pointed words: “Christ bids you come and die”?

Even then the pages of my book were brown and spotted with age, the paragraphs long and dense.

While the concepts made sense, the application required much thought. What did I really believe? How far did my devotion to this Jesus go? Was I ready and willing to die to myself–particularly in unfair situations?

I didn’t know, but Bonhoeffer’s siren words and his powerful life story, drew me to a spiritual place far removed from the pettiness of my surroundings.

What is cheap grace?

All these years later, the concept of “cheap grace” stands out most vivid from The Cost of Discipleship.

“Cheap grace is preaching 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.”

It was a good lesson to learn as a young Christian because time and again, I’ve been forced to confront my sinful nature when I want to slide into the ease of cheap grace.

But grace is only cheap to me– Jesus paid with his life that grace might be extended to my sinful heart every time I ask.

A powerful, life-saving, humbling and enormous gift, that grace. But I can cheapen into trash by the casual attitude, “Jesus will save me no matter what.”

Jesus loves me; this I know. I know because the Bible–a book–tells me so.

The book of John explains Jesus was the Word with God, who is God. Almost like a book–and the only real food a baby Christian, or any Christian, needs.

Thanks be to God.