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Biblical Unity Requires Sacrifice

Biblical Unity Requires Sacrifice

"Oh, no! What do you mean I'm supposed to give up something I value?"

Yes, sacrifice often requires suffering, hardship, or giving up something cherished. It takes immense courage and wisdom to embrace this concept, particularly in the West where cultural individualism and self-interest are dominant values. People are often encouraged to pursue personal success, happiness, and comfort. Sacrifice, which usually requires giving up something valuable for the benefit of others or for a higher cause, can clash with this cultural narrative. For many, it feels counterintuitive to prioritize others or a mission over oneself, making the idea of sacrifice difficult to accept but it is a testament to our strength and resilience as humans. 

For Valley Christian Schools, sacrifice is one ethos that characterizes the spirit of our school culture and reflects our Christian beliefs and aspirations. This school year, we have explored the four VCS ethos known as The Way of the Warrior: courage, honor, wisdom, and sacrifice. The Way of the Warrior is a set of principles that guide our actions and decisions, encouraging us to embody the spirit of a warrior in our pursuit of spiritual growth and community unity. 

 Way of the Warrior / Sacrifice: Seek the heart of Christ (Philippians 2:2-8) 

In October, Vice President of Conservatory Arts Troy Gunter presented the ethos of sacrifice in chapel. Mr. Gunter plainly stated that sacrifice is hard, and his pursuit of music meant he had to make many tough choices to progress. He then masterfully played piano to continue his message without saying another word. Instead, while he played, an ensemble cast of students performed songs from the play, "Into the Woods." 

The story reveals that our actions and choices may require significant sacrifices and often have severe consequences that impact the people around us. 

Sacrifice is a central theme of Jesus' story throughout the Bible. It emphasizes Jesus' ultimate sacrifice to die on the cross (John 3:16) as the foundation for understanding sacrifice as a model for all people. It shows that true love often involves putting others before oneself. Jesus told his disciples, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13). 

Sacrifice doesn't always mean giving up one's life, or an actual, physical thing we might value, but rather our sincere willingness to do so. The things Jesus calls us to sacrifice or cut out of our lives are often for obvious reasons. For instance, we may need to sacrifice our time to help a friend in need or give up a bad habit for the sake of our health. Sin and old bad habits can be some of the hardest things to let go of, even when we realize they are not good for us. 

The Bible portrays sacrifice as a way to develop patience, compassion, and resilience. This underscores the importance of sacrifice in fostering spiritual growth and character development, encompassing self-denial, love, and most importantly, community engagement. It's a reminder that we are all part of a larger purpose, and our sacrifices contribute to the growth of this community. 

The Bible and many Christian writers inform us how to integrate acts of sacrifice into our daily lives, whether through personal relationships, social justice, or spiritual disciplines. Sacrifice is not merely about giving something up but about gaining a deeper connection to God and others through love and intentional living. It may be demonstrated by showing love to those who are difficult to love, or by giving up our own desires for the sake of others. "Sacrifice is the purest expression of love," a quote attributed to Rabbi Sacks, emphasizes that sacrifice is a way to show gratitude to God for what he has given us. 

BIBLICAL UNITY REQUIRES SACRIFICE 

Achieving biblical unity at Valley Christian Schools is a process and pathway for spiritual formation to unite our diverse community, honor God through the unique ways He has made us, and create a sense of belonging for each of us. We use three strategic viewpoints to guide our work. 

Unite Better. What if we could show a posture of humility greater than we have imagined? 

Listen More, Talk Less. What if the challenging conversations we have with someone are winsome rather than an effort to prove we are "right"? 

Be the Difference. What if we reach out to others with whom we disagree and connect using Jesus' love, build bridges of understanding, and choose to make a positive difference? 

To do any one of these three things requires self-sacrifice. To do all three requires a community with a sacrificial mindset like Jesus Christ to honor the other person regardless of one's desires. 

Finding our common unity on the foundation of the Christian faith may require us to give up preconceived ideas about others. The teachings of Jesus are tough to read and particularly challenging to follow. Jesus boldly told His followers to give up and sacrifice their comfort and desires to pursue Him and His Kingdom. When Jesus tells us to sacrifice something, He speaks in love and leads us to the abundant and thriving life He wants us to live. 

The Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians offers us a very practical way to live. He writes that if we unite with Christ "...by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." (Philippians 2:2-4). This passage challenges us to be willing to regularly make ourselves "less" for the sake of making someone else "more." Jesus may ask us to sacrifice our status or reputation to prioritize the good of others over our comfort or status. 

What sacrifices could we make to help build unity in our Valley Christian Schools community? 

Serving Others: Sacrifice can involve serving others and putting their needs before one's own. By doing this, we honor God and demonstrate love for our neighbor. 

Small Acts: In "Love Does," Christian author Bob Goff illustrates how small acts of sacrifice can lead to significant changes in communities and relationships, encouraging us to view sacrifice to enact love in tangible ways. 

Develop a Holistic Understanding of Sacrifice: Pastor Rich Villodas approaches sacrifice holistically, integrating themes of justice, mercy, and community. He explores how personal and communal sacrifice encourages Christians to engage in social justice as an expression of their faith. Villodas emphasizes the importance of sacrifice in everyday life through acts of compassion and justice. He advocates for creating spaces where people can flourish, often involving personal sacrifices for others' well-being. 

In summary, sacrifice is challenging because it requires a shift away from self-centeredness, acceptance of discomfort or loss, and often, a worldview that acknowledges a higher purpose beyond immediate, tangible benefits. Biblical Unity at Valley Christian Schools advocates for a Christian worldview of multifaceted sacrifice, encompassing self-denial, love, community engagement, and spiritual growth. The meaning of sacrifice is not merely about giving something up but about gaining a deeper connection to God and others through love and intentional living. True sacrifice requires faith and trust in God. 

Prayer 

Dear God, it is tough to sacrifice a habit or something I like. I know there are many things I should consider giving up for my best interest. So, I ask for Your help to learn how to sacrifice my own comfort, plans, and dreams if it is not for Your honor and the good of others. 

To Learn More, Follow these links to Spiritual Formation at Valley Christian Schools, the Way of the Warrior, and Biblical Unity, or contact Dr. Steven McGriff, Director of Biblical Unity, Valley Christian Schools.