The Missionary’s Lifestyle

by John Sherwood

One of the joys of raising our kids in the Philippines was not having to compare our lifestyle with rich neighbors’. Keeping up with the Gonzaleses took on a whole new meaning.

One of the joys of raising our kids in the Philippines was not having to compare our lifestyle with rich neighbors’. Keeping up with the Gonzaleses took on a whole new meaning.

Things changed drastically, however, when we returned for ministry in the U.S. North American culture does not encourage a simple lifestyle, even among believers.

Is there a standard missionary lifestyle? What basic principles of Scripture address this subject? Should mission agencies help guide our lifestyle decisions?

My agency, UFM International, expects frugality, a value that attracted me to the mission in the first place. The Web site (www.ufm.org) states unabashedly:

Yes! We love the simple lifestyle—Jesus came in the role of a servant (Phil. 2:7). His simple style of life matched the context of the people he ministered to. UFM missionaries should do no less. We expect sacrifice, a life without amenities and affluence, but with immersion into local cultures. UFM support rates and homeside overhead generally reflect a frugal and conservative style of living.

How does such a value affect our daily lives and ministries? First, let’s look at the options. Here are some possible levels of lifestyle for believers:

Pure hedonism. This is a “just say yes” mentality, when the stomach is one’s god (Phil 3:19). It is certainly the lifestyle of many North Americans. Scripture clearly condemns this; Paul tells us that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10; cf. Prov. 21:17; 28:20; and 1 Tim. 3:3, where the deacon is not to be “a lover of money”).

Economic pragmatism. Buy whatever I want as long as I can afford it. (Many believers live by this standard.) God does give us all things for us to enjoy (Acts 14:17; 1 Tim. 6:17), but other important biblical principles encourage self-limitation.

Ministry pragmatism. Live in a style most effective for ministry. This level could be calibrated to the level of those one is trying to reach, or the level most effective in glorifying God in a particular context. Within the sovereign action of God, believers play an important role in nudging people toward Christ, and this includes our use of material resources. When our family chose to focus on reaching urban professionals in the Philippines, it not only affected our ministry strategy, but also our lifestyle. Joining community clubs and frequenting nice restaurants were part of a strategy that cost us. Fast computers, needed mobility, video projectors, and medical equipment are a few modern—and costly—tools that can enhance ministries.

While this “level for effectiveness” approach is clearly scriptural, love for God and his glory, and love for others and their highest interest, should outrank our desire for pleasure (1 Cor. 10:31; Phil. 2:3,4). Luke 16:9-13 contains numerous practical principles. One is that our use of material resources can have eternal results.

Purposeful self-denial. Consciously strive for a moderate lifestyle. Contrary to popular belief, we do not have to live a lifestyle congruent with our salary, always stretching our budget to (and beyond) the limit. As John Piper has written, “a $70,000 salary does not have to be accompanied by a $70,000 lifestyle.” We can choose to live at a level lower than our paycheck permits.

Yet such a lifestyle does not earn us anything. We do not simplify for simplicity’s sake, or because the material world is innately evil. Rather, a simplified, uncluttered life proceeds from being consumed with something far better. As we grow in love with God, the glitter of a fast-paced, jammed life diminishes.

North Americans buy experiences. For them life consists of hopping from one joy-giving activity or thing to the next. Those who know not God cannot imagine life without plastic joy.

But sacrifice is not grievous for someone preoccupied with his Lord. As we pursue the Creator, our “need” for created things dwindles. Scripture suggests several other reasons for making such a radically “Christian” decision to simplify:

—to give more (asI heard in a recent sermon, “God enables his children to give more by changing their sense of need”); Scripture commends such sacrifice (2 Cor. 8:1-3);

—to avoid being mastered by anything (1 Cor. 6:12), which might happen if we become caught up in caring for the things of this world (1 Cor. 7:31-33);

—because heavenly riches excel earthly ones (Matt. 6:19-21);

—to escape the temptations that riches bring (Prov. 30:7-9);

—to identify with the reproach of Christ, knowing that true life is yet to come (Heb. 13:12-14);

—in light of worldwide poverty (Prov. 19:17; 22:9; and James’s illustration in 2:15,16);

Pure asceticism. In this “just say no” mentality, one makes extreme material sacrifices, usually as an end in itself. Self-denial becomes the means of becoming more godly.

Would a truly ascetic lifestyle ever be justified? We are told to care for our household, which implies mobilizing some material resources. Perhaps an ascetic lifestyle might be valid for some single people or in certain types of ministry. However, for most Westerners, this lifestyle might actually prove a disadvantage for missions, rendering one less effective for God. Most in developing nations are sufficiently informed about the West to realize that a lifestyle of asceticism for Western missionaries is not necessary; some will actually feel patronized and devalued.

I would like to add a final comment. In studying these principles with our kids, our son asked, “So why did we buy that CD player last week?” Good question. We don’t really envision using it for evangelism. And it certainly could make life more cluttered, especially when it breaks. But we must remember that our loving Father has also created us to delight in the products of his creation. We Christians are not called to be so ministry-focused, so heavenly minded, and so “spiritual” that we cannot enjoy material blessings from a God “who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Tim. 6:17). We can enjoy things for their own sake, but we err when that pleasure becomes a need.

Our mission does not set specific rules for its members’ lifestyles. We realize that great diversity is allowed within the Body of Christ, and also in accordance with one’s host culture and ministry. Rather, we have established broad guidelines on the basis of Scripture and ministry philosophy. We leave specific applications to individual missionaries and fields. (Related aspects of ministry philosophy include identification with our target group [1 Cor. 9:19-23], avoidance of unhealthy dependence, and use of helpful, but costly, tools in ministry [Luke 16:9], as mentioned above.)

Conflict can sometimes arise on fields or between fields when missionaries compare lifestyles. It’s very tempting for rural or tribal missionaries to look askance at urban colleagues. But envy will drain the field of strength and unity. Spirituality cannot be measured by our financial or material condition. Individual missionaries must have some freedom to interpret mission values for their own lifestyles. Cases of inappropriate extravagance or deficiency, however, may call for intervention by mission leadership.

Here are suggested questions for the missionary to ask himself or herself in determining lifestyle, purchases, activities, etc.:

• Will this thing help me in ministry, or is it merely for my own pleasure (which is not necessarily bad)? The decision to purchase a fast computer may well differ from the one to buy a fast car. Financial thrift remains a core value of UFM. We aim to keep support levels as low as possible for our donors and missionaries. Yet we must not deify this goal of frugality to the impairment of missionary effectiveness and longevity.

• Will this lifestyle allow me to touch the lives of others?

• Can I put the finances in question to better use for ministry?

• Will this thing or activity help me to demonstrate the glory of God?

• Might this lifestyle cause my national or expatriate brother to stumble, or unbelievers to doubt and questionmy motives? Paul speaks of times when we should give up our rights (1 Cor. 6:7; cf. Matt. 5:39), and he did so himself (1 Cor. 9:1-21). Yet bear in mind that this two-edged sword might also dictate against an overly simple lifestyle. For example, being very familiar with American standards, most Filipinos would question the genuineness and perhaps the sanity of the missionary who truly “goes native.”

• Will buying this thing or becoming involved in this activity significantly decrease my potential for ministry in affections, time, or money?

• Has there been a significant increase in the cost of living on this field which would justify an increase in salary? Are there new or increased ministry expenses (visa costs, new equipment needed, a new ministry project, etc.)? On the other hand, have economic forces or currency exchange rates made life cheaper, so that an actual salary cut could be in order?

• Will adjustments in support, whether monthly or outgoing, discourage new missionaries considering this field, or make it unduly difficult to raise support? (This, of course, applies to those missions that require raising a support team.)

We all made the decision to give everything to God, for his glory. Let’s make sure we turn that decision inside out so that our lives reflect the heart commitment we claim.

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John Sherwood, a former missionary to the Philippines, is associate director of UFM International (Bala-Cynwyd, Pa.). He has earned a D.Min. in pastoral counseling from Westminster Theological seminary.

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