Sunday, August 07, 2005
The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Luther pastor in Germany before WWII who vocally opposed the Nazi government. He spent a few years in New York, but then returned to Germany shortly before the war to minister to his people during the upcoming difficult time. Eventually he was imprisoned for his outspoken criticism of Hitler and involvement in an assassination plot. While in a prison camp, he continued ministering to fellow prisoners. The day before the Allies liberated the camp, the Nazis executed Bonhoeffer by hanging.
All of this makes this book even more remarkable. Bonhoeffer examines the cost of being a disciple of Jesus. Anyone who wants to follow Jesus must be willing to sacrifice everything, including his/her own life. He says that "cheap grace" is grace that does not require repentence or a changed life. In many respects, this book seems the antithesis of The Ragamuffin Gospel. In reality, though, it is the next logical step in the life of a disciple. We need to constantly be reminded that following Jesus isn't a matter of simply saying you have faith: you have to have the life and actions to sustain it. Bonhoeffer not only believed and wrote it, he lived and died according to it.
Overall, this was a very challenging book to read. First it challenged because of the content. Bonhoeffer is very straightforward and at times comes across as harsh. I think that may because of the context of his writing and also because he was German. (By the way, it doesn't matter what you say in German, it always sounds like your using profanity.) Second, it was challenging because it was relentless. It was like drinking from a fire hose. It just kept coming without breaks.
If you are looking for something to challenge your spiritual life, this will certainly do the job.
Rating: Four Stars
