Book Review Assignment
Olivia M. Morgan
CHPL 598: Spiritual and Professional Development of the Chaplain
April 30, 2023
Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................1
Summary........................................................................................................................................1
Critique...........................................................................................................................................3
Strengths......................................................................................................................................3
Weaknesses..................................................................................................................................5
Application.....................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion......................................................................................................................................7
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................9
ii
1
Introduction
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a towering figure in 20th-century Christian theology. In 1906,
he entered the world in Breslau. He is the son of a well-known German psychiatrist and received
his education in Berlin and New York. In 1943, he was arrested after returning to Germany from
the relative safety of the United States to continue publicly condemning the Nazi regime.1 He
was executed by hanging in April of 1945 for his role in the failed plot to kill Hitler.2
The Cost of Discipleship is a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer that talks about what it means
to be a disciple and what that means in terms of costs. The book was written during Nazi
Germany when Bonhoeffer was a well-known pastor and theologian who fought against the
Nazis. This paper will analyze, summarize, and apply the Cost of Discipleship. The summary
will explain the book's central concept, the significance of the book's themes, and the author's
goal. The critique examines the author's thesis and the central arguments in his book from a
critical perspective. The book's benefits and flaws will be discussed as well. The application
would come after the review.
Summary
Using the life of Christ as an example, the book The Cost of Discipleship demonstrates
the value and significance of discipleship. The book summarizes our connection to the Gospel of
our Lord and Savior, Jesus. The contrast between “cheap grace” and costly grace is Bonhoeffer's
central idea and the most frequently cited theme here. Bonhoeffer warned that "cheap grace" was
the Church's greatest danger. Why? According to Bonhoeffer, cheap grace "is grace without
discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ "3 and "denies the living Word
1 Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The Cost of Discipleship. (New York: Touchstone, 1995), 4.
2 Ibid.
3 Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The Cost of Discipleship. (New York: Touchstone, 1995), 42.
2
of God, in fact, a denial of the Incarnation of the Word of God."4 After making this declaration,
Bonhoeffer wants his listeners to realize that following Christ requires radical obedience and
dedication to Christ and His Word, the Bible. In other words, "Costly grace is the gospel that
must be looked for over and over again, the gift that must be asked for, and the door that must be
knocked on. "5
The Cost of Discipleship is a book that challenges Christians to follow Jesus in the right
way.6 Bonhoeffer says that many Christians have reduced discipleship to a simple confession of
faith without fully understanding what that means.7 Bonhoeffer said that to be a true disciple, you
must completely give yourself to Jesus Christ.8 This means that you must be willing to do what
He says and follow His example, even when it is hard or unpopular.
Bonhoeffer says that being a disciple is not just about what you believe but also about
what you do.9 He says that faith without actions is dead and that to be a true disciple, you have to
take part in God's work in the world.10 Bonhoeffer also talks about how important it is to be a
disciple in a community. He says that Christians shouldn't live alone but should instead get
together to form groups of followers who support and challenge each other.11
4 Ibid., 44.
5 Ibid., 45.
6
Ibid., 76.
7
Ibid.
8
Ibid.
9
Ibid.
10
Ibid.
11
Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The Cost of Discipleship. (New York: Touchstone, 1995), 87.
3
The book also talks about how much it costs to follow Jesus. Bonhoeffer says that
following Jesus can be expensive and may require sacrifice, suffering, or even death.12 He uses
stories from the Bible and his own life to show how much it costs to follow Jesus.13 Bonhoeffer
also warns against "cheap grace," which is the idea that you can get forgiveness without
repenting or changing your behavior.14
Critique
Strengths
One of The Cost of Discipleship's strengths is that it shows how important it is to do
things to be a disciple. Bonhoeffer is right when he says that faith without actions is dead and
that Christians should take part in God's work in the world.15 His focus on community is also
good because Christians need each other's help and support to live out their faith.
Bonhoeffer's definition of costly grace as opposed to cheap grace is the book's strongest
point. I appreciate Bonhoeffer's differentiation between easy and costly grace. According to
Bonhoeffer, "cheap grace" is the proclamation of pardon without calling for penitence; it is also
the administration of sacraments like baptism, Communion, and absolution without the attendant
practices of church discipline and individual confession.16 Grace that doesn't require discipleship,
the cross, or Jesus Christ is "cheap grace."17 This central truth of the Gospel of Christ is what
Bonhoeffer brings to light. This was something that John the Baptist emphasized when He said,
12 Ibid.
13
Ibid.
14
Ibid., 92.
15
Ibid.
16
Ibid.
17
Ibid.
4
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:2 ESV). When Peter was preaching
at Salomon's Portico, he said, "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted
out." (Acts 3:19 ESV). Bonhoeffer explains it means that one must change their behavior due to
their repentance. Bonhoeffer stresses the relationship between repentance and salvation.
To truly repent means to alter one's outlook on the Lord Jesus Christ, not just one's
behavior. In his sermon, Peter urged his listeners, "Let all the house of Israel, therefore, know for
certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." (Acts 2:36
ESV). The negative aspect of conversion is repentance, which is turning away from sin; the
positive aspect is faith, which is grasping hold of the promises and the work of Christ.18
Bonhoeffer shows that we can't put our faith in Christ without changing our ideas about who
Jesus is and what He has done for people.
Bonhoeffer's main idea is reinforced by the remarkable fourth chapter, "Discipleship and
the Cross." One phrase that encapsulates this chapter's message is "Come and die for Christ."
Amazingly, at the outset of his ministry, John the Baptist says, "He must increase, but I must
decrease." (John 3:30 ESV). "Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let
him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24 ESV) show that Jesus
also placed a premium on this. This means that Christians must be willing to endure hardship and
hostility and deny themselves. If you want to stop Jesus from being Christ, Bonhoeffer says, you
have to stop him from suffering and being rejected.19
Union with Christ, as Bonhoeffer makes clear, has practical implications for the lives of
Christians. Suffering is an inevitable part of our union with Christ.20 When Jesus said, “Blessed
18 Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2013), 789.
19
Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The Cost of Discipleship. (New York: Touchstone, 1995), 86.
20 Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2013), 789.
5
are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 5:10 ESV), Jesus emphasized this point. Christ also told His followers, "If the world
hates you, know that it had hated me before it hated you." (John 15:18 ESV). Suffering will
always be a part of being a disciple of Christ, “For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that
leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matthew 7:14 ESV).
Weaknesses
one of the book's flaws is that Bonhoeffer's idea of being a disciple may need to be
narrower. He seems to be saying that to be a true disciple; you have to give up everything for
Jesus Christ and be willing to do what He says and do what He did, even when it is hard or
unpopular. Even though this is a very important part of being a disciple, it may not be the only
one. One way to be a disciple is to follow one's calling and use one's gifts and talents to serve
God.
Another area for improvement in the book is that Bonhoeffer may need to be more
pessimistic about the cost of following Jesus. It's true that following Jesus can be expensive and
may require sacrifice and pain, but it's also true that it can bring a lot of happiness and
satisfaction. Bonhoeffer's emphasis on the bad parts of discipleship may make some readers less
likely to become disciples.
"Single-Minded Obedience" is introduced by Bonhoeffer in chapter three of The Cost of
Discipleship; however, this theme can become a weakness if not carefully theologically
addressed. However, according to Bonhoeffer, faith alone is sufficient to produce complete
obedience. This could be misleading, as we have already established that faith and obedience are
necessary for salvation. Bonhoeffer said, "The elimination of single-minded obedience on
principle is just another example of how the costly grace of Jesus' call is turned into the cheap
6
grace of self-justification."21 The Bible contradicts Bonhoeffer by repeatedly stressing the
importance of repentance. Erickson argues that it takes more than just accepting Jesus' grace to
become a new person on the inside.22 Without genuine contrition, there can be no knowledge of
deliverance from the penalty of sin.23
Application
As a Hospital Chaplain, I can use the ideas I learned from The Cost of Discipleship in
many ways. First, I can tell patients that to be true disciples, they have to give their whole lives
to Jesus Christ and participate in God's work in the world. I can also stress the importance of
community in discipleship and encourage patients to form groups of disciples who support and
challenge each other. Second, I can help patients see how much it costs to follow Jesus.
Following Jesus can be expensive and may require sacrifice and suffering, but it can also bring
happiness and satisfaction. I can show patients that following Jesus is worth much more than it
costs.
As we're not living in the Bible's time, different authors intended different things when
writing. On the other hand, Klein says that "the Bible says that its message is important for future
generations as well as the ones it was written for."24 Based on this argument, the Bible must be
authoritative and true. For the man of God to be complete and thoroughly equipped for every
good work, Paul wrote, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV). The cost of
21 Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The Cost of Discipleship. (New York: Touchstone, 1995), 84.
22 Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2013), 789.
23
Ibid.
24 William W. Klein. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Rev. & expanded. ed (Nashville: Thomas
Nelson, 2004), 477.
7
discipleship goes beyond simply claiming the Christian label. To be a true disciples, we need to
change how we think about Christ's kingdom and realize that a life centered on him will cost us
everything.25 "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."
(Luke 14:27 ESV). Belief in Christ entails more than just accepting that He died for our sins; it
also requires a willingness to submit to His authority and bear the burdens of discipleship. To be
a disciple, in Boa's words, is to "pursue the Holy One with undivided attention" to the end of
being "holy" and "consecrated" to the service of God and "surrendered" to his purposes in every
area of life.26
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Cost of Discipleship is a book that encourages Christians to be true
disciples and think about what it will cost them to follow Jesus. Bonhoeffer was right to stress
the importance of action and the value of community in discipleship. However, his definition of
discipleship may need to be narrower, and his focus on how much discipleship costs may need to
be more positive. As a healthcare chaplain, I can use the ideas I learned from the book to
encourage patients to be true disciples and understand what it costs to follow Jesus. I can also
talk about how important community is in discipleship and show the patients that the benefits are
much greater than the costs.
Christians must realize that this grace comes at a high price because Christ sacrificed
Himself to pay for our sins. Bonhoeffer clarifies that following Christ to the end is the price one
must pay to become a disciple. Costly grace requires faith in Christ and dedication to His
teachings and commands. Discipleship places a premium on developing genuine relationships
25 Kenneth Boa. Conformed to His Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual
Formation (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2001), 217.
26
Ibid.
8
with Christ rather than on religious practice. The apostle Paul writes, "I have been crucified with
Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh,
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20 ESV).
To put it another way, if we are to be true disciples of Christ, we must come to him and die.
Costly obedience to Christ and His commands is required for disciples: "Then Jesus told his
disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow
me." (Matthew 16:24 ESV).
Overall, The Cost of Discipleship is a challenging and thought-provoking book that can
inspire and encourage Christians to live out their faith in a meaningful and important way. Even
though the book has some flaws, it is still a classic about discipleship and should be read and
studied.
9
Bibliography
Boa, Kenneth. Conformed to His Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual
Formation. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2001.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. New York: Touchstone, 1995.
Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2013.
Klein, William W. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Rev. & expanded. ed. Nashville:
Thomas Nelson, 2004.
