India's Problem, Krishna or Christ

by John P. Jones

Had our Lord Himself considered the attitude of man towards Himself He would never have come down to men. He came to fling fire upon the earth—to bring not peace but a sword. He was despised and rejected of men. Like Him, missionaries must consider the deep spiritual need and not the desire of a people. Above all, they must be assured everywhere, in their great life work, that they are sent by God rather than invited by men.

6. The Relationship Which the Missionary Sustains to the Missionary Society and the Churches Which Support Him.

The relationship into which a man, who becomes a missionary, enters with the missionary society and the churches is a very precious one, and should be fully realized. In a peculiar sense he has become their adopted child—the subject of their prayer and the object of their pride. They have taken him into their own heart and his support and success are their peculiar concern.

He is the connecting link between them and the [pg 220] work which they support and cherish in the far-off land. Whatever of interest, of joy and of responsibility they possess in that work passes through him. He is to them the channel through which flow their endeavours. He is the living embodiment of their interest in the work as also of their effort to bring the heathen to Christ. And in like manner he has become to them the articulate cry of the heathen world for help. He represents to them at the same time both the progress of the work, its need and the claims of a heathen world upon them. He is their agent to develop and inspire their infant Mission Church. He is also the almoner of their benevolence.

In all these capacities it is well that he remember, constantly, how much he depends for inspiration as for support upon those who have sent him forth to the heathen and who, under God, sustain him and his work. He should cultivate full appreciation of their endeavour; he should keep himself in living, loving touch with both society and churches; and he should deem it his duty and privilege to furnish them with all light and intelligence concerning his work. It is thus that he must strengthen their faith and inspire their hearts in the great and far-off work which they are maintaining. It is his opportunity to add fuel to the ardor and enthusiasm of all the churches in the missionary endeavour. In this he has an important function to perform and should endeavour to magnify his office.

In my opinion the relationship between the missionary and those whom he represents at home might easily be strengthened and improved by added [pg 221] recognition and courtesy to him in the home-land. At present the foreign missionary of the congregational churches is simply regarded as their paid agent. This relationship is indeed a pleasant and a cordial one. The American Board is most appreciative of the labors of its missionary agents and deals with them generously. The churches also give them a cordial welcome and a warm hearing. But the missionary has no status whatever beyond this. He returns for a furlough to the home-land and feels himself, in a peculiar sense, a stranger. He has no official connection whatever with his society; his voice is not heard in its councils; his wisdom and experience are not sought in its deliberations. In other words, though possessed of a large stock of knowledge which might be of value to the Board in the shaping of its policy and in the direction of its work at its annual meetings, he has absolutely no voice or place there and stands apart from its organization, beyond the privilege of being its foreign servant. The missionary body has felt this deprivation and isolation during critical periods in the history of the Board; and it still feels that, at least some of its number should be permitted both to enjoy the honour, and also to render the service incident to being corporate members of the Board.

The situation is no better in his relation to the home churches. He is a member, probably, of some church in the home-land; but, upon his return home he has no status whatever in any Conference or Association, or as a member of a Ministerial body among his home brethren. In his deputation work at home he finds welcome, as a stranger or as an outsider, [pg 222] and not as a member or as an integral part of any body or Association.

The position of the missionary is different among the Methodists. Every minister of that body finds that, by becoming a foreign missionary he does not separate himself from home ties and privileges. His ministerial connection is preserved intact, so that he has a status in the churches and in the missionary society.