What kind of disciples does the mission field demand?
An effective missionary needs to be a person who diligently studies the Bible to discover God’s Will and who is determined to obey it. Obedience is the best commentary on the Bible and as Martin Luther stated: "I had rather obey than work miracles!"
From this foundation of prayerful study of God’s Word needs to develop true Christian character. This cannot be hastily done. Steadfast Christian character is the product of years of prayer and Bible study and the cultivated habit of responding to God’s Word in repentance, faith and obedience.
It involves a teachable heart and a willingness to accept rebuke and discipline. This is absolutely essential in missionary service because of the difficult tasks required, in the often harsh climates and inhospitable terrains, with the inevitable cross-cultural confusions and misunderstandings – mistakes and failures are inevitable. Resolving inter-personal disputes, overcoming obstacles and enduring criticisms are all part of our job description.
The measure of a person’s real character is how he works when no-one is watching. Referring to temptation, C H Spurgeon advised: "Learn to say: ‘No’ It will be of more use to you than to be able to read Latin."
If you choose an act, you create a habit, if you create a habit, you shape a character. If you shape a character, You determine a destiny. As D L Moody said: "If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself."
And one of the marks of Christian character is integrity – the unshakeable commitment to be true to one’s word. This is important because missions are built upon relationships of trust. We have a sacred trust to honour – with God, the churches and supporters who send us out and those to whom we are sent. There must never be any doubt that you as a Christian missionary will be true to your word, keep your promises and fulfill all your obligations.
Another vital aspect to be cultivated is one’s attitude. Charles Swindoll has stated it most eloquently: "Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% of how we respond to it . . . This may shock you, but I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day -to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failure, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude is that ‘single string’ that keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there’s no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me."
There is no doubt in my mind that a missionary volunteer’s attitude is far more important than his abilities – or apparent lack of them. We all have preconceived notions of just what type of person will succeed in missions – yet time and again God surprises us and challenges us by using some of the most unlikely candidates in the most unexpected ways. The only common denominator is – a willing volunteer with a positive attitude! I have seen many talented, gifted, promising people – with impressive resumes – fail and give up. And I know of many others – with far less apparent abilities – persevere and overcome disappointments, delays, discomfort, defeats and difficulties to succeed!
There is a major difference in people; the big difference is whether their attitude is postive or negative! As Leo Tolstoy wrote: "We lost because we told ourselves we lost." Peter Daniels often challenges his audiences: "If you think you can or you can’t – you’re right!"
Pessimists will not make the most effective missionaries – certainly they wouldn’t be very happy in the uncertain and difficult situations which so often prevail in the field. Pessimists have a problem for every solution. A pessimist is one who, when he has the choice of two evils, chooses both.
How we steadily and habitually think – that is what we tend to become. Negative people feel trapped by the past and helplessly look backwards at what might have been. Positive people feel inspired by the future and confidently look forward to what can be accomplished.
There are always many reasons why a certain task cannot be done. Those who succeed are those who are willing to learn, to work hard, to adapt, innovate and persevere to overcome all obstacles to complete their mission. This requires an inspiring vision of what God wants done and an optimistic attitude towards how God could use even me – in spite of myself – to accomplish His Will (
2 Corinthians 3:5). The Bible reading Christian must eventually become an optimist: "I can do everything through Him Who gives me strength." Phil. 4:13
An essential aspect of a missionary's job description is a willingness to endure opposition and criticism. In fact, it would be very helpful if missionaries were sensitive enough to hear the still small voice of God's guidance whilst learning to adapt to foreign cultures, and thick-skinned enough to be unaffected by either flattery or unjustified criticism (the latter is far more common)!
A willingness to submit to authority and an openness to receive rebuke and criticism is essential. However, one also needs to discern between constructive and destructive criticism. As C.T. Studd said: "Had I cared for the comments of people, I should never have been a missionary." Of his time in China, Studd wrote: "For five years we never went outside our doors without a volley of curses from our neighbours." To cope with such hostility, a sense of humour is essential - as is seen in these examples.
John Paton, missionary to New Hebrides (where the first attempt to introduce Christianity resulted in missionaries John Williams and James Harris being clubbed to death within minutes of landing in 1839), related the following:
"Amongst many who sought to deter me, was one dear old Christian gentleman, whose crowning argument always was, 'The Cannibals! you will be eaten by Cannibals!' At last I replied, 'Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honouring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms'."
Robert Morrison, the first Protestant missionary to China, was confronted by a man who contemptuously chided him:
"Now, Mr. Morrison, do you really expect that you will make an impression on the idolatry of the Chinese empire?' 'No sir,' responded Morrison, 'but I expect that God will!' "
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