The Cost of Discipleship

The contrasting concepts of “cheap grace” and “costly grace” play a pivotal role. “Cheap grace” is a superficial understanding of God’s grace, offering forgiveness without requiring repentance or any transformative faith. It amounts to “the grace we bestow on ourselves” (44). In stark contrast, “costly grace” is deeply transformative, demanding a full commitment to discipleship. It is “costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner” (45) and is not a passive form of Christianity but requires a serious, ongoing effort to live according to the principles of the faith.

Historically, various interpretations and implementations of grace have led to distortions in Christian practice. Monasticism, for example, emerged as a reaction to cheapened grace but ultimately turned discipleship into a specialized, meritorious vocation. Martin Luther’s Reformation sought to reclaim the essence of “costly grace,” emphasizing the need for real-world obedience to Christ’s commands. Unfortunately, his teachings were later misunderstood and misapplied, reducing them to an excuse for a passive form of Christianity devoid of true discipleship.

In Luther’s perspective, grace is not a ticket to complacency but a transformative gift that allows one to follow Christ sincerely. However, this viewpoint has often been twisted, particularly among Lutherans who believe that merely affirming the doctrine of grace makes them true disciples. Luther’s statement, “Sin boldly but believe and rejoice in Christ more boldly still” (52), is commonly misinterpreted as permission for sinful behavior instead of guidance for those who already grasp the demanding nature of grace.

Both institutional and individual shortcomings have led to a crisis within modern Christianity, making the faith too accessible and thereby draining it of its transformative power. This has resulted in an erosion of true discipleship and the secularization of Christian practice. Addressing this crisis requires a more authentic, rigorous practice of faith that recalibrates the relationship between grace and discipleship.

The essence of discipleship is immediate and unquestioning obedience. Following Jesus Christ is not an intellectual endeavor or a part-time commitment; it demands a complete surrender of one’s life. The statement, “Levi must leave the receipt of custom and Peter his nets” (62), underscores the transformation and utter allegiance required. Surrender is required because Jesus, as the incarnate Son of God, has unique authority that permits no conditions. For instance, deferring the call to first bury a father or say goodbye to a family isn’t acceptable, as any delay compromises the sanctity of Jesus’s call.

Different Christian traditions have various interpretations, but all agree that this initial obedience is necessary for faith. However, merely taking this step is not enough for salvation. It must be coupled with genuine faith to avoid “cheap grace,” which is grace devoid of transformative power. The narratives of the rich young man and the lawyer serve as cautionary tales. Both characters demonstrate how asking theoretical or moral questions can serve as distractions from the immediate and unconditional obedience required for genuine faith. These questions are not genuine queries but rather forms of moral procrastination, “rebellion against the commandment of God” (77). They are attempts to avoid the hard truth of surrender to a higher spiritual order. In other words, for faith to be genuine and transformative, it must be rooted in action and obedience, not in endless questions or moral conundrums. The focus is on spontaneous, unequivocal obedience to known duties as the only pathway to genuine, transformative faith: “You can only learn what obedience is by obeying” (77).

The essence of obedience to Jesus is not just blind adherence to rules or commandments. Rather, it demands a single-minded commitment to follow His words in everyday life. The story of the rich young man who walks away from Jesus exemplifies the struggle between material possession and spiritual commitment. The man couldn’t detach himself from his wealth to follow Jesus, revealing that obedience isn’t just about external actions but involves a deep, internal transformation. People often rationalize their inability to follow such teachings by intellectualizing them. For instance, one might argue that wealth isn’t the issue but the attachment to it. Such rationalizations serve as a means of avoiding the unequivocal nature of Jesus’s calls for obedience, turning them into something negotiable and subjective. This is problematic because it negates the very essence of faith, which is rooted in a relationship of trust and obedience with a higher power.

Critically, one can’t experience true faith without obedience. The call for obedience is not just a divine demand but an invitation into a relational experience where faith becomes possible. This is not to say that rules and principles aren’t important, but they’re secondary to the relationship. True obedience involves accepting this relationship, thereby unlocking the possibility for genuine faith. However, it’s a difficult path, as it confronts deeply ingrained rationalizations and the human tendency to maintain the status quo. This call to obedience is not a pathway to earning spiritual points or achieving salvation by human effort. It’s an acknowledgment of human limitations and an expression of trust in divine capability. Ultimately, the call to obedience is a bridge to faith, reminding us that while human efforts fall short, “with God all things are possible” (85).

Discipleship is intrinsically linked to the concept of the cross, emphasizing that suffering and rejection are not peripheral but central to a Christian’s spiritual journey. This centrality of suffering extends from Christ to his disciples, with the affirmation that “suffering, then, is the badge of true discipleship” (91). Discipleship demands complete self-denial and a willingness to endure physical suffering, societal rejection, and shame. Refusing to take up one’s cross means forfeiting fellowship with Christ. Peter’s reluctance to accept a suffering Messiah is cited as an example of how resistance to the idea of suffering can allow destructive forces into the church. The concept of the “cross” is metaphorical and represents the trials one undergoes as a follower of Christ. Bearing this cross is considered the only way to triumph over suffering and offers a path to deeper communion with God. These ideas are aligned with Martin Luther’s teachings, which also recognize suffering as a mark of true faith. Moreover, Christ’s suffering is portrayed as vicarious, providing redemption for the world. We share in this redemptive work by choosing to bear our own crosses. The ultimate call of discipleship is to share in the work of forgiving sins, akin to Christ’s own mission. This journey is not a burden but a path to the highest joy and communion with God.

Discipleship necessitates an individual relationship with Christ that fundamentally changes one’s relationship with the world and other people. It begins with the call of Jesus, demanding a personal decision that replaces all “natural ties of life” (94), making Christ the sole mediator between humanity and the world. Bonhoeffer notes, “He wants to be the centre, through him alone all things shall come to pass” (95). This call mandates a complete “breach with the immediacies of life” (96), making all direct relationships “impossible” and replacing them with a newfound immediacy with Christ. Contrary to notions that Christianity merely offers another “ideal,” Christ’s call is a transformational fait accompli that redefines all relationships and responsibilities as only meaningful through Jesus Christ. Obedience may require dramatic sacrifices but always demands prioritizing Christ above all. This is not a choice but a divine mandate: “Unless we have learnt this from the Bible and from our experience, we are indeed deceiving ourselves” (100). Following Christ leads to a new fellowship mediated by Him, a fellowship that comes with challenges and persecutions but ultimately offers a new life and community under the cross.