A Living Sacrifice

It would be easy to see the concept of a ‘living sacrifice’ as an oxymoron. However, the imagery of a living sacrifice can become a revolutionary metaphor for a life of service. To experience the abundant life that Jesus offered by becoming a ‘living sacrifice’ (Rom 12:1) one must follow His example and pursue a counter-cultural lifestyle in at least three ways: orienting our lives around what is important, learning to choose the best over the good, and incorporating rhythms of personal renewal.

Orientating our Lives Around Importance

The words ‘urgent’ and ‘important’ are almost synonymous in our culture. Many leaders are “slaves to the tyranny of the urgent” (as Charles Hummel has said), and this is most often guised in the facade of busyness. Busyness can be a respectable veneer over a life of mediocre contributions, empty relationships, eroding health and shallow spirituality. Incredibly, busyness is often a ‘badge of honour’ amongst Christian leaders and an almost unquestioned symbol of status and success in our culture. To become ‘living sacrifices’ requires following Jesus’ example (Mark 1:32-39), and centring life around what is important rather than succumbing to the urgent.

Choosing the Best

It is not just sin that hinders and entangles followers of Jesus (see Heb 12:1). There are many times when God asks Christians to replace something good with a better alternative. For example, John Maxwell reminds us that one may have to choose between the primacy of security or significance. There is much cultural pressure to resist these choices – instant gratification is the norm and the myth of improved well-being through consumption is very persuasive. Meanwhile, it is not uncommon for Christian leaders to seemingly sacrifice everything in the pursuit of ‘ministry’, including health and family relationships. It seems many Christians have inadvertent collateral damage from the sacrifice of others or at least know someone who has.

Yet these experiences, although valid, are not legitimate excuses to opt out of a sacrificial lifestyle. The words of Jesus to deny yourself (Mk 8:34) remind us that sacrifice is a requirement of discipleship. God does not require Christians to sacrifice everything on the altar of ministry. We must be mindful of the interdependent nature of our choices, especially how they impact the lives of other people. For sacrificial choices to become part of a practical framework for life and ministry, the complexities of a sacrificial lifestyle must be acknowledged and discussed. Those committed to a lifestyle of worship will become increasingly adept at discerning and choosing between the good and the best (Phil 1:10). The focus for them becomes choosing between the good and the best, rather than sacrifice itself.

Rhythms of Personal Renewal

The fact that the practice of the biblical mandate for Sabbath rest is largely ignored by Christian leaders is an open secret. Continued complicity in the conspiracy of silence surrounding this issue will result in continued erosion of the authority, credibility and power of Christian witness. If a person is committed to a lifestyle of worship, then it is vitally important they incorporate some ‘Sabbath’ rhythms of renewal into their lives. One way is to practise personal renewal in the physical, relational, mental and spiritual dimensions as a weekly rhythm. Again this is following the example of Jesus (Lk 2:52) and another implication of becoming a ‘living sacrifice.’

Conclusion

Jesus asks us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. Contrary to what the verse may initially seem to imply, it includes prioritorising what is really important, making wise decisions that at times fly in the face of the status quo, and ensuring that we look after ourselves and our inner well-being. Incorporating these principles into our way of life is counter-cultural and requires an element of discipline and focus. However by integrating them into our lifestyle we can help ensure that our life of on-going service can be rich and a genuine expression of worship back God who desires that we have life and life to the full (John 10:10).