I have been thinking on the term “Legacy.” This is a case of thinking about it without reading other people’s thoughts on it— at least not in a long time. Because of this, anything I say here is a work in progress that perhaps needs to be bounced off the minds of others who have thought much more on this. As I have noted before, I think, in part, by writing here.
I am close to having a birthday, and that will bring me pretty much on 75% of my life expectancy. That does not leave me with dread— I never really understood the desire to stretch out life really really long. While I have made a few mistakes, overall I feel good about that 75% and don’t need a whole lot of years to “get things right.” But the idea of legacy does loom big. What continues on past. From the stand point of a minister or missionary (I am using Cross-cultural Minister here, but that is because it is the best label for me probably) what are some types of legacy that are relevant? I am listing some in terms of what I consider least relevant to most relevant.
I am avoiding the question of “divine” or “eternal” legacy. This is not because this is unimportant. It is certainly the most important. However, we are simply not privy to much of this. If the Gospels make anything clear, those most highly esteemed in heaven are NOT necessarily the ones who anticipate accolades here. So I am skipping the most important one for a reason.
#1. Fame and Name. Most missionaries (or cross-cultural ministers) live a life of relative obscurity. But there are exceptions. There are missionaries who gain a bit of fame in denominational circles, mission organization circles, and rarely in broader society. Some even get their name placed on a building, retreat center, or ministerial organization. This is rare, and of little to no value. But still it is nice to be appreciated in some way. It is nice to be remembered.
#2. Artifice. Something material created by a person has the potential to endure long after the missionary has gone. This could be as big as a school or church building, or as small as a book. These can be fine… but it really depends one what they are connected to. For a building, that may be connected to #3, while a book is connected to #4.
#3. Structure. Buildings are fine but to have a consistent purpose they normally need to be tied to some sort of organizational structure. It is tempting for missionaries to assume they are immortal and don’t set up things to be passed on to local leaders. Perhaps the emphasis (overemphasis) on the Second Coming of Christ may blind some to the (statistically more likely to happen in the next few years) death, retirement, or return home of missionaries. Some like to say, “What if Christ returns tomorrow?” but the more interesting question is, “What if Christ returns 500 years from now?” Has one established an organization or ministerial structure that is maintainable and reproducible with one’s presence? Has one established who are trained and competent to make oneself unnecessary? To create something that can continue once you are gone is a great legacy.
#4. Ideas. Missions is not only an activity, it is an area of study. Research is the expansion of identified truth in this world. To change the world in some discernible way for the better… to open doors with your ideas, platforms, processes, and more— well that is a wonderful legacy.
#5. People. The best legacy are those who you have been part of investing in and transforming the next generation. This can, of course, include one’s children. It also includes one’s spiritual children… those one has led to Christ and discipled. It also includes those one has taught to replace oneself… or have inspired to achieve greater things in service to Christ. I have known people that seem to take offense if their trainees achieve greater success (in human terms) than themselves. I simply don’t understand it at all. If they are doing something wrong… perhaps that makes sense. But if they are doing well… living out their divine calling— what a legacy it is.
A few years ago I wrote a post on turning 50. I suggested that from ages 0-24 my goal was Growth. From ages 25-49, my goals was Success. But from 50 and up, my goal is Meaning. And while this may be true in some ways, as I sneak up on retirement, as important as Meaning is, I am starting to shift towards focus on Legacy—
Not everyone would agree with this list as presented. I think People is the best legacy… followed by Ideas… then Structures…. then artifice… and lastly fame/name. For me, I teach and am involved in the world of theses, dissertations, books, and articles. As such, for me Ideas are ahead of structures. Many would put structures ahead. And certainly for churchplanters, it is quite reasonable that they would place structures (planted church bodies) as a greater legacy than ideas. I couldn’t argue with that.
That post is “Reflections on Meaning, Philemon, and Turning 50.”
