To read about the lives of missionaries like David Livingstone makes one realize that they were very human yet so different from others. What separated David Livingstone, Hudson Taylor, Adoniram Judson, Charles Cowman, William Carey, C.T. Studd, John Paton, and Jonathan Goforth from others was their adherence to principle. One of the reasons these eight men were used by God in such unusual ways was because they lived by principle and it made an impact on the lives of others.

What is the result of men who follow Biblical principles? Christlikeness. This Christlikeness moved men's hearts in a miraculous way. From Mrs. J.H. Worcester's biography of David Livingstone, comes this description:

"But beyond and above Doctor Livingstone's greatness as a missionary, a physician, a philanthropist, and an explorer, it is the character of the man that shines out preeminently great. The rare symmetry of this was such that one who knew him bears witness that he was the most Christlike man he ever knew. Another says that she never knew anyone who gave to her the idea of power over other men, such powers Christ showed while on earth, the power of love and purity combined.

"A friend of his earlier days remarks: 'There was truly an indescribable charm about him, which, with all his rather ungainly ways and by no means winning face, attracted almost everyone, and which helped him so much in his after-wandering in Africa. He won those who came near him by a kind of spell.'"

I. Principle May Be Defined Several Ways.

The word "principle" is defined in a number of ways by the Thorndike and Barnhart dictionary. The following are a few of those definitions:

A. "A fundamental belief"

The dictionary uses "religious beliefs" to illustrate this definition. A missionary must first decide what he believes in doctrine, then his philosophy of the ministry, and finally in his ethics—which is what he believes to be right or wrong.

B. "Truth that is a foundation for other truths"

The example given in the dictionary is "Principles of democratic government." These principles are given to be a foundation on which one can make proper decisions in working with or dealing with others.

C. "Rule of action or conduct"

"Make it a principle to save some money each week," is how the dictionary explains this particular definition. These Bible principles are meant to be put into action by the missionary. These principles are not simply theories to be discussed; rather, they are mandated by scripture to be practiced.

D. "Uprightness, honor"

"Washington was a man of principle," declares the dictionary. The result of a missionary who follows Biblical principles is that he becomes a man of honor; a man of principle.

Hudson Taylor had certain principles by which the China Inland Mission was guided. He was particularly careful in whom the mission would accept as missionaries. They had to be of the same mind and heart. The C.I.M. was a mission that before long, was very well known and popular (if I may use this word) in Christian circles in the United States and England.

Once Hudson Taylor and his workers prayed for 100 new missionaries, which seemed like a very high number in a very short period of time. Dr. Howard Taylor, in his biography of his father, quotes Dr. Eugene Stock:

"Six times that number offered," wrote Dr. Eugene Stock in the History of the Church Missionary Society, "but the Council, faithful to its principles, declined to lower the standard, and rejected five-sixths of the applicants; yet the exact number of one hundred—not ninety-nine nor a hundred and one, but 100—actually sailed within the year. Still more significant of God's blessing is the fact that, seven years later, seventy-eight of the hundred were still on the C.I.M. staff; and of the remainder, five had died, and most of the others were still labouring in China, though in other connections. Does the whole history of Missions afford quite a parallel to this?"

II. Missionaries and Other Christian Workers Often Fail Because They Do Not Follow Biblical Principles in Their Relationships.

Years ago I was talking to a friend who was teaching many different subjects on missions at a Bible College in the United States. When I asked him which subject he enjoyed the most, without hesitation he replied, "Missionary Relationships." He went on to say he thought it was the most important class because it is the area where missionaries often fail.

Much of a missionary's success on deputation will depend on how he relates to people. Whether a missionary, his wife and family adjust well to their new home in a foreign country will depend on how well they relate to people. The frustrations of a missionary on the field will depend on how well he relates to people. The frustrations of a missionary will depend much on his relationships, especially with the Lord.

Roy Ackerlie, who God used for many years on the mission field, once explained:

"A bookkeeper does not have to worry about the impression he makes on anyone but the boss. The main thing is to have his records neat and accurate. That is not true with a salesperson, however. The volume of his sales and the commission he gets may depend on such impressions. A research scientist may be a very disagreeable person to meet, at the same time he is highly regarded for his contribution to science. But, the minister of the Gospel or the missionary cannot even get a hearing for his message if he continually rubs people the wrong way. Rubbing people the wrong way is a greater danger on the mission field than here at home..."

III. God Desires That We Learn to Get Along with Others.

Jesus' prayer in John chapter 17 is very touching. He prays for many things, but most, He desires that His disciples learn to get along. In verses 11, 21, 22, and 23, Jesus pleads with His Father that His followers "may be one, as we are." (John 17:11.)

When Paul wrote the church at Philippi he praises the church, their sacrifice, and their example. In only one verse he mentions something that is a blot on the church, and it involved two members. Philippians 4:2 says, "I beseech Euodias and beseech Syntyche that they may be of the same mind in the Lord." These two just could not get along. Notice Paul beseeches (pleads or begs) each of them to get along. It seems as if they were hard to get along with. They had to have their own way. Most likely their dislike for each other was a burden to the whole church.

Some people seem to be able to get along with almost anyone, and they can even do this without compromising what they believe. Then some seemingly cannot get along with anyone. Have you ever known someone who could not seem to keep any friends for any length of time?

God does not desire for a missionary to continually be at odds with others simply because he is not willing to obey His Word in guiding his relationships. To be sure, there are some people with whom one cannot have normal relationships. But generally, we will get along with others when we follow God's Word.

IV. Missionaries Are in an Unusual Position and Especially Need God's Help in Their Relationships.

Missionaries are in a different set of circumstances than other Christian workers. First, they have a number of "bosses." By that I mean they need to please many pastors and churches who support them. Missionaries on deputation have to constantly adjust to the different personalities of the pastors they visit. Pastors have a wide variety of expectations for missionaries, and these expectations usually have nothing to do with their philosophy of the ministry. This might include things like the type of presentation he thinks a missionary should make, how often they should visit the churches or strong opinions on some issues in which there are many good fundamental, independent Baptists who have varying opinions. Some pastors like to joke a lot, and some do not appreciate too much humor. Just about the time a missionary gets adjusted to a pastor he is visiting, it is time to leave and start over again. A wise missionary can learn a lot from these experiences. I sometimes joke with other missionaries that if a missionary ever leaves the field he should go into diplomatic service because he is well-qualified.

Fundamental, independent Baptist missionaries are in an unusual position because of our adherence to the Word of God. Our message to the saved is one of not only service for Christ and love for others, but of separation from the world. Because of that we tend to stick out like a sore thumb—even among other Christians.

As foreigners, we are in an unusual position as we try to lead people in whose country we are the guest and they are the host. You may be leading in a country where American leadership is despised by many. When you are in the church services you may have a high profile but in public places you may need to try to keep a low profile.

This article is written to challenge you to be a person of principle. A person like:

• Adoniram Judson, who because of conviction, became a Baptist soon after arriving on the mission field, realizing he would lose all of his support.
• Charles Cowman, who so believed the great commission in preaching the Gospel to his nation that he devised a plan whereby he and his workers would go to nearly every home in every village, town, and city in Japan giving out the gospel.
• Jonathan Goforth, who was so conscientious in financial matters that he would not keep a number of deserved personal gifts because it might not appear proper to someone who did not know the circumstances of the gift.
• Hudson Taylor, who so loved the Lord's work that he disregarded all personal hurts and went to extreme lengths to put away misunderstandings between himself and others.
• John Paton, who so believed in the power of God that he challenged a group of cannibal chiefs, risking his life to prove that their gods were powerless to hurt him.
• David Livingstone, who was so concerned that his motives were pure that he made it a rule to never read anything written that praised him.
• William Carey, who believed in forgiveness to the point that he would provide for a man who had squandered all with which Carey had entrusted him when he first arrived in India.
• C.T. Studd, who believed in the necessity of living by faith that he gave away the entire fortune left to him by his wealthy father soon after arriving on the mission field.
• John Stam, who like Christ, was determined to fulfill God's will for his life and willingly laid down his life when he could have avoided it.

When we live by principle the Lord will give us the power we need to reach people with the gospel.

There is power when we live by principle like these men did and follow the example of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.