A fundamental principle in the art of co-operation is willingness to perform any duty which is presented. When this willing spirit is in possession of a group of workers, all burdens will be lifted in true proportionment.
In the early days of my experience as a, Bible worker I was led to resolve that, if I must to any extent be limited in the amount of service possible for me to render, I would make sure that in the quality of my service the principle of co-operation should never be lacking; for I was convinced that, with the Lord's help, that need never be lacking. But more and more I have come to realize that there is involved in this more than was first comprehended. For instance, in the course of time there came to me a letter asking that I prepare a paper to present at this meeting, on the very topic which had called forth my early decision. At first, unwillingness seized me. And yet I could not make myself believe that reticence, diffidence, or a natural modesty furnished just excuse for ignoring a basic principle of cooperation; so, whether or not the suggestions which I have to offer prove of any value, I trust that the spirit of the topic may be revealed in what I say and do, both now and always.
As workers together in human relationship, and as " workers together with God," we have undertaken a task which admits of but one purpose. Our success in carrying on our task depends upon the purity of that purpose. The purity of that purpose depends on its unselfishness. The only way we can ever grasp the meaning of Christ's prayer, " that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee," is to study the work of the Father and the Son in the origin of that purpose. The Godhead is our example of perfect co-operation. Based on this example, the principles of co-operation between ministers and Bible workers may be considered under six divisions, briefly outlined as follows:
1. In Unity of Purpose.— It was a single purpose which impelled the Father and the Son to work together for the accomplishment of one great object,— the salvation of sinners. When ministers and Bible workers are united with Christ in that one purpose, then may we hope to be fully united with one another for the accomplishment of that purpose, and true co-operation will be the inevitable result. In the divine purpose there is no room for selfish aims and purposes. We must abandon self for the sake of souls, just as Christ gave Himself for us. When this principle controls, we will not hear it said by either minister or Bible worker, " This soul for me, and that soul for you; my convert here, and your convert there." The object will be " Souls for God! " and the prayer will be that the Holy Spirit may win souls through united effort.
2. In Manner of Working.— This applies both to dealing with fellow workers and to methods of labor for souls. The minister is the leader; the Bible worker is his assistant and coworker. It is the privilege of such workers to help each other to become more efficient in methods of labor and as Bible students, but not to censure or to blame for inefficiency. It is much better to exchange friendly, helpful, constructive counsel and advice, than to find fault, to blame, chide, and censure each other. We have been told that we should regard ourselves as missionaries first of all among our fellow workers. Do we really regard ourselves as missionaries in behalf of each other?
I once knew a Bible worker who considered herself very tactful. She was sure that the Lord had helped her to use tact in finding openings, in entering the homes of the people, and in introducing Bible subjects. And this was true. But when the minister exhibited lack of adherence to some fundamental principles of reform associated with the message, it did not enter the mind of this Bible worker that all the tact at her disposal should be used in bringing these violations of principle to his attention. She felt that a minister should know better, and her attitude plainly revealed that she was impatient with any minister who did not know better. To the minister, it was plainly apparent that the Bible worker had become disgruntled and critical and dissatisfied, although she had not had the courage to tell him the cause of her impatience. It was only a very short time until the minister decided that his coworker was " not a good Bible worker " anyway; he could see many reasons why she was not successful and desirable. One of the main reasons was that she failed to co-operate. This Bible worker recognized the need of tact in dealing with outsiders, but she failed to recognize her duty as a missionary to her fellow workers. Her lack of co-operation was twofold: she failed to co-operate with the Lord, and she failed to co-operate with her leader, the Lord's minister.
Some seem to think that tactless blows are legitimate when directed against fellow workers. But let us remember that when we give to others what we think they deserve, we may cut the cords of influence which bind their hearts to ours. This is as true in dealing with fellow laborers as with men and women in the business world. Heaven help us to be less proud of our straight-from-the-shoulder blows. Perhaps they are deserved, but they may prove dangerous.
Now as to co-operation in manner of working for souls. Have you ever seen a teacher by mistake severely punish a good boy in the school? Have you seen the little fellow take the punishment like a man, and then go away to think it over, perhaps deciding that he might just as well be bad as good, because he received the punishment anyway? Such experiences do occur, and are always due to the fact that the teacher does not know her pupil. We should know the people for whom we labor, and know their needs.
Perhaps the Bible worker has labored tactfully and faithfully for a long period of time, and reaches the point where she invites the minister to visit her readers and help bring them over the point of decision; but the minister, not knowing the people whom he is asked to visit, proceeds to administer his customary strong medicine for those who are halting between two opinions, and proves to do more harm than good. In other words, punishment is given to the good boy. Such a minister lacks in tact and co-operation. There should have been closer contact by both minister and Bible worker with the souls for whom the Bible worker was laboring, and this contact should have been made at a much earlier stage in the history of the case. It is essential that the minister and the Bible worker co-operate in personal work with souls, as well as in public effort, and there is just as much danger of the Bible worker's failing to make this co-operation possible, as that the minister will fail to realize the need in this respect.
3. In. Forethought and Planning.—Sometimes I have been placed under circumstances which reminded me of a situation where a train was scheduled to start whenever the engineer was ready, and the train crew were expected to be all ready to scramble aboard whenever the train pulled out.
This may seem like an extreme illustration, and yet many times it has seemed to me that I have been obliged to make all speed to get on board the train of service after it had already started down the track. In other words, suddenly some plan is announced, the success of which depends largely on the efforts of the Bible worker, but concerning which she has not heard a word. Now, it is all right to be minutemen and minutewomen, and there is a satisfaction in conquering all such handicaps; yet I cannot but feel that the Lord is better pleased when there is proper forethought and planning. In the beginning, long before the tragedy of sin was enacted, God made complete the entire plan of salvation. I believe it will tend to co-operation, and to 'peaceful relations and more effective service, if all will think — think ahead, and think through.
4. In Showing Respect for Coworkers.— This is a point concerning which little need be said, but more done. It must be well understood that a Bible worker should aim to develop in all with whom she comes in contact a high respect for the sacred office of the ministry, especially in these days when there is a strong tendency to bring sacred things down to the level of the common. It must also be borne in mind that those who dedicate their lives to the Bible work are engaged in a high and sacred calling, and while walking worthy of this high calling, should be accorded that respect and confidence which the Lord has indicated.
5. In Keeping Counsel.—A fatal blast to co-operation is caused by the unbridled tongue which betrays confidences reposed in fellow workers. Such conduct often defeats the highest aims of our work.
6. In Counting Results.— One time a conference president called on a Bible worker and asked to be taken to visit her readers and converts. He had been told that this Bible worker was not an efficient laborer, and so he had come to investigate. The Bible worker was most happy to have her conference president manifest such personal interest in her work, and planned to take him to see her readers. After one such visit, the conference president called on the local minister, and in mentioning the case presented by the Bible worker, was quickly informed that things were somewhat mixed. Returning to the Bible worker, the president said, " Pastor Blank tells me that the lady on whom we called yesterday was not one of your converts, but that she came into the truth through the tent effort. Take me to see those people who have been brought into the truth through your efforts alone."
What would you have done, sister Bible worker, under such circumstances? You may not wish to tell what you would have done, but you can easily state how you would have felt. It is true that there are times when the Bible worker brings people all the way into the truth by her effort, but in this circumstance the Bible worker had been associated with an organized public effort, when the blending of talent and co-operation of all workers entered into the apparent result.
Somehow I cannot imagine that when the work is all done, and Christ sees the travail of His soul and is satisfied, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will divide the redeemed throng with the distinction, This is yours, This is mine. The Trinity is our great example. It was unselfish co-operation that originated the plan of salvation; it is unselfish co-operation that will bring it to its close. We need the " one accord " of Pentecost. May the spirit of willing co-operation never be lacking in our service.
New Bedford, Mass.
