-
Simple obedience
When Jesus demanded voluntary poverty of the rich young man, the young man knew that his only choices were obedience or disobedience…
-
The challenge of allegiance
Our most severe tests come when we don’t recognize the idol right in front of us and everyone bowing seems like the “patriotic” thing to do.
-
Don’t cheapen grace
Some of my favorite lines from Dietrich Bonhoeffer on grace. Cheap grace means grace as bargain-basement goods, cut-rate forgiveness, cut-rate comfort, cut-rate sacraments; grace as the church’s inexhaustible pantry, from which it is doled out by careless hands without hesitation or limit. It is grace without a price, without cost… Cheap grace is that which we bestow on ourselves. Cheap…
-
The blessedness of rejection
In judgment and action those who follow Jesus will be different from the world in renouncing their property, happiness, rights, righteousness, honor, and violence. They will be offensive to the world. That is why the disciples will be persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Not recognition, but rejection will be their reward from the world for their word and deed. It is…
-
The strong AND the weak belong together in the community of Christ
“Every Christian community must realize that not only do the weak need the strong, but also that the strong cannot exist without the weak. The elimination of the weak is the death of the fellowship.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
-
Engaging the Kingdom — Overcoming Evil
“Our willingness to yield up everything when we are bidden to do so is our willingness to have enough in Jesus Christ alone, to desire to follow him alone. Our voluntary renunciation of counterviolence confirms and proclaims our unconditional allegiance to Jesus as his follower, our freedom, our detachment from our own egos. And it is only in the exclusivity…
-
Engaging the Kingdom — Treasure
“They have their treasure well hidden, they have it at the cross.” (Bonhoeffer, Discipleship) The pursuit of the Kingdom of God produces vast spiritual wealth. The treasure of the Kingdom is pursued, but it is pursued like no other treasure. The pursuit always goes through the cross of Christ. The road of abundance in the Kingdom has a narrow entrance: about…
-
Joy in the Church
Lord, give more joy to your church…Without the church, the whole world is joyless and miserable, and there is no end to hunger and thirst. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer (@DailyBonhoeffer) February 27, 2013
-
What If Love Really DID Win?
I can’t help it. I have to weigh in on the discussion over Rob Bell’s book. It’s not deep. It’s just a question. I just celebrated my 23rd wedding anniversary. I truly married UP, as they say. My wife is incredible. We met in college on a missions trip and I can remember so wonderfully the moment I knew I…
-
Prepare the Way
Reflecting on Matthew 3 for his Advent message in 1928, Dietrich Bonhoeffer said this: We have become so accustomed to the idea of divine love and of God’s coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God’s coming should arouse in us… The coming of God is truly not only glad tidings, but first of…
Tag: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
