The life and behavior of the missionary has very much to do with his success or failure. We must remember that a long journey does not change one's disposition. The fact that a person has chosen to live a life of service in a distant mission field, does not make him any different in disposition than he was in the homeland.
Somehow a certain halo has been placed upon the brow of those who are willing to give up home and loved ones and go out as foreign missionaries. Of course we would expect that the one who is willing to do all this would most certainly have a strong Christian experience. But let us not forget that many a man has given up home and gone into lonely places and endured privation merely for the sake of gain or adventure.
In my travels about China I have been surprised to see representatives of tobacco or oil companies, and traders of various kinds, who were enduring trials as great as or even greater than those many a missionary endures. There are many motives that may urge one to accept sacrifices without a murmur. The fact that one has been willing to leave his homeland and its comforts does not necessarily change his temperament. Only Christ can change the life, and unless this change has been very definite, the old life will show up in the daily conduct of the man or the woman in a mission field, just as much as, or perhaps even more than, in a land where one is surrounded by many helps to Christian living.
So no one should manifest surprise when I remark that many a missionary career has been wrecked _because of - some peculiarity in the temperament of the man, or the fretful and injudicious disposition of his wife. Not only have much time and expense been lost because of a lack of proper Christlike adjustment on the part of the missionary to his surroundings, but many souls have been lost.
If a man or woman is discontented, tactless, uncouth, impatient, selfish, imprudent, jealous, or grasping in the homeland, you may be sure that these traits of character will be manifest tenfold in the mission field. If one is inefficient, lazy, careless, or unsuccessful in a conference at home, do not think these weaknesses will be corrected by placing him on some lonely station in Central Africa. He will then be in a position where he can more freely follow his inclinations.
A missionary must have the incentive of right-doing within him when living alone, or perhaps with one family in a mission compound. There are few looking on and checking up on his daily life. The division president or union superintendent has a vast field of responsibility, and is not often present when work must be done. There are few workers' meetings in which corrective instruction can be given. The standards of life about the missionary are often lower than his own. It is easy to sag into careless indifference, if the spring of action is not kept alive by constant personal checkup and a keen working conscience.
What sad consequences result from any carelessness in the selection of candidates for a mission field. If a man has been a failure in a home conference, if he is found to have little efficiency in his work, you may be sure that his deficiencies will be multiplied when he finds himself on his own initiative. Not only is there a sad ending to such an experience for the person, but the work in a place of importance and great need is thus retarded.
In most mission fields we now have a trained native ministry, a well-organized educational system, and churches which are developing good local leaders. It is becoming more and more true that only efficient, wide-awake men and women of ability, tactfulness, and good vision can be useful in a mission field.
Permit me to mention in a very definite way Some points in connection with the life and behavior of a foreign missionary.
Appreciation. No one should take up work in a foreign field who feels unable to appreciate what is good among all races of people. The one who goes abroad with the spirit of superiority and condescension toward people not of his own race, might far better turn back before he takes ship to go abroad.
No longer does the so-called "heathen world" look upon Christendom in an attitude of awe and reverence. The World War shattered all that, and the co-apse of the Westerner's economic world has brought disillusionment to many peoples.
The missionary must believe in his soul that God has "made of one blood all nations of men," and he must live as if he believed it. Racial equality is not a question for the missionary to discuss. There should be no question about it. All men are our brethren, and though some may have been unfortunate in having been born amid superstition and ignorance, yet when the advantages of a Christian environment and enlightenment come to them, we see the same graces manifested in them as in those who have been born under more advantageous circumstances.
A man in search of light and truth does not want pity, but appreciation. One who stands high up on a pedestal, and does not come down and mingle with the people in friendly fellowship, does not follow the example of the Master who "counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant." Only as we follow in the way that Christ marked out, can we become true soul winners.
The missionary should remember that so-called Christian lands have nothing of real or eternal worth except the knowledge of Christ, and that knowledge is available to all men. Never should one make tactless comparisons between the way of life in one nation and that in another. Never should one speak disparagingly of the customs of the people for whom he is working. In no case should idol worship be ridiculed or pictured in a flippant manner. Such an attitude will not breed respect for the worship of the true God.
Preach truth, and let error fall to pieces of its own weight. Preach Christian living, and Western culture need not be mentioned. Only as one is constrained by love will he be able to live this life of appreciation and humble service.
Patience. No quality among all the Christian graces is needed more than patience.
One's patience will be tried at every turn. In the first place, other people have not imbibed the spirit of haste which makes America the most restless nation on earth. A momentary delay, a postponement of work, a careless attitude toward the passage of time, an easy indifference toward sudden difficulties, —these are the things which breed impatience in the missionary.
One urges the wheelbarrow man to come at six o'clock the next morning. He pleasantly consents. An early start must be made. The journey is long and an appointment must be met. The man turns up at eight o'clock, two hours late, but happy and unthinking. The missionary is, to say the least, worked up to a very nervous state. It is then the very easiest thing in the world for the missionary to explode in a very unchristian manner, if he is not on guard.
Again, one arrives at a railway terminus. Baggage must be transferred to a boat. There is little time for delay. One is alone and must depend on coolie help. The wide-awake coolies who must earn their living by their wits At once see the predicament of the missionary. They are anything but kindhearted and obliging. There is no reason why a handsome profit should not be made out of the situation. The price asked for the transfer of the goods is outrageous. The missionary appeals to a passing railway police. He, however, calmly walks on with folded arms. The situation is most trying. What can be done? How easy it is to raise the voice and shout in tones of authority. But this has little effect upon the calm exterior of the extortioners. Nothing can ruffle them or make them yield. Threats are made, and perhaps hands are raised to strike at this form of injustice. Onlookers watch the scene. Let us, however, draw the curtain upon this, lest we see something not at all becoming to a missionary.
Never should a hand be laid roughly upon any person, whether he be of lowly or high estate. Never should an angry look be fashioned upon the countenance. Such a manner not only fails to reveal the spirit of Christ, it fails to accomplish one's purpose. Nothing can so quickly turn a situation such as the one above mentioned, as a calm exterior, a pleasant smile, and an easy, indifferent manner. Even a coolie has a sense of justice, and when he sees that he cannot ruffle the feathers of the foreigner, his better nature yields to pressure, and the bargain is soon made.
A rough exterior, a hasty motion, loud talking, will only work great harm, and will accomplish nothing. There is never provocation enough to excuse the missionary for losing his temper. If one finds it impossible to live the life of a foreign missionary without constant demonstrations of impatience before the people for whom he is working, it were better if he packed his belongings and turned back to the homeland as soon as possible.
Harmony. There should ever be harmony in the home and in the mission compound if Christ is to be preached effectively. One person who is outspoken in criticism, who is sensitive to slights, who is selfish and wants his or her own way, can wreck the peace of an important mission station, and cause the light of truth to be greatly dimmed.
Never should one complain to a native worker or believer concerning the attitude or action of a fellow missionary. Never should one reveal or hold any spirit of resentment or retaliation toward a fellow missionary. Far greater damage is done through lack of harmony in a mission compound than through lack of harmony in a conference office at home.
Imagine the situation as it is viewed from the angle of the native worker or believer. He no doubt thinks as follows, "Here are men and women who have crossed land and sea, who have been selected as representatives of a great world work, and who profess to be the ambassadors of heaven. Surely they must be outstanding in their Christian qualifications. How can it be, then, that these people are acting in a manner unbecoming to Christians? Can it be there is power in the religion of Christ to save us who have had but little knowledge of the truth?" The cause of God is thus brought into disrepute and the damage is far reaching.
Consideration. Nothing can so quickly ruffle one's feelings and wound one's spirit as a lack of consideration for his viewpoint. The foreign missionary is told that he must be tactful in dealing with the people to whom he is going. But some seem to feel that tact is a grace not given to many, or an art acquired only by specialized training. Hence I am using the word "consideration" instead of the word "tact."
There is no one who does not understand what consideration means. It is nothing more than thoughtfulness for the feelings of others. Consideration is bred of respect, and respect is born of esteem. Is it possible for a missionary to truly help one whom he does not esteem?
Will he be thoughtful and considerate in his attitude toward one whom he does not respect? There is gold beneath the roughest exterior. There is value in every man or woman to whom God has given the breath of life, it matters not whether he be clothed in rags or in robes of purple and fine linen. The missionary must first recognize the true value of a person before he can save him.
If the missionary on every occasion had this appreciation of the value of the people whom he is addressing or with whom he is dealing, few mistakes would be made. On the other hand, a disrespectful attitude, a slighting remark, an inept comparison, a dictatorial manner, a belittling decision—these are the things which drive people from us.
In China we speak of "saving" a man's "face." We Americans evidently do not believe much in that. We believe in saying what we think, and we look down on the person who will not accept it bravely. Our aggressive and restless natures will take little time to consider another person's feelings. There is work to be done. There are decisions to be made. There are goals to be met. There are standards to be reached.
With the aggressiveness that clothes us, we leave a trail of wounded spirits and bewildered souls behind us, especially in a mission field.
All too often we fail to give consideration to the other person's viewpoint. We hasten to condemn, or we hurry with our decisions before we inquire what is best under the circumstances, to win unity and create confidence.
Every missionary should pray daily, "Lord, give me an understanding heart. Awaken my mind to the value of every one with whom I have to do this day." If such were the life of the missionary, how few difficulties would arise, and how many souls would be won!
Conclusion. We can find no better advice in the Bible for the new recruit, or for the old missionary, than the words written to the youthful Timothy by Paul, the veteran missionary: "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. . . . Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." 1 Tim. 4:12-16.
