...We Lutherans have gathered like eagles round the carcase of
cheap grace, and there we have drunk of the poison which has killed the life of
following Christ. It is true, of course, that we have paid the doctrine of pure
grace divine honours unparalleled in Christendom, in fact we have exalted that
doctrine to the position of God himself. Everywhere Luther's formula has been
repeated, but its truth perverted into self-deception. So long as our Church
holds the correct doctrine of justification, there is no doubt whatever that
she is a justified Church! So they said, thinking that we must vindicate our Lutheran heritage
by making this grace available on the cheapest and easiest terms. To be
"Lutheran" must mean that we leave the following of Christ to legalists, Calvinists and enthusiasts - and all this for the sake of grace. We justified the world, and
condemned as heretics those who tried to follow Christ. The result was that a nation became
Christian and Lutheran, but at the cost of true discipleship. The price it was called upon
to pay was all too cheap. Cheap grace had won the day...