Missions Textbook 60 Missionaries Make Sacrifices, Don't They?

We Never Saw It Coming: An Introduction to Christian Missions (textbook)

Sacrifice. The word conjures up visions of missionaries in jungle huts, spending their lives eating repulsive foods and rubbing elbows with naked natives. Businessmen sacrifice quality for quantity or two deals for one in their efforts to move ahead. People use sacrifice ironically as in, “Oh, I’m so glad that you sacrificed and left me that last piece of cake.” In Bible contexts, sacrifice is reminiscent of bloody, Old Testament offerings. My dictionary defines sacrifice as: 1. an offering of a life as appeasement to a deity; 2. giving up of something valuable in order to acquire something of greater value; 3. giving up something for less than its supposed value.

Sacrifice sounds old-fashioned, harsh and demanding. In a western society possessing great material wealth and blessed with every advantage, a message of sacrifice could prove to be very unwanted. We like to confine our sacrifices to things that do not hurt too much, like only using the sauna once a month in order to conserve electricity. Or giving up a television program for a church meeting. Are missionaries and businessmen down on their luck the only ones called upon to really sacrifice? Must sacrifice be unpleasant to be considered real sacrifice?

A letter from home praising my sacrifice for being a missionary has prompted my search for the meaning of the word. To be blunt: I do not feel that I am sacrificing. Europe is hardly a primitive mission field – spiritually dark, yes – but I have every necessary comfort including a dishwasher left in the apartment by the previous residents. I have never fostered any long-lasting desires to become wealthy or famous, and I am happy to be here. Can that really be sacrifice? What more could I give up that would feel more like sacrifice?

I had to know. Romans 12:1 is quite clear: “I urge you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Just what is sacrifice? What should it be like? I went to the Old Testament where the idea originated and discovered Malachi, an angry prophet speaking to a haughty people on the wrong road to sacrifice.

Malachi returned to the second definition of the word: “giving up something of worth in order to acquire or accomplish a more noble or valuable goal.” I had to ask what my goals are for my life. What could I have that is more valuable than what I already possess? Am I willing to sacrifice to attain this treasure? When will I know that I have paid the supreme price?

. . . Malachi has shown me that offerings to God must not be unpleasant to be true sacrifice. My sacrifices must cost me something, but if I give with gritted teeth and an unwilling heart, I have not really given up anything. God is not pleased with such an offering. He only accepts sacrifices gladly given with an open hand and heart.

(Portions copied from my published booklet, What Price Sacrifice?[1] written from my quiet time notes during our first three years in Austria.)

[1] Christine C. Schneider, What Price Sacrifice? (Scarborough, ON: Everyday Publications, Inc., 1983).

We Never Saw It Coming: An Introduction to Christian Missions (textbook)

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