Category: Theology

God’s Flesh & Blood

Posted onLeave a comment

#progGOD Challenge #2 Tony Jones has invited bloggers from all over the blogosphere to answer another #progGOD challenge. The question: “Why An Incarnation?” Jones writes, “…I’m most interested in what the Incarnation tells us about God, human beings, creation, the Cosmos, the End Times, Heaven, Hell, salvation, or anything else…from a Progressive Christian perspective.” Here’s my three-fold response: Jesus is the new way God is revealed The passage in scripture that most informs my understanding Read More …

What is Costly Grace? (2 of 2)

Posted on3 Comments

Yesterday, I wrote What is Cheap Grace?  Today’s post is the flip-side of that coin. As I noted previously, in The Cost of Discipleship Dietrich Bonhoeffer makes a clear distinction between cheap grace and costly grace.  Often people are eager to mention what is cheap grace but are less willing to bring up what Bonhoeffer means by costly grace. According to Bonhoeffer costly grace is the antithesis of cheap grace.  Unlike cheap grace which is monotone, costly grace is Read More …

What Is Cheap Grace? (1 of 2)

Posted on2 Comments

I often hear seminarians and pastors throw out the term “cheap grace” in theological conversations (primarily in Lutheran circles).  These people will cry afoul about something and declare that someone’s theology portrays “cheap grace.”  My problem is that using this term usually (9 out of 10 times) makes no sense in the context of the discussion. Kind of like people’s misuse of Luther’s term SIN BOLDLY. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a book entitled The Cost of Read More …