I remember when I was first introduced to this term cheap grace. It was in one of the many books read during my four years at Emmanuel College. I picked this book up like many I had to read and expected very little as it was just another book on a long list of necessary reading to be "prepared" to do ministry. I will save "being prepared to do ministry" for another day... Surprisingly, Dietrich Bonhoeffer quickly became one of my favorite authors as he made me come face to face with some harsh realities. One of these is the church's view of grace. In his own words:
"Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our church. We are fighting today for costly grace. Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheap wares of a bargain huckster. 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 treasury, from which the church 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. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite... the world finds a cheap covering for its sins; no contrition is required, still less any real desire to be delivered from sin." -from A Testament to Freedom 307-308
If you are passionate about God's kingdom and that doesn't pierce your heart... your probably dead. I remember reading these words years ago and just the other day I picked up a daily devo book based on Bonhoeffer's writings and there it was. I turned to the day I purchased the book and this very thought jumped off the page at me again reminding me of how we consume the grace of God without much thought. However... "what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us."
I may write some more on this, but I had to write this out today (whether anyone reads it or not) for my benefit. It is a reminder to ME that grace is anything but cheap...
PG
"Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our church. We are fighting today for costly grace. Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheap wares of a bargain huckster. 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 treasury, from which the church 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. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite... the world finds a cheap covering for its sins; no contrition is required, still less any real desire to be delivered from sin." -from A Testament to Freedom 307-308
If you are passionate about God's kingdom and that doesn't pierce your heart... your probably dead. I remember reading these words years ago and just the other day I picked up a daily devo book based on Bonhoeffer's writings and there it was. I turned to the day I purchased the book and this very thought jumped off the page at me again reminding me of how we consume the grace of God without much thought. However... "what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us."
I may write some more on this, but I had to write this out today (whether anyone reads it or not) for my benefit. It is a reminder to ME that grace is anything but cheap...
PG
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