I believe in sacrifice… or do I?
I believe in sacrifice. After all, right at the centre of my life and faith as a Christian is the glorious truth that “the Son of God … loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). What could be more natural, then, for me to sacrifice myself for him out of sheer gratitude, and for others by following his example? I have even taught others that sacrifice is part of the Christian life; there will be a cross for the Christian, just as there was for the Christ: “If anyone would come after me … he must take up his cross” (Mark 8:34). What is more, I admire sacrifice when I see it in others, whether I see them or read about them, whether they’re Christians or not. It’s just I’m not that keen when it comes to actually sacrificing myself. Of course, I can find plenty of reasons: it’s not the right time… I’m too busy… someone else would do it better… I haven’t got what it takes.
I was brought up short while reading Lindsay Brown’s Shining Like Stars, a thrilling account of what God is doing worldwide through student ministry, not least the sacrifices many students have gladly made just in becoming Christians and then living for Christ, let alone in telling others about him. In 1936, Howard Guinness asked, “Where are the young men and women of this generation who will hold their lives cheap, and be faithful unto death, who will lose their lives for Christ’s, flinging them away for love of him? Where are those who will live dangerously, and be reckless in his service?” Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that “Sacrifice is the badge of discipleship” – do I really believe that?