The Cost of Discipleship

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"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." With these words, in The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer gave powerful voice to the millions of Christians who believe personal sacrifice is an essential component of faith. Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor and theologian, was an exemplar of sacrificial faith: he opposed the Nazis from the first and was eventually imprisoned in Buchenwald and hung by the Gestapo in 1945. The Cost of Discipleship, first published in German in 1937, was Bonhoeffer's answer to the questions, "What did Jesus mean to say to us? What is his will for us to-day?" Bonhoeffer's answers are rooted in Lutheran grace and derived from Christian scripture (almost a third of the book consists of an extended meditation on the Sermon on the Mount). The book builds to a stunning conclusion: its closing chapter, "The Image of Christ," describes the believer's spiritual life as participation in Christ's incarnation, with a rare and epigrammatic confidence: "Through fellowship and communion with the incarnate Lord," Bonhoeffer writes, "we recover our true humanity, and at the same time we are delivered from that individualism which is the consequence of sin, and retrieve our solidarity with the whole human race." --Michael Joseph Gross

Book Description

One of the most important theologians of the twentieth century illuminates the relationship between ourselves and the teachings of Jesus

What can the call to discipleship, the adherence to the word of Jesus, mean today to the businessman, the soldier, the laborer, or the aristocrat? What did Jesus mean to say to us? What is his will for us today? Drawing on the Sermon on the Mount, Dietrich Bonhoeffer answers these timeless questions by providing a seminal reading of the dichotomy between "cheap grace" and "costly grace." "Cheap grace," Bonhoeffer wrote, "is the grace we bestow on ourselves...grace without discipleship....Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the girl which must be asked for, the door at which a man must know....It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life."

The Cost of Discipleship is a compelling statement of the demands of sacrifice and ethical consistency from a man whose life and thought were exemplary articulations of a new type of leadership inspired by the Gospel, and imbued with the spirit of Christian humanism and a creative sense of civic duty.

Customer Reviews:

Lays Down The Gauntlet.......2007-09-22

Bonhoeffer was a real-life hero. He was a modern-day martyr.
Get the book and join the fan-club.

A book to be read more than once.......2007-09-18

I have just finished reading "The Cost of Discipleship" for the third time. It seems I pick it up about once a decade. I found it as convicting this last time as I did the first time. If Bonhoeffer wrote this in the midst of a church culture that was making room for the rise of Nazism, it makes one wonder what lies ahead for our own culture. In an age in which so-called Christianity has grown progressively more self-centered - from the prosperity gospel to the free grace movement which requires no change in the individual - "The Cost of Discipleship" is a book that should be revisited often and thoroughly digested upon each visit.

Hearty Spiritual Nourishment That Will Satisfy Your Soul. .......2007-09-02

There are not too many works that you can say, with the obvious exception of the Bible, that provide hearty spiritual nourishment that will satisfy your soul.

The Cost of Discipleship is one of those rare works of classical Christian writing that points the reader to what it means to be a true follower of Christ. I use the word "true" because in today's modern church the false doctines of "decisionism" and/or "acceptionism" have taken hold; meaning one "makes a decision to accept Jesus" or one "accepts Christ." But "from the beginning it was not so." Both Jesus and John the Baptist preached a doctrine of repentance.

This remarkable young Lutheran Pastor who was martyred during World War II makes a compelling statement of what the difference is between the "cheap grace" that is all too prevalent in so-called christendom and true Bible-based "costly-Grace." Bonhoeffer uses the term "costly" because Jesus Himself demands our all; "If any man will follow me, let him deny himself daily and follow me."

If you are looking for something that will nourish you to the very depths of your soul; if you are tired of the hype, the fluff, and the non-sense of today's seeker friendly gospel, then I urge you to get this book today and begin your quest to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints." You will not be sorry as Jesus more than satifies the hungry soul.

***WARNING! DO NOT READ THIS BOOK***.......2007-07-25

In a day and age, especially in America but even now around the globe, when elements of the church are preaching a prosperity gospel of "health and wealth," Bonhoeffer's Cost of Discipleship serves as an excellent challenge, a warning and an encouragment all within this book.
Bonhoeffer challenges the church to not be contented in merely dispensing religious and spiritual activities as if it were handing out candy at a fair or carnival. Bonhoeffer warns against the type of preaching and teaching that is lukewarm and calls for no sacrifice or commitment. Bonhoeffer's words also serve as an encouragement to those within the church that are paying a price for their faith.
Interestingly, Bonhoeffer acknowledges that there will be an inequality in terms of the cost - for some it may mean even death, for others it may mean something less, but regardless, each one is asked to bear the cost that God gives them.
If the Christian life is a social network for you. If the Christian life is an obligation or tradition for you. If the Christian life is just the latest and greatest thing in your quest for spirtuality. Then, I would strongly warn you against reading this book because you will be struck with conviction. Each person that has read this book that I have known have seen dramatic change in the way they think, feel, experience, and live the Christian life...so be warned!

Bonhoeffer tells it like it is........2007-05-21

In a time when we are constantly bombarded with the idea that being a Christian means telling others how to live and living warrior ideals for our beliefs, a true hero of the Christian faith shows us that it's not that easy. Living for Christ means really loving our neighbors, and we don't get to say that those bad folks aren't our neighbors.

This book is not easy to read. It's difficult, not just to take in (although you may sometimes need to read a paragraph two or three times to really comprehend its meaning), but to accept, because it's hard to imagine who can really live up to what Bonhoeffer shows us Christ is really asking of us. Nevertheless, I recommend making the effort in both areas.

Hard to Believe: The High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus

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Make Jesus Lord? Isn't He Lord Already?
Dr. MacArthur Speaks the Truth in Love. A Must Read!
A Look At Why True Christianity Will Never Be Popular
a must read
The hard truth

Hard to Believe: The High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus
John MacArthur
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785287981

Book Description

Popular perception of Jesus Christ is that of a tempered, genteel man who walked the earth, offering nuggets of wisdom to His followers. But what we sometimes fail to recognize is that although Jesus Christ offered a message of forgiveness, He also spoke challenging, demanding words about what being a follower of Christ requires.

In contrast to the superficiality of much modern Christian teaching, Dr. John MacArthur serves up the unvarnished truth of what Christ taught and lived. In simple, compelling terms, he spells out what is required of those who would follow Him. Going beyond Jesus' life to include the crucifixion and resurrection, MacArthur shows readers that Jesus modeled the commitment and loving obedience He requires of us by making the ultimate sacrifice for humankind.

Customer Reviews:

Make Jesus Lord? Isn't He Lord Already?.......2007-07-15

To begin, I have enjoyed John MacArthur's preaching. I once used his Study Bible in the New King James Version as my "flagship" Bible. I have enjoyed nuggets from his teaching. And I also got a lot of good things out of this book. However, looking back, I do see a couple of things wrong.

First, the whole premise of this book is that the grace of God, provided on the cross, may have been free, but not cheap. He attacks so-called "prosperity preachers" and "seeker-sensitive" approaches like "The Purpose-Driven Life", equating them with those who lead people along the wide gate of destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). In fact, MacArthur's main argument is that only those who take up their crosses and follow Jesus are truly saved. This is called lordship salvation (in comparison with free grace, mocked as "easy-believeism", which teaches that the cost of our redemption from sin has been fully paid for on the cross).

While it is true that sinners should understand their need for the Savior--salvation from sins that lead them to hell--should we make the demand to "carry their cross" and follow Him? MacArthur says yes, but does salvation immediately result in discipleship? More likely than not, a few may understand. Remember, it is the "good" soil hearer who receives and understands the Word planted in his heart. Although the apostles followed Jesus for three years, they still did not understand the work of salvation until AFTER Jesus rose, ascended into heaven, and poured out the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Only then did they understand, as the subtitle of the book goes, "the high cost and infinite joy of following Jesus".

Another question I might make is the degree of surrender required to be "saved" according to the lordship gospel. We might know about those "external sins" (adultery, sexual immorality, any addictions, etc.) that we need to repent of, but what about those that lie within (like lust, hateful and murderous thoughts, misplaced affections, etc.)? David prayed constantly to God to keep him from presumptuous sins and to cleanse him from hidden faults, and continually asked God to search his own heart for anything that kept him from God.

Also, does salvation depend on how "pure" we may make ourselves in God's sight? Aren't our own attempts at righteousness like filthy rags before Him? Lordship salvation advocates seem to tiptoe around the issue by answering that it is not a commitment that saves, but that Jesus alone saves. But you can't have it both ways: either Jesus (plus commitment) saves, or Jesus (alone) saves! If Jesus (plus commitment) is the answer, as MacArthur argues, then how much commitment is needed? And how can genuine believers know if we will fall away, since our minds cannot fathom what even tomorrow brings!

The book may also make genuine believers doubt their own salvation. While believers should examine themselves, they should do so out of pleasing their Heavenly Father. That is what David prayed (see above paragraph) in Psalms 19 and 139. He pursued God with all his heart, knowing the price he would pay, even when he sinned against God. But did he rely on his commitment to God to forgive his wickedness? No, he relied on his God and relied totally on Him--not his own commitment to God--to have his sins cleansed (see Psalms 51).

The premise MacArthur makes also comes from his own Calvinist theology. Christians for centuries after the deaths of Calvin and Arminius have argued over the role of God's sovereign grace and man's free will in his obligation to repent and believe in the gospel. I won't go into detail over this point of contention, but it seems that most of the lordship advocates are of the Calvinist persuasion. However, one thing is true: it takes a lot of grace to redeem a person's heart, and that is truly a work of God. Yet it must be a willing heart who receives Him.

In closing, I would like to make the following point: salvation is free, totally free! But discipleship, seeking after Jesus and following Him, has a cost. MacArthur makes great points, but it is obfuscated in the details.

Dr. MacArthur Speaks the Truth in Love. A Must Read!.......2007-07-01

Dr. MacArthur has authored perhaps the most important Christian polemic of our time.

Hard to Believe is a loving, yet uncompromising answer to Christianity-Lite- the "seeker-friendly gospel." The roots of this "new gospel (it should not be called gospel because gospel means "good news" and the new gospel is not good news, but rather bad as it will send you to hell)can be traced back to Robert Schuller's call for "a new reformation;" one that focuses on "self-esteem," has been propagated by the likes of Joel Osteen, Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, et. al.- a doctrine of man-centeredness and the fulfillment of "felt needs," and "self-esteem," as opposed to repentance and turning from sin to be servants/prisoners/slaves to Jesus Christ.

The most important question the book asks is how do people like Warren, Osteen, et. al. (without mentioning them by name)answer Jesus' call to discipleship "If any man follow me he will deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me?" How to they reconcile their beliefs with the teachings of Jesus which state that if you do not "hate" your mother,brother,father, et. al. and even yourself, you cannot be His disciple? How do they explain that what Jesus taught was an offense and a stumbling block to the worshippers of Jehovah in that day. Remember--Jesus was not dealing with pagans, goths, heathens, idol-worshippers and the like. He was dealing with the establishment religon of that day that claimed Moses and Abraham as their "fathers." Jesus told THESE people that Satan was their father. How does the "Christianity-Lite" preachers, like Warren, Osteen, Robert Schuller, reconcile the teachings of the Gospels with their presentation? This book will force you to take a cold, hard, spiritual look at this.

If you are honest, you will see that what Jesus teaches in the Four Gospels is mutually exclusive with what Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, and many like them teach. There is literally no resemblance. Did not Paul say in Galatians 1:8-9 that if even an "angel from heaven" brought a teaching that was contrary to his, let him be "accursed." Paul preached/teached/and lived the crucified life of Jesus Christ, and enjoined us through 13 letters in the New Testament to dod the same. Where do Warren, et. al get that they can bypass the Bible?

Sadly, the people to whom this book is intended will never read a work like this from cover to cover. Eschewing "the Gospel according to Jesus" as one that is based on "works" and "law," because Dr. MacArthur exegetes rather forcefully (as does Jesus and the apostle James0, that "faith without works is dead," followers of Osteen, et. al. prefer a doctrine that coddles them in their sin, rather than crucifies the "old man" on the Cross with Jesus.

I have to admit that I have not read this book fully yet. Before you give me a negative rating, please allow me this explanation. I got about 75% through the book when it dawned on me; the message of this book is so important that I must take my time and go through this book, along with my Bible, page by page---and in prayer. Although I do not subscribe to the watered-down version of Christianity that is so popular, this does not preclude me from having to examine myself to see if I am in the faith.

Dr. MacArthur did not write this book to be used "against" people, but rather to point all to The Way--Jesus Christ. I am convinced he is not writing books like this to be contrary for contrary's sake, but is doing so out of a holy zeal because we are in the last, closing moments of time when the gospel will be taken from the Gentiles and given to the Jews. We are in the season of "the marriage of the Lamb as come and His wife has made herself ready...let him that is filthy be filthy still, let him that is holy be holy still, and let him that is righteous be righteous still. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus." AMEN!

If anyone be a disciple, you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him. That message has not changed in over 2000 years. This is the object lesson of this book; a call to "earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints," because "certain men have crept in unawares and have turned the grace of God into laciviousness."

A Look At Why True Christianity Will Never Be Popular.......2007-05-14

Christianity is great news. It tells how Jesus took care of our sin on the cross and that we can have eternal life. Isn't that wonderful? Wouldn't everyone want to receive the free gift?

In reality, on a minority will, which is the theme of this book. It states that true Christianity is really offensive, both in its original setting during the days of the apostles and in our current time.

This book is useful in helping us understand why so many reject the gospel. The one thing I disagree with is MacArthur's view of election, which is more Calvinistic than myself.

a must read.......2007-05-12

The most important book, next to scripture, that I've read to date.

The hard truth.......2007-02-13

Wonderful book...we are called to stand firm in a God-centered faith in the midst of a self-centered world.

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The Cost of Discipleship
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Manufacturer: MacMillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

ASIN: B000GS65PK

The Cost of Living: A Personal Journey into John's Gospel

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The Cost of Living: A Personal Journey into John's Gospel
Margaret Cundiff
Manufacturer: Upper Room Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Hard to Believe Workbook: The High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus

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THE BEST

Hard to Believe Workbook: The High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus
John MacArthur
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785263462

Book Description

The popular perception of Jesus Christ is that of a tempered, genteel man who walked the earth, offering nuggets of wisdom to His followers. But what we sometimes fail to recognize is that although Jesus Christ offered a message of forgiveness, He also spoke challenging, demanding words about what being a follower of Christ requires.

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sister, yes, and even his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26)

In contrast to the superficiality of much modern Bible teaching, Dr. John MacArthur uncovers in this workbook the unvarnished truth of what Christ really taught. In simple, compelling terms, he spells out what is required of those who would follow Him.

Customer Reviews:

THE BEST.......2005-11-18

As with the book, "Hard to Believe" is much better and much more informative than "Purpose Driven Life".
THE BEST.
As with all of Dr. John Macarthur's works, this is excellent. I highly recommend.

Bonhoeffer Speaks Today: Following Jesus at All Costs

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Why We Need Bonhoeffer Today
Good Interpretation of Bonhoeffer
Emerging Historically?
A great work on Bonhoeffer for reading by Evangelicals (at least)
Bonhoeffer Speaks to Contemporary Evangelical Church

Bonhoeffer Speaks Today: Following Jesus at All Costs
Mark Devine
Manufacturer: B&H Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0805432612

Book Description

Imprisoned and eventually executed for his opposition to Hitler's regime, the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer continues to fascinate and inspire Christians across the world. His life epitomizes authenticity, commitment, and sacrifice. Devine writes, "When a man willingly exposes himself to suffering and death for his faith and for others, we take notice and with good reason. While martyrdom neither proves nor produces a spiritual giant, the possibility does arise, and this piques a distinctive longing common to followers of Jesus Christ."

This book is published to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's birth in 1906. It allows Bonhoeffer to speak to today's believer in the following areas: knowing and doing the will of God, the importance and role of the Church, the call to witness, and the role of suffering and the path to hope.

Customer Reviews:

Why We Need Bonhoeffer Today.......2006-08-14

What does it mean to follow Christ at all costs? For Dietrich Bonheoffer, it ultimately meant losing his life for being part of an attempt to assassinate Adolph Hitler. Six decades later, Bonhoeffer's writings are still influence individuals and whole churches. Professor and former pastor Mark Devine asks of these writings, what does Bonhoeffer might say to us today?

Dr. Devine begins Bonhoeffer Speaks Today with a thorough biography of the German theologian's life. The following four chapters cover various aspects of Bonhoeffer's theology. Chapter two address the will of God and how we know it. Dr. Devine uses the Bonhoeffer's work to criticize the contemporary elevation of personal experience to practically the same authority of Scripture.

In Chapter Three, Dr. Devine expounds on Bonhoeffer's doctrine of community. He concludes that we must return to Christ as the center of our communities, recognize its spiritual existence, and fulfill priesthood toward one another through confession and brotherhood. In the fourth chapter, issues of the Christian witness of relevance of the Gospel are addressed to the point of defending the Gospel against liberal compromise to the culture. Finally, Dr. Devine reflects on what Bonhoeffer can teach us about freedom, suffering, and the eternal hope.

Having no previous experience with Bonhoeffer's work, I found Bonhoeffer Speaks Today to be an enlightening read. Mark Devine sticks to issues that are relevant without watering anything down. Perhaps because Bonhoeffer's theology is so practical, the book is insightful without being academically demanding. At no point, however, was there any real disagreement with the German theologian. This leaves me wondering what might have been left out of the book. Regardless, I learned much from this book and I believe it will be useful to every person who picks it up.

Good Interpretation of Bonhoeffer.......2006-06-29

I recently used this book for a class my wife and I taught on Bonhoeffer for our church. I found it quite helpful because it is more than a biography of him but an interpretation and explantion of his life and ideas. Divine presents good insights in to DB's views on christian community, monasticism, grace, and is especailly good on making Bonhoeffer relavant for today. An easy and informative read. The authors also shares a fair amount of him own thinking and experience on issues as a Southern Baptist Pastor.

Emerging Historically?.......2006-05-15

Dietrich Bonhoeffer stands historically as one of the more misunderstood characters of the past century. In Bonhoeffer Speaks Today, Mark Devine, Professor of Christian Theology at Midwestern Seminary in Kansas City, MO does an excellent job at helping to wade through the morass of misinformation that is in circulation regarding Bonhoeffer today.

I have often been fascinated by Bonhoeffer and his commitment to his particular understanding of faith in the the face of much opposition, both from his church, his family and his government. Devine does a fantastic job, in this book, of allowing us to glimpse the personal struggles of Bonhoeffer as he progressed through his life to the point where he would lay down his life for his commitment to God and country.

What struck me as particularly interesting about this volume was the message that it communicates to us today. We stand at a place, theologically, where we are battling with the tension that exists between biblical integrity and cultural relativity. We see this evidenced in many streams of the "Emerging Church Movement." As I was reading this book it occured to me that Bonhoeffer was an early precursor to this very same movement. Bonhoeffer's concern for community, transparency, relevance, etc. are all characteristics of much of our struggle in the church today.

This book is an excellent read! It is both enjoyable and very instructional. I would highly recommend it as a tool in understanding both historical precedent and practical application for our situation today. Devine is to be commended for familiarizing us with this wonderful character from our theological history. I think as you read this book, you will find Bonhoeffer standing beside you guiding you towards Christ and His word.

A great work on Bonhoeffer for reading by Evangelicals (at least).......2006-05-01

A book may inform. A book may delight. When a book achieves both goals there is great joy in the reading of it. Bonhoeffer Speaks Today: Following Jesus at All Costs is just such a book. Written by Dr. Mark DeVine, professor of Christian theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, this new release from Broadman & Holman shows the significance of the life and theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The publication coincides with the 100th anniversary of the birth of the German theologian.

Bonhoeffer wrote the popular works The Cost of Discipleship and Ethics. However, he is best known for his role in opposing Nazism and conspiring to help assassinate Adolf Hitler. In a day when the vast majority of the German church acquiesced to Hitler, Bonhoeffer led an opposition group known as "the Confessing Church". Near the end of the war, he was arrested and executed in a concentration camp.

The first chapter of DeVine's work is worth the price of the book because of the lively biographical account of Bonhoeffer. DeVine is a master story-teller, showing the difficult times in which Bonhoeffer lived out his short thirty-nine years.

DeVine does not attempt to cover all of Bonhoeffer's thought. Rather, he shows the relevance of Bonhoeffer to current evangelical Christianity by focusing on four areas of concern.

First, Bonhoeffer wrote a great deal about knowing and doing the will of God. Rather than waiting for a direct divine word from God, he argued for submissive obedience to written Scripture. Bonhoeffer said, "Do not get into the habit of interpreting Scripture in light of personal experience. Do not measure God's word. Let it measure my word, my life." DeVine contrasts this with much of evangelical piety:

"As a Southern Baptist, I rarely encounter a sermon or participate in a Bible study or small-group session without hearing claims of divine leading and guidance. These claims are shared as though the experience of such daily guidance is a matter of course for speaker and hearer alike."

Without neglecting the reality of Holy Spirit guidance, Bonhoeffer and DeVine challenge us to move beyond the murky elusiveness of seeking individualized revelation. God does not play hide-and-seek with His will.
Second, living through the day of a compromised church, Bonhoeffer spoke often on the nature and mission of the true church. Rather than giving up on a church which disappointed him, Bonhoeffer saw that true communion with Christ does not exist apart from our relationships with one another in the body. DeVine says that some modern church practice keeps us from this type of true interaction with one another.

Third, Bonhoeffer emphasized the relationship between the witness and relevance of the church. He said, "The intention should not be to justify Christianity in this present age, but to justify the present age before the Christian message." The church is to be in the world but not of it. Strong proclamation of the Word and a Christ-centered theology is the path of fidelity that avoids cultural accommodation. Again, DeVine draws application from these themes to evangelical practice.

Finally, Bonhoeffer wrote about freedom, suffering, and hope - three themes central to his own story. He exhorts us to "Seek God, not happiness". Unfortunately, many in evangelicalism turn this truth around, focusing on personal fulfillment even at the cost of disobedience to God. God's commands are a gracious gift of God that reveal His desires to us. Believing as he did in the imminent return of Jesus, Bonhoeffer expressed urgency in his call for repentance of sin.

In closing, DeVine says of Bonhoeffer, "We are confronted with a follower of Jesus prepared to died rather than abandon his Lord. Dietrich Bonhoeffer has much to teach us, and we evangelicals need not put our heads in the sand to sit at his feet for a spell." DeVine's exceptional book provides us with an enjoyable opportunity to listen to the voice of Bonhoeffer.

Bonhoeffer Speaks to Contemporary Evangelical Church.......2006-04-28

In the author's introduction, DeVine qualifies the title by specifying that his work is an attempt to apply certain aspects of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's thought to the contemporary religious life of evangelical Christians. He acknowledges that this specificity is somewhat problematic in itself. This is due to the difficulties of defining evangelical in today's church environment. In fact, I would further qualify his intent by saying that it seems pointed most directly toward certain "popular" elements of contemporary American evangelical Christian life. In the end, DeVine accomplishes much of what he sets out to do. Most importantly, he does so in a way that is accessible not only to well read clergy but the serious lay audience as well.
The first chapter consists of a brief overview of the life and work of Bonhoeffer as a way of giving historical context to the application in the following chapters. This reader found the chronology a bit confusing at times. It left me wanting a fuller treatment of his life, particularly the last decade when Bonhoeffer found himself increasingly entangled in German church struggles and state intrigue. Perhaps this was due to the limitations of space in such a work as this. At any rate, this is not a major impediment to grasping the critique that Bonhoeffer's work brings to popular American evangelicalism.

A key to understanding DeVine's work is the way he uses Bonhoeffer's views of the will of God and reality as a critique of contemporary evangicalism in its popular American expression. Bonhoeffer's passionate attention to the will of God expressed itself in a particular view of reality. For him reality was revealed in all of God's historical activity and especially in His self revelation in Christ. The follower of Christ knows the will of God as it is revealed. Furthermore, the moral direction of the disciple's life ought to be centered on knowing the will of God rather than striving to be good or do good. This is so, because striving for goodness itself can become an act of self-justification. From this understanding of the will of God and reality, DeVine rightly points out that much of the popular evangelical obsession with the immediacy of spiritual experience now borders on just such a self-centered attitude.

DeVine goes on to make other important application of Bonhoeffer's thought to the contemporary evangelical scene. For instance, he demonstrates how Bonheffer' sense of Christian community speaks powerfully to the popular evangelical conception of church as "consumer" product. In true Christian community the church never becomes something that one shops for as with buying a new home or automobile. In reality, rather than being a product itself the church is that special place that produces in the disciple the qualities of Christlike living. Another example is the manner in which DeVine brings Bonhoeffer's idea of "worldly" Christianity to bear on the contemporary evangelical church's identification with partisan political expression. Too close an identification can become detrimental to establishing an independent and credible prophetic voice in the public square. In today's political arena we often see certain faith traditions within the larger evangelical community too closely wedded to particular political parties or ideas. This happens both on the left and the right. A final example is DeVine's use of Bonhoeffer's conception of freedom and happiness as a critique of ideas now prevailing in much of American evangelical church life. For Bonhoeffer the life of the true disciple is marked by the suffering of the cross and obedience to the will of God. Fulfillment finds its end in self-denial rather than concern for personal happiness. Freedom is discovered in becoming a servant rather then self expression. This runs counter to much of the contemporary evangelical concern for individual expression and experiential fulfillment.

One potential problem in DeVine's analysis is its heavy dependence on Bonhoeffer's sympathetic biographer, Eberhard Bethge. This may have unintentionally narrowed the scope of his application. A more broad reading of the Bonhoeffer literature might allow for further application of his thought to an even broader range of evangelical expression; whether it be right of center or left of center, popular or traditional, Calvinist or Arminian, free or ordered. Having said this, it must be acknowledged that DeVine has done the popular American evangelical church a large favor by pointing out several flaws in its present state.

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The Cost of Commitment (Ivp Classics)
John White
Manufacturer: IVP Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Fight: A Practical Handbook to Christian Living

ASIN: 0830834044

Book Description

Following Christ, says John White, is not cheap. The cost is substantial. There will be suffering and loss. But the benefits, rewards and joys that come with our commitment to him are well worth the sacrifices that must be made to answer the call to Christ. Consider the cost. Take up your cross. And follow Jesus in the only life worth living.

Market/Audience

CBA readers
New Christians
Students

Features and Benefits

Back in print after being out of print for 12 years.
A revised and expanded edition (previously published as Magnificent Obsession).
Over 100,000 copies sold.

Flashpoints: When God Ignites the Passion in Your Soul to Make a Difference-No Matter What the Cost (Flashpoints (Tyndale Audio))

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Excellent Advice from a California Dreamer!
This is a fantastic book to help you achieve your dreams!
This is a fantastic book to help you achieve your dreams!
This is a fantastic book to help you achieve your dreams!
This is a fantastic book to help you achieve your dreams!

Flashpoints: When God Ignites the Passion in Your Soul to Make a Difference-No Matter What the Cost (Flashpoints (Tyndale Audio))
Stephen Arterburn
Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs

ASIN: 0842361863

Book Description

In firefighting lingo, the flashpoint is the temperature at which everything combustible in a room spontaneously bursts into flame. Applying this principle to our lives, flashpoints are those moments when, for better or worse, a single event or idea ignites--and changes our lives forever. If we can capture the energy of our flashpoints to pursue our God-given destiny or dreams, we can change the world for good.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Advice from a California Dreamer!.......2005-04-26

It's common to view the process of success as a means to a goal, but Steve Arterburn views it as success itself. The lifestyle of accomplishment defines the achiever. The author has the credentials as he's candid with his readers that he's failed and struggled over the years before having something to show for his efforts.

Writers that discuss passion in an authentic way motivate me. Arterburn is such a writer. Arterburn is a Christian who notes that true passion comes from discovery God's plan for your life. This is how he discusses a God-given dream: "The word 'inspiration comes from a Latin word meaning 'to blow' or 'breathe upon.' I love this word picture because I can just see the Spirit of God 'blowing' an idea into my brain. I truly believe that many, if not most, of the best ideas in my life have been God-breathed."

You're encouraged to pursue God and His plan for your life. Fulfillment comes from living the life He created you to live. This is a book for dreamers in the most positive sense of that term.

This is a fantastic book to help you achieve your dreams!.......2002-09-26

If you truly want to make your dreams come true, then read this book. With so many self help books out on the market, this one differs in one key way.... Stephen Arterburn shares a step by step methodology to "ignite the passion in your soul."

This is a fantastic book to help you achieve your dreams!.......2002-09-26

Many of us exist rather then live. This book encourages us to live, and thrive. If you're willing to open your mind and follow through with focused action, you'll be amazed with what you can accomplish.

Average customer rating:
An Eye Single to the Glory of God: Reflections on the Cost of Discipleship
Robert L. Millet
Manufacturer: Deseret Book Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Mormonism | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0875793924

Average customer rating:
The Cost of Discipleship

Manufacturer: Macmillian Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000I5M6OA

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