March 4, 2009
Dietrich Bonheoffer, a German pastor who led resistance against—and even tried to assassinate—Hitler, has a wonderful and well known book called The Cost of Discipleship. During these challenging economic times, I tend to think about costs a lot. I am confident that you do too. When we think about cost sometimes the cost of discipleship seems high. The grace of God is free and it costs everything. To receive it you must drop every other bauble from your hand. You must prize it more than all else. You must lay down your burden and take up your cross—your own death. As a school that seeks to train disciples, I ponder this often. Remember, however, that costs can not be judged in a vacuum. The best question to ask is about a purchase is often not “How much does it cost?” but “What is its value?” Some things are costly, and they are worth it. Christian discipleship must be viewed through this prism. It costs everything, but its worth is priceless.
