Tag: Theology

What is Costly Grace? (2 of 2)

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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)

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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 …

I Believe in Hell

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I’ve had the urge to write this post because recently I have been at gatherings with pastors and seminarians where the topic of hell was raised (mainly due to the recent lectionary texts that mention it). In every one of these gatherings, there was a small contingent of people who gave a little dismissive smirk, nod, and wink when hell was mentioned-as if to say that’s a cute antiquated piece of Christianity that we shouldn’t Read More …