Introduction
Christian Sacrifice is not a word we hear much these days. Mores the pity. Instead, we seem to be in a world consumed with Narcissism. We insist the world adjust itself to us and become angry at our neighbors when it doesn’t. If we are Christians we might want to give the idea of sacrifice another look. After all, we base our belief on the assurance Christ gave himself as a sacrifice for us and if we are to live our lives as followers of Christ we too are called to sacrifice.
“Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb.7.26,Heb.7.27,Heb.7.28&version=NIV
History of Sacrifice in the Bible
Until the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 Jewish worship was centered in Jerusalem. People came to the temple to offer sacrifices for various reasons. The Jews had at least five different approaches to sacrifice: propitiation, tribute, alimentation, communal meal, and blood sacrifice. A close look at Christian worship in the Holy Eucharist (Communion) reveals it to be a reversal, a complete opposite, of the Temple sacrificial system presented in the Old Testament scriptures.
Propitiation
Propitiation is a fancy word meaning “give to get.” When you want God to do something you make an offering: the bigger the request the bigger the offering. By contrast, in Jesus we have Grace. Sometimes grace is explained using the acrostic: God’s Riches At Christ Expense. God pours out upon us the riches of his grace for free.
Tribute
Tribute is an offering as one might pay a tax to a king. Through Jesus we have become sons of God. We are inheritors of his kingdom. Kings Kids don’t pay taxes. In Christian worship we take up and offering. However, it is thank offering and not a tribute.
Alimentation
Alimentation is the word used for an offering meant to feed God. The Jews believed that while God let his presence be known on earth he might get hungry. Therefore the best portions of animal sacrifices were set aside to nourish him. In communion we have the opposite. Jesus has given us the food and it is himself he gives.
Communal Offerings
Communal offerings were essentially meals. One seeks to receive God’s favor by inviting him to a meal. The animal is sacrificed and those who bring it eat it along with the priest. In Christian communion, it is God who invites us to dine with him. God is the protagonist. It is he who is seeking to reconcile with us, more than we do with him.
Blood sacrifice
Blood sacrifices were offered to atone for sin. Scapegoats were selected. The sins of the people were ritualistically transferred to them. They were sent into the desert to die. In Christian worship, it is Jesus who has taken the sins of the world upon himself once and for all.
Christian Sacrifice
In place of the offerings of animals and blood Christians dedicate themselves to following Christ and working for the spread of his kingdom. They pray, “We offer ourselves, our souls, and bodies, to be a living, holy sacrifice.” Christians commit to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and their neighbor as themselves. This is Christian Sacrifice.
This is not to say we won’t give up somethings. We put off self gratification for future benefit for our selves, our family, and community. For example, we might volunteer for a cause during our vacation.