Costly Grace, part three...

Great discussion on the last post!! I just want to bring out a few different thoughts and continue the discussion before I post the next chapter.

Luke, I really liked how you wrapped up the lay minister vs. professional minister discussion…

“So what does this teach us? I think it teaches us our helplessness before the living God. Whether I leave it all behind, or whether I remain content in the world there is a real danger of relying on something OTHER than God Almighty. And this is where the call of Jesus Christ incarnate, crucified, and risen leads: to a shattering of all self-reliance against the hammer of the law and a re-creation and re-birth in the vicarious work of Jesus Christ on our behalf.

If we look to the rich young ruler of the Scriptures we can see this fact. Jesus calls this man to leave his entire life behind to follow Him. Why? Because the man was attached to his life, attached to his job, attached to his family, attached to his accomplishments. Would leaving this all behind solve everything? No, because even then he might even be more firmly attached to his self, to his stubborn self will. Jesus Christ therefore wants to simply strip us down of all these false idols and attachments so that we stand before Him as nothing but helpless and broken beggars. It is then there as unrighteous sinners, as helpless and sick wretches that the grace and comfort that He offers will be so uplifting and full of true peace.”

These are very challenging thoughts. It is so important to realize that it is not just the act of leaving everything physically behind…we need to also be willing to leave our heart, passions, and self-will at the foot of the cross.

The other thread of discussion I would like to follow is Roxana’s:

“Bonhoeffer says we can not choose to be disciples. That being a disciple is something we are called to. I know we are called to make disciples of the whole earth. Yet Jesus called some men to be the kind of discipleship that were asked to give everything up (and I know he asks that of all of us) and others he just preached to wanting them to be born into the kingdom…Jesus’ earnest desire would be that we all live a costly life, but we all don’t get the message clearly because we haven’t stood and cut down the monastic weed that continues to infest our churches”

(mom, clarify if you meant something different…) But I think what you are saying is that all of us are called to be disciples, but not everyone will answer that call. I would like to take it a step further and say that Jesus has called ALL men to be the kind of disciples that will give up everything. I think it is more then Christ’s desire for us to live a costly life, but his demand…anything less is because our hearts are rooted in sin. I think the answer to the “weed” (I am thinking you are talking about false doctrine/teaching) is to powerfully, boldly preach God’s word to each other. As we immerse ourselves in the word of God, our lives should take shape according to the commands in that word. The answer to the areas of our life that we have not allowed costly grace to enter in is a humble heart of repentance before our amazing God who has saved us from having to live a life filled with anything less then being his disciple.