Sacrifice is not something we talk about much in our society.

It seems to fly in the face of everything our North American culture tells us we should be about.

Lookout out for #1.

Indulge yourself.

Take what you want.

Don’t hold back.

The world is yours.

You deserve it.

And many of us have lived enough life to recognize that these messages are often sold to us by the media and pop-culture, and are not, after all, true. Instead, these messages are simple (yet effective) ploys meant to confuse us into thinking that we are lacking in some way (that is within our control) — and that we can be filled or fulfilled by  buying into their message or purchasing their product.

But the same is not true of many of our students. Most of them have not had this lie of self-indulgence unmasked — precisely because they’ve not been exposed to conversations and practices surrounding the idea of sacrifice.

A week ago we began the season of Lent — a season that will culminate with the greatest sacrifice known to man — Jesus death on the cross. Before the victory of the empty tomb came the sacrifice of the cross. And the season of Lent is meant to be a time when we — as the Church — attempt to better identify with the significant sacrifice of Jesus.

But more often than not, our sacrifices (and the sacrifices of our students — if they’re willing to join us) during the season of Lent err on the side of the superficial.

We give up chocolate, or soda, or maybe Facebook. Something we’ll “miss” — yes — but is it really a sacrifice? And is it accomplishing the desired task of allowing us to better identify with Jesus?

The more I think of the challenges associated with educating today’s students on Jesus, the Christian faith, Lent, sacrifice, etc., I’m reminded of two stories from the Bible.

The first is the Widow’s Offering in Luke 21.1-4:

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’

Everyone was giving, but clearly, “sacrifice” is a relative term that differs from one person to the next.

I’m increasingly convinced that we’re willing to give up reveals something about us — and what we think we can do without — or, what we think really has control over our life.

And that’s where the second story ties in.

It’s not just about what we “give up,” but maybe just as much about what we put in its place.

In Matthew 12.43-45, Jesus is talking about a man who has been released from the oppression of a demon — but I think they “cultural idols” that can serve to control our lives can be thought of in the same vein. He says:

When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.

The person in this story was given a second chance to “get it right.” They were cleansed of their impure spirit, but neglected to do anything (or fill their life with anything) that would keep it from coming back.

Sacrifice (or being cleaned) is meant to make space in our physical and mental lives to focus and feast on Jesus. We give up something insignificant (that is wielding way too much power, control, or influence in our lives) for the sake of better connecting with Jesus — both in his suffering (because whatever we’re giving up should cause us to feel like we’re really suffering) and ultimately in his victory.

Yes, we have a unique opportunity with students during this season of Lent.

They need to know about how God wants to use sacrifice in their lives. They need to know that faith in Christ is about much more than life after death. They need to know that it has implications in this life. And with all that serves to distract us in this world, the season of Lent is a great time to draw our students into important conversations that explore this side of the Christian faith.

Students also need to see this lived out — in us.