More from Bonhoeffer - A quote and an interesting comment

From The Cost of Discipleship (First Macmillan Paperbacks Edition; New York: Macmillan, 1979), 63:

"Discipleship means adherence to Christ, and, because Christ is the object of that adherence, it must take the form of discipleship. An abstract Christology, a doctrinal system, a general religious knowledge on the subject of grace or on the forgiveness of sins, render discipleship superfluous, and in fact they positively exclude any idea of discipleship whatever, and are essentially inimical to the whole conception of following Christ. With an abstract idea it is possible to enter into a relation of formal knowledge, to become enthusiastic about it, and perhaps even to put it into practice; but it can never be followed in personal obedience. Christianity without the living Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship, and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ."

A good reminder that the study of Christology must never be divorced from a life of discipleship! Broadening out the application, it's also a good reminder that the study of theology should never be divorced from a life of worship to the one who has first and foremost graciously made that possible!

The second comment concerns a point Bonhoeffer makes in his book, where he discusses Jesus' call to discipleship offered to his disciples. Here, he presses home the importance of grasping the two-fold proposition that only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes, though Bonhoeffer's emphasis is on the latter (p.69). He allows that it is necessary to separate faith and obedience from the viewpoint of justification, but even in doing so, their essential unity must never be lost sight of (p.69). Bonhoeffer goes on to say:

"Only the obedient believe. If we are to believe, we must obey a single command. Without this preliminary step of obedience, our faith will only be pious humbug, and lead us to the grace which is not costly. Everything depends on the first step. It has a unique quality of its own. The first step of obedience makes Peter leave his nets, and later get out of the ship; it calls upon the young man to leave his riches. Only this new existence, created through obedience, makes faith possible." (p.70)

We see the importance of the first step in obeying the preliminary call (of Jesus) for Bonhoeffer. What's interesting is what he goes on to say:

"The first step must be regarded to start with as an external work, which effects the change from one existence to another. It is a step within everybody's capacity, for it lies within the limits of human freedom. It is an act within the sphere of the natural law and in that sphere man is free. Although Peter cannot achieve his own conversation, he can leave his nets. In the gospels the very first step a man must take is an act which radically affects his whole existence." (p.70)

It's interesting to see what the above speaks of Bonhoeffer's view of God's sovereignty and human free will. He almost seems to be suggesting (through his description) that the first act is completely an act of libertarian free-will, which will then beg the question what happens if man does not take this first step, are God's salvation purposes for that person thwarted then? Also how does that square with biblical passages like Eph 2:1 and Rom 8:7-8?

But Bonhoeffer is aware of the implications of his statement, and goes on further to counter some of these possible implications, mainly that this first step does not merit us salvation. He states:

"[...] we must add at once that this step is, and can never be more than, a purely external act and a dead work of the law, which can never of itself bring a man to Christ. As an external act the new existence is no better than the old. [...] Of course, the work has to be done, but of itself it can never deliver from death, disobedience and ungodliness. If we think our first step is the pre-condition for faith and grace, we are already judged by our work, and entirely excluded from grace." (p.71)

A good caution there from Bonhoeffer. But still, it doesn't fully answer the earlier question raised. I recognise that Bonhoeffer's trying to urge upon us the urgency and importance of following Christ, but does he risk more by phrasing it in what seems to be libertarian freewill terms?