The Cost of Discipleship
Posted on Tuesday, February 07th 2012 at 11:44 am
There was a lot of focus last Friday about the President’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, as there should be. But, you may not have heard or seen the key note speaker Eric Metaxas (the author of Amazing Grace and Bonhoeffer), but it has sparked some controversy. Generally the key note speakers are careful not to step on toes in their remarks. Eric talked about growing up “religious” but not knowing Christ or His power in his life. He shared about William Wilberforce (Amazing Grace) and how his conversion from dead religiosity to an alive faith (propelled by Methodism) sought to end the slave trade in England. His decades of work in public service led to the end of slavery in England and in America. He then talked about the subject of his latest book Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was the son a renowned Neurologist in Germany. It was thought that he would follow in his father’s footsteps, but instead he chose the ministry. The liberal theology (emphasizing personal experience and minimizing scripture) dismayed him and he turned to the writings of Karl Barth (a conservative theologian emphasizing a return to scriptural relevance). This put him in a distinct minority and pitted him against the liberal majority who acquiesced to the Nazification of the German churches. He also was greatly impacted by his trip to America where he visited the churches in Harlem and heard preachers like Adam Clayton Powell delivering powerful Gospel messages encouraging a transformational faith in Christ. Bonhoeffer’s transformed faith, like Wilberforce, compelled him to resist Hitler and lead in the confessing churches opposition to the Nazi’s. He wrote the book “The Cost of Discipleship” during this time and it has inspired many Christian leaders to an active, transformational faith. This led to his imprisonment and execution. Eric then talked about abortion and that the unborn baby is undeniably a human life. He wasn’t condemning in his remarks, but simply spoke the truth in love. His call was for more of us to leave our dead religiosity and have a renewed, vibrant faith in Christ. In John Chapter 3 Nicodemus a member of the religious ruling council came to Jesus at night and said “Rabbi we know you are a teacher who has come from God. No one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing unless God were with him. In reply Jesus said, I tell you the truth no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”. The key to being born again is found in that famous verse often displayed in the end zones during football season John 3:16. This was how Jesus concluded his talk with Nicodemus “for God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. Nicodemus came at night because he didn’t want his religious friends to know that he was seeking Jesus. There is a cost to discipleship. To see Eric’s speech you can go to:
http://www.ericmetaxas.com/
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