"As Christianity spread, and the Church became more secularized, this realization of the costliness of grace gradually faded. The world was Christianized, and grace became its common property. It was to be had at low cost. Yet the Church of Rome did not altogether lose the earlier vision. It is highly significant that the Church was astute enough to find room for the monastic movement … Thus monasticism became a living protest against the secularization of Christianity and the cheapening of grace. … Monasticism was represented as an individual achievement which the mass of the laity could not be expected to emulate. By thus limiting the application of the commandments of Jesus to a restricted group of specialists, the Church evolved the fatal conception of the double standard."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
translated as The Cost of Discipleship (1959), pp. 46-47
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Dietrich_Bonhoeffer
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
1906 – 1945
deutscher evang. Theologe und Widerstandskämpfer
95 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Dietrich Bonhoeffer →
Related Quotes
"We have been silent witnesses of evil deeds: we have been drenched by many storms; we have learnt the arts of equivoc…"
"Beside the staff of life, taken and fashioned from the heavy earth, beside our marriage, work, and war the free man, …"
"One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries withi…"
"Greater caution is called for when dealing with a stupid person than with a malicious one."
"There remains an experience of incomparable value. We have for once learned to see the great events of world history …"
"Nicht aus dem schweren Boden wo Blut und Geschlecht und Schwur mächtig und heilig sind, wo die Erde selbst gegen Wahn…"
"The activity will prove to be "peculiar" by leading the active person into Christ's own passion. This activity itself…"
"Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if …"
"Neither protest nor the use of force accomplish anything here; reasons fall on deaf ears; facts that contradicts one'…"
"When the spirit touches man's heart and brow with thoughts that are lofty, bold, serene, so that with clear eyes he w…"