There is another German theologian that I admire. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a pastor in the Lutheran Church during the early part of the 20th century. He struggled a lot with the issue of discipleship and how it relates to God's grace.
The following is from the introduction to his book The Cost of Discipleship. It is a translation from the German and it is in a style of English that was common 50 years ago. In other words, it is a little more difficult to read. And there will be some words that are unfamiliar. That's okay. It is good to try to read somethings which are harder. And no one should get through Bible college without having read some Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
So, I want you to do your best at reading this. You may have to read it several times to understand what he is saying. And that is okay. I have found when trying to read complex writing that it helps to read it aloud to myself. That way I am not only seeing it but I am hearing it, too. Take your time. Chew on these words. Digest them slowly.
As you read these three pages from his book I would like you to try and answer the following questions?
1. Who was Bonnhoeffer concerned about? That is, who did he think might not be able to become true followers of Christ?
2. What does he suggest are the benefits of following Jesus?
3. Which words of Jesus did Bonhoeffer remember that suggest that following Jesus is not TOO hard?
4. What does Bonhoeffer mean when he says, "But we do know that it will be a road of boundless mercy. Discipleship means joy."
We propose to tell how Jesus calls us to be his disciples. But is not this to lay another and still heavier burden on men's shoulders? Is this all we can do when the souls and bodies of men are groaning beneath the weight of so many man-made dogmas? If we recall men to the following of Jesus, shall we not be driving a still sharper goad into their already troubled and wounded consciences?
Are we to follow the practice which has been all too common in the history of the Church, and impose on men demands too grievous to bear, demands which have little to do with the centralities of the Christian faith, demands which may be a pious luxury for the few, but which the toiling masses, with their anxiety for their daily bread, their jobs and their families, can only reject as utter blasphemy and a tempting of God?
Is it the Church's concern to erect a spiritual tyranny over men, by dictating to them what must be believed and performed to enforce that belief and behavior with the sanctions of temporal and eternal punishment? Shall the word of the Church bring new tyranny and oppression over the souls of men? It may well be that this is what many people want. But could the Church consent to meet such a demand?
When the Bible speaks of following Jesus, it is proclaiming a discipleship which will liberate mankind from all man-made dogmas, from every burden and oppression, from every anxiety and torture which afflicts the conscience. If they follow Jesus, men escape from the hard yoke of their own laws, and submit to the kindly yoke of Jesus Christ. But does this mean that we ignore the seriousness of his commands?
Far from it. We can only achieve perfect liberty and enjoy fellowship with Jesus when his command, his call to absolute discipleship, is appreciated in its entirety. Only the man who follows the command of Jesus without reserve, and submits unresisting to his yoke, finds his burden easy, and under its gentle pressure receives the power to persevere in the right way.
The command of Jesus is hard, unutterably hard, for those who try to resist it. But for those who willingly submit, the yoke is easy, and the burden is light. "His commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3). The commandment of Jesus is not a sort of spiritual shock treatment. Jesus asks nothing of us without giving us the strength to perform it. His commandment never seeks to destroy life, but to foster, strengthen and heal it.
But one question still troubles us. What can the call to discipleship mean today for the worker, the business man, the squire and the soldier? Does it lead to an intolerable dichotomy between our lives in the world and our lives as Christians? If Christianity means following Christ, is it not a religion for a small minority, a spiritual elite? Does it not mean the reputation of the great mass of society, and a hearty contempt for the weak and the poor?
Yet surely such an attitude is the exact opposite of the gracious mercy of Jesus Christ, who came to the publicans and sinners, the weak and the poor, the erring and the hopeless? Are those who belong to Jesus only a few, or are they many? He died on the cross alone, abandoned by his disciples. With him were crucified, not two of his followers, but two murders. But they all stood beneath the cross, enemies and believers, doubters and cowards, revilers and devoted followers.
His prayer, "Father, forgive them" was meant for them all, and for all their sins. The mercy and love of God are at work even in the midst of his enemies. It is the same Jesus Christ, who of his grace calls us to follow him, and whose grace saves the murderer who mocks him on the cross in his last hour.
And if we answer the call to discipleship, where will it lead us? What decisions and partings will it demand? To answer this question we shall have to go to him, for only he knows the answer. Only Jesus Christ, who bids us follow him, knows the journey's end. But we do know that it will be a road of boundless mercy. Discipleship means joy.
The Cost of Discipleship (translated by R.H. Fuller, New York: MacMillan Company, 1958) pages 30-32
ASSIGNMENT #9
Answer the following questions in complete sentences. You can get up to 6 points for each answer -- depending on how well you develop your answer. That is, if you just write a little and give a brief answer you might get 1 or 2 points. But if you write several sentences and explain why you are answering the way you are, you can get up to 6 points.
1. Who was Bonhoeffer concerned about? That is, who did he think might not be able to become true followers of Christ?
2. What does he suggest are the benefits of following Jesus?
3. Which words of Jesus did Bonhoeffer remember that suggest that following Jesus is not TOO hard?
4. What does Bonhoeffer mean when he says, "But we do know that it will be a road of boundless mercy. Discipleship means joy."
5. Do some online research to discover what happened to Dietrich Bonhoeffer. How do you think Bonhoeffer's fate was related to his quest to be a disciple?
