Crash Helmets and Cheap Grace

Grace is not cheap!

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Heb 12:28-29 NIV)

Reverence and awe; what is that? One of my favorite authors is Annie Dillard. In her book "Teaching a Stone to Talk" she wrote:

"It is madness to wear straw hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping God may wake someday and take offense, or the waking God may draw us out to where we can never return."

Sometimes, I think that we have probably forgotten who God is. We forget that He is Almighty. We forget that He is the creator of all things. We forget that He who gives us life can also take it away. We seem not to be able to grasp the concept that because He is so great maybe he deserves a little more respect than we give to Him. Maybe, we should pay a little closer attention to His Word.

Over time, the church on earth, in order to grow her numbers, offered up what the German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, called "cheap grace. " In his book "The Cost of Discipleship" he wrote:  

"Cheap grace is the grace we bestow upon ourselves. 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, living and incarnate."

It is a wonder to me that so often I encounter Christians who think just because Jesus died for all people that all people would be saved. This universal salvation is lie of the devil to please the itching ears of the world. It leads many down the path of destruction. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6 NIV) Universal salvation is nothing more than cheap grace. 

On the other hand, Bonhoeffer wrote:

"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.'"

and

"It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'ye were bought at a price,' and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God."

Yes! Yes! Rejoice for our God loves you so much He was willing to die for you. Sing praises like you mean it; because, hopefully you do mean it. But, let us also understand that we are in the presence of God at all times and in all places. We represent God here in this world. If Christians will not worship Him with reverence and awe; who will?

God is; after all, Almighty. As Lutherans we teach of the first commandment in the small catechism:  

   Thou shalt have no other gods.

   What does this mean?--Answer.

   We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

I am well aware that many in the church today teach that we should never fear God because of His great love for us. We are taught that we shall all be saved. Yet, Jesus tells us: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

and...

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke 12:4-5)

Who has that authority? Only one has that authority; the one who created you and me; the one who created all things. We, who love Him, do not have to fear Him. But in reverence and awe, we are to love, trust, and; yes, worship Him. Be careful that you do not take Him for granted. Do not cheapen the grace that He has bestowed upon you for one day you will meet this One God whom you have taken for granted face to face and then it will be too late to put on a crash helmet. 

Our God is an awesome and the only Almighty God, may we always worship him with reverence and awe.

God's Peace - Pr. J