More classic art masterpieces used as illustrations
TL;DR:
Francis of Assisi, a 13th-century lay missionary from central Italy, modeled what it means to live and minister incarnationally—allowing Christ to be seen through his actions and attitudes. Rejecting wealth and privilege, Francis devoted himself to serving others, rebuilding old church buildings, and demonstrating peace and humility, even crossing battle lines during the Crusades to meet peacefully with the Sultan of Egypt. His Christlike approach has inspired later Christians and encouraged Christian-Muslim dialogue.
One way of thinking about missionary service is to measure it against the pattern of Christ’s incarnation. That does not mean that missionaries are supposed to become divine as Jesus is. It does mean that missionaries allow Jesus to be seen in their actions and attitudes in a way similar to how the Father was reflected in Jesus’ actions and attitudes. Incarnational living means saying with the Apostle Paul: “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20, 2011 NIV).
A lay missionary in the 1200s named Francis portrays what it means for a missionary to be incarnational. Francis (whose name in Italian is “Francesco”) came from an Italian city named Assisi. That is why he is called Francis of Assisi (sometimes misspelled by non-Italians as “Assissi”). One thing a lot of people remember about him is the sermon he supposedly preached to the birds. If we can work our way past the multitude of legends about Francis, we can glimpse a missionary through whom Christ shone.
Francis grew up in a wealthy family but walked away from that wealth to become a lay evangelist. He helped renew struggling churches in central Italy. Then, he realized that his call was more global, so he expanded his vision and founded a religious community. Francis attempted missionary journeys eastward and to Morocco, but storms and illness prevented him from reaching his intended destinations.
One very remarkable incarnational episode in Francis’s life came during one of the medieval Crusades. While a papal army fought Muslim forces in Egypt, Francis made his way across the battle lines and arranged a meeting with Sultan al-Kamil, Egypt’s religious and political leader.
At the end of their time together, some sources say that the Sultan said to Francis, "If I would meet more Christians like you, I would be tempted to become one."
Something about Francis communicated the presence of Christ to that Muslim leader far better than the actions of the soldiers in the Crusading army who were laying siege to his city while looting the countryside.
The religious community Francis founded became a prominent missionary order of the Western Church. We know its members today as the Franciscans. Francis’s insistence on poverty and humility later posed continuing challenges for the growing order. Abhorring power and prestige, Francis called his group Ordo Fratrum Minorum, a Latin phrase customarily translated as “Order of Friars Minor” or “Order of Lesser Brothers.”
Although the following prayer is widely associated with Francis, it first appeared anonymously in France in 1912 and is not found among his writings. Nevertheless, its themes reflect the spirit of his life and ministry. It has also been set to music:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
when there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
The incarnational life expressed in the prayer dramatizes the powerful image of Christ shining forth through missionaries who allow Christ to live in them in ways that make them seem like "Jesus with skin on."
Francis reportedly greeted the Sultan in a manner that communicated peace and respect. His courage and gracious manner appear to have made a favorable impression, and their meeting gave them an opportunity to discuss matters of faith. — Paraphrased from Megan Pittman, Northwest Nazarene University graduate student
-- Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu
Cross-cultural missionaries today can learn from the life and teachings of Francis of Assisi, a medieval Italian friar known for his radical commitment to Christ and his pioneering approach to cross-cultural ministry. Here are seven important lessons from Francis:
F – Following the footsteps of Christ with humble grace
R – Renouncing wealth to embrace a life of poverty
A – Adoring all of creation as God’s handiwork
N – Nurturing peace with gentle words and deeds
C – Comforting the poor and outcast with tender care
I – Inspiring others to serve with compassion
S – Singing of God’s glory with every breath
Do you enjoy acrostics? Here are more of them.
