From My Perspective - - -
Have you ever paused to consider how many famous and outstanding men have there been in history? Do you remember who some of them are? Why do you consider them to be famous and outstanding? What did they do or say that left an indelible mark upon both history and for your life?  

The Patriot Post referenced the following paragraph written in 1776 by Thomas Paine in his pamphlet, "The American Crisis," Thomas Paine opened his famous pamphlet with these words: "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated."

If we fast-forward 170 years to 1937, the German Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a book with a simple title, Discipleship. It is centered around some of the thoughts and exposition that occurred to him as he was reading The Sermon on the Mount. His attempt is to spell out what he believed it meant to follow Christ. Historically, his book was published as the Nazi regime was emerging in Germany. One of the most famous quotes extracted from this man’s thoughts and exposition focus upon costly grace versus cheap grace. He wrote: "…cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism  without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ." By contrast, "…costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. It is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: My yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Part of the concern of Paine was that the freedom purchased at such a great cost would be viewed too cheaply in and by future generations; that future generations would not share the same vision of freedom nor be willing to make the sacrifices to preserve and maintain it. With Bonhoeffer, part of his concern and argument was that as Christianity spread, the Church would became more and more secularized, accommodating the demands of obedience to Jesus to the requirements of society. In other words, the “Church” and “Christian Community” would succumb to the political authority of the day and remain silent amid all kinds of atrocities and injustices. The signers of the Declaration of Independence pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor of the cause of freedom.Of those 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence, nine died of wounds or hardships during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned, in each case with brutal treatment. One lost his 13 children. Two wives were brutally treated. Twelve signers had their homes completely burned. Seventeen lost everything they owned. Yet not one defected or went back on his pledged word. Their honor, and the nation they sacrificed so much to create is still intact.

If only the “Church” and “Christian Community” of this day would review part of the cost of commitment for both life and proclamation. The words of the Apostle Paul are both stirring and challenging in Acts 20:24-27, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold…I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” Can you identify with any of this commitment – “I do not account my life of any value; I do not count my life as precious to myself; I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” Consider these things with me!