Bonhoeffer: Cheap Grace

[John_Martin]

This Lutheran is enjoying watching the Roman Catholics and the “Protestants” try to appropriate Bonhoeffer and shoehorn his theology into their own. ������

Bonhoeffer looked at Grace as a Lutheran does: as a gift of God that is received through Faith and in the Means that God established - Word and Sacrament. It is freely given, but not cheaply. Christ paid the real price for it.

Neither Bonhoeffer nor Lutheranism is a proponent of OSAS or Decision Theology. To the Lutheran, even Semi-Pelagianism is considered giving too much agency to Man. It’s God, alone, Who does the work.

I guess you don’t read everyone’s posts.
I really don’t care to appropriate Bonhoeffer, another protester who talks about grace but never can say what it is and how it functions, let alone the distinctions of multiple kinds of grace - only, though, that it costs a lot. Then people use him to criticize the Holy Father.
I did not reference him in my answer, since he has nothing to say of how Grace works or what exactly it is, so you just read Bonhoeffer and have no idea of how to make it real.
A lot of words that cannot be actually done in real life. Heavy burdens hard to bear and not lifting a finger to help.

If you are going to pretend to be “someone wiser than a Catholic”, go back into your observation blind and keep silent; maybe this People of ‘I AM’ called Catholic will become attractive to you via Gratuitous Grace if you do not insert your religio-anthropological comments to muddy the water of truth.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

I guess you don’t read everyone’s posts.
I really don’t care to appropriate Bonhoeffer, another protester who talks about grace but never can say what it is and how it functions, let alone the distinctions of multiple kinds of grace - only, though, that it costs a lot. Then people use him to criticize the Holy Father.
I did not reference him in my answer, since he has nothing to say of how Grace works or what exactly it is, so you just read Bonhoeffer and have no idea of how to make it real.
A lot of words that cannot be actually done in real life. Heavy burdens hard to bear and not lifting a finger to help.

If you are going to pretend to be “someone wiser than a Catholic”, go back into your observation blind and keep silent; maybe this People of ‘I AM’ called Catholic will become attractive to you via Gratuitous Grace if you do not insert your religio-anthropological comments to muddy the water of truth.

…and in all things charity (please).

 

[steido01]

I guess you don’t read everyone’s posts.
I really don’t care to appropriate Bonhoeffer, another protester who talks about grace but never can say what it is and how it functions, let alone the distinctions of multiple kinds of grace - only, though, that it costs a lot. Then people use him to criticize the Holy Father.
I did not reference him in my answer, since he has nothing to say of how Grace works or what exactly it is, so you just read Bonhoeffer and have no idea of how to make it real.
A lot of words that cannot be actually done in real life. Heavy burdens hard to bear and not lifting a finger to help.

Friend, my post was a light-hearted (note the emoticon) response to this discussion as it relates to the OP and not aimed at any particular person (in fact, I clearly referenced both Roman Catholics and “Protestants” and mentioned no names).

I merely found it amusing that folks were, on one side, using Bonhoeffer’s words to criticize the Pope for being legalistic, while the other side practically endorsed antinomianism. This is amusing because neither is applying Bonhoeffer’s thoughts on Grace in a remotely accurate or appropriate way. I took no side. I merely observed. I am not sure why you were offended by my comment, or why you chose to attack me.

If you are going to pretend to be “someone wiser than a Catholic”, go back into your observation blind and keep silent; maybe this People of ‘I AM’ called Catholic will become attractive to you via Gratuitous Grace if you do not insert your religio-anthropological comments to muddy the water of truth.

I’m not pretending to be wiser than anyone. All I said is that Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran, so his words will only make sense in the context of that theological framework. To understand his view of Grace, one must first understand the Lutheran view of Grace. That’s all.

 

[John_Martin]

I’m not pretending to be wiser than anyone. All I said is that Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran, so his words will only make sense in the context of that theological framework. To understand his view of Grace, one must first understand the Lutheran view of Grace. That’s all.

I have studied “the Cost of Discipleship” along with “Letters and Papers from Prison”, “Life Together”, and “Ethics”, and studied intensely most of Luther’s Works, the Formula of Concord, the Augsburg Confession, the Large Catechism, etc., and know the theology very well, with an M.Div. from Luther Seminary in St. Paul.
I do know the Lutheran view of grace, very well also. And I am well acquainted with Luther’s coat of arms with which you adorn your name, the gold ring around the field of blue, white rose, etc…

In your comment you place yourself like a superior intellect enjoying watching children squabble about something you consider adult. And you enjoy watching those who do not understand.
Your “amusement” is not amusing.

 

[steido01]

I have studied “the Cost of Discipleship” along with “Letters and Papers from Prison”, “Life Together”, and “Ethics”, and studied intensely most of Luther’s Works, the Formula of Concord, the Augsburg Confession, the Large Catechism, etc., and know the theology very well, with an M.Div. from Luther Seminary in St. Paul.
I do know the Lutheran view of grace, very well also. And I am well acquainted with Luther’s coat of arms with which you adorn your name, the gold ring around the field of blue, white rose, etc…

In your comment you place yourself like a superior intellect enjoying watching children squabble about something you consider adult. And you enjoy watching those who do not understand.
Your “amusement” is not amusing.

Friend, again, I bring no ill will. I don’t pretend to be wiser than anyone else and I’m certainly not the intellectual giant that some here are. I’m just a humble Lutheran layman (admittedly, I do indulge in a bit of pride with my avatar ).

I hope I’m correct in assuming you attended Luther Seminary before the ELCA led it further from Lutheran orthodoxy than it had already gone. It’s good to know that you are familiar with Lutheran teaching – even the simple stuff intended for humble folk like me. Things like Luther’s explanation of the 8th Commandment, for example. Now please, as a fellow brother in Christ, set aside whatever disdain you have for your former ecclesial heritage and put a better construction on my post. I assure you, I intended no offense.

May God bring you His peace.