Post Easter Meditation III: Bonhoeffer on Obedience & Faith
From The Cost of Discipleship , by Dietrich Bonhoeffer : "Faith is only real when there is obedience, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience." Another way of saying this is a phrase I heard one of my Bible teachers quote years ago: "Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone." We have celebrated Easter, or Resurrection Sunday. What does it all mean, and what does it have to do with the demand of obedience? Who is this Jesus Christ who rose from the dead? He is God. We have two options in how we respond to this truth. We can reject it, and say: "Not for me." Or, we can obey Him. Faith without obedience is faith in something or someone else other than Jesus Christ. Faith without obedience may be foolish presumption, thoughtless self-confidence, or mindless group-think. Do we want to be "saved?" What does it mean to be "saved"? Among many things, it means the freedom to do what is right, as def...