"Not A Novice"
by Gordon Wakefield
The commendation to full-time Christian service of
increasing numbers of young people appears to be a growing practice.
While it may be a cause for praise to God that in an exaggeratedly
material age there are evidences of young people who want to live their
lives for God, I would like to make a few recommendations to elders and
the assemblies under their care.
It may be that another growing phenomenon in Christian circles, that of sending out short-term teams of eager young people, has contributed to a relaxing of standards when it comes to considering more long-term commendations. It is not infrequent that a young person who well might not have asked for, nor have been granted, commendation to the Lord’s work full-time has received the blessing of his local assembly to join a summer or other short-term team devoted to activities such as construction, literature distribution, or similar activity under the direction of veteran leaders. Upon his return to his home assembly he has sought, and obtained, full-time commendation mostly on the basis of this “missionary experience” but without a more diligent inquiry into his real qualifications for such confidence on the part of his elders and local assembly. I will not suggest how widespread is this practice as I have not made a research study of the matter, but personal observations prompt me to sound a cautionary note by way of the following observations and recommendations.
If I may, I would like to call upon my 38 years as a Christian, the 24 years I have been engaged in foreign missionary service, and some 25 years of service as an elder in four different assemblies of the lord’s people as a basis for making these observations and recommendations, especially to fellow elders, regarding commendation to full-time Christian service, with emphasis on such service as a foreign missionary.
The words of 1 Timothy 3:1 which form the title of this article were given, of course, in the context of the recognition of elders for focal assemblies. Full-time workers and especially foreign missionaries often find themselves serving in the context or capacity of elders even when they are not recognized as such “officially.” I believe it is a legitimate premise to suggest that “not a novice...” be a primary requisite for commending someone: single, married, man or woman or couple, to full-time Christian service. Such a person inevitably takes on the role of leader, teacher, counselor, guide, etc., whatever might be his or her specific “missionary” rote. It is normal, natural, legitimate, and healthy that someone receiving such a worker and his ministry should expect that person NOT to be a novice in the things of the Lord.
One of the problems we are facing today in the area of full-time Christian service is that of specialization. It is recognized that there are so many areas in which one can serve (literature. education, medicine, mechanics, aviation, etc.) in addition to the also specific and traditional ministries of gospel preaching and Bible teaching it appears that “not a novice...” in the area of Christian knowledge and living, example and sharing, is often overlooked when commendation is considered. As a result, we too often find failures, with some failures remaining in full-time service and on the field, while others return home to former pursuits after programs of language study and considerable expenditure in time and money on the part of many. Such “public failure” is inevitably attended by feelings of discouragement for the “novice” and consternation on the part of those who commended. “What went wrong?” “Did we miss the Lord’s guidance?” “Who is to blame?” “What do we do with them now?” are some of the questions asked.
I would like to suggest that commending elders and assemblies consider the following four categories of assessment before commending someone to full-time Christian service in order to avoid sending out a “novice.”
1. Christian Life
It is an obvious truism that the number of years one has been a believer is not the only or principal criterion for assessing Christian maturity. The varied conditions of opportunity, environment, discipleship care, personal dedication, discipline in the study of God’s Word, obedience to His plain commands, steadiness in fellowship and service, and other factors result in some maturing in shorter time than others, while notable failure in these and other areas of Christian living result in little or no growth at all. The great emphasis today is on youth and energy. It is impossible to make a ease for such an emphasis from Scripture. Example and direct teaching in the Word of God lead us to entirely opposite conclusions (example of Paul, his use of Barnabas, Timothy, Titus, his pastoral instructions, etc., and the admonition to “lay hands suddenly on no man,” (1 Timothy 5:22). Why the big rush into full-time work? Is the evidence overwhelmingly in favor that a “candidate” is “not a novice ...” in his Christian life? If it is not, is it time for commendation?
It may be that another growing phenomenon in Christian circles, that of sending out short-term teams of eager young people, has contributed to a relaxing of standards when it comes to considering more long-term commendations. It is not infrequent that a young person who well might not have asked for, nor have been granted, commendation to the Lord’s work full-time has received the blessing of his local assembly to join a summer or other short-term team devoted to activities such as construction, literature distribution, or similar activity under the direction of veteran leaders. Upon his return to his home assembly he has sought, and obtained, full-time commendation mostly on the basis of this “missionary experience” but without a more diligent inquiry into his real qualifications for such confidence on the part of his elders and local assembly. I will not suggest how widespread is this practice as I have not made a research study of the matter, but personal observations prompt me to sound a cautionary note by way of the following observations and recommendations.
If I may, I would like to call upon my 38 years as a Christian, the 24 years I have been engaged in foreign missionary service, and some 25 years of service as an elder in four different assemblies of the lord’s people as a basis for making these observations and recommendations, especially to fellow elders, regarding commendation to full-time Christian service, with emphasis on such service as a foreign missionary.
The words of 1 Timothy 3:1 which form the title of this article were given, of course, in the context of the recognition of elders for focal assemblies. Full-time workers and especially foreign missionaries often find themselves serving in the context or capacity of elders even when they are not recognized as such “officially.” I believe it is a legitimate premise to suggest that “not a novice...” be a primary requisite for commending someone: single, married, man or woman or couple, to full-time Christian service. Such a person inevitably takes on the role of leader, teacher, counselor, guide, etc., whatever might be his or her specific “missionary” rote. It is normal, natural, legitimate, and healthy that someone receiving such a worker and his ministry should expect that person NOT to be a novice in the things of the Lord.
One of the problems we are facing today in the area of full-time Christian service is that of specialization. It is recognized that there are so many areas in which one can serve (literature. education, medicine, mechanics, aviation, etc.) in addition to the also specific and traditional ministries of gospel preaching and Bible teaching it appears that “not a novice...” in the area of Christian knowledge and living, example and sharing, is often overlooked when commendation is considered. As a result, we too often find failures, with some failures remaining in full-time service and on the field, while others return home to former pursuits after programs of language study and considerable expenditure in time and money on the part of many. Such “public failure” is inevitably attended by feelings of discouragement for the “novice” and consternation on the part of those who commended. “What went wrong?” “Did we miss the Lord’s guidance?” “Who is to blame?” “What do we do with them now?” are some of the questions asked.
I would like to suggest that commending elders and assemblies consider the following four categories of assessment before commending someone to full-time Christian service in order to avoid sending out a “novice.”
1. Christian Life
It is an obvious truism that the number of years one has been a believer is not the only or principal criterion for assessing Christian maturity. The varied conditions of opportunity, environment, discipleship care, personal dedication, discipline in the study of God’s Word, obedience to His plain commands, steadiness in fellowship and service, and other factors result in some maturing in shorter time than others, while notable failure in these and other areas of Christian living result in little or no growth at all. The great emphasis today is on youth and energy. It is impossible to make a ease for such an emphasis from Scripture. Example and direct teaching in the Word of God lead us to entirely opposite conclusions (example of Paul, his use of Barnabas, Timothy, Titus, his pastoral instructions, etc., and the admonition to “lay hands suddenly on no man,” (1 Timothy 5:22). Why the big rush into full-time work? Is the evidence overwhelmingly in favor that a “candidate” is “not a novice ...” in his Christian life? If it is not, is it time for commendation?
2. Christian Service
We have all read published statements of commendation, and frequently the language is “he/she has served several years as a camp counselor, youth director, Sunday School teacher, etc.,” as a summation of the candidate’s Christian service up to the point of commendation. If the commendee were to go into full-time work exclusively in one of those areas, perhaps (just “perhaps”) such Christian service would be a sufficient prerequisite, but it seldom happens that a full-time worker is looked upon for such limited service, and he finds himself engaged in broader ministries, looked to for leadership and direction, in areas for Which he is still a novice. Has the candidate anticipated his interest in and desire for full-time commitment to his elders, thus giving them the to allow him a wider range of service experiences while observing him closely?
3. Christian Relationships
All truly Christian service has to do with people. Personal relationships are of paramount importance. Do apparent or even self-confessed “loners” have a place in full-time Christian service? I would say no, even for such a narrowly defined and perhaps imaginary missionary work as sitting all day in a radio shack relaying messages among fellow missionaries. That, too, is people contact. But the larger issue here is working with and getting along with others, appreciating their experience, maturity, spirituality, respecting their experiences and observations regarding the culture, language, what “tried and true” methods really work, seeking and wanting their personal counsel; in short, not seeking to “reinvent the wheel” in one’s own missionary service. And where does all this begin? In one’s local assembly, with all the believers, but especially with one’s elders, deacons, and others with recognized, elder-directed leadership roles. Such formal preparations as Bible institute, seminary. and other missionary training programs often leave the candidate with the impression that he has it “all put together” and therefore does not need the benefits of “time on the job” experience of others. The emphasis on the very scriptural principle of the autonomy of the local church seems to have militated against attitudes of mutual interdependence on the personal level of Christian fellowship service. As a personal conviction, I believe that local commending elders need to foster communications between would-be missionaries and prospective colleagues already in the field. This is not a “boss/employee” relationship, but rather one of recognition and appreciation for what God has done in the lives of others He has called and blessed in full-time service. The elders, also, would do well to establish direct communication with the prospective colleagues of their commendee.
4. Practical Living As A Christian
Has the candidate for full-time Christian service come to the point of commendation via high school, Bible school and/or seminary with his practical Christian experience sandwiched into his full program of studies, perhaps via Sunday School teaching, camp programs, and such? Has he worked for a living? Supported himself? Paid bills? Kept a budget? Lived a life similar to that of those who will be sacrificing to support him on the field? Has he supported local church and missionary outreaches himself? In terms of practical living, does he go into full-time service with all the paraphernalia of a pampered consumer society, “burdened,” as it were, more with conspicuous consumption than with the eternal destiny of souls? And what about personal lifestyles? Has the candidate developed patterns of living, dress, recreation, diet, etc., which would be impractical or even counter-productive in his contemplated service environment? Is there an obvious willingness to forego these if necessary? And what of language aptitude? It is relatively easy to ascertain if there might be questions as to ability in this important area.
Surely every case is individual and should be treated primarily with a desire that God would speak clearly and convincingly to all involved in the commendation process. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord of the harvest (Matthew 9:38) and He instructs us all to pray to Him, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest. Only He knows WHO is ready and WHERE he should go and WHEN. But ever mindful of the warning, “not a novice...,” we should all take care to fit into the human side of the divine process with all the maturity we possess, that the decisions taken be ones He can bless for His eternal glory. Waste, disappointment, discouragement, consternation, doubt, confusion, and failure can and should be avoided by prayerful consideration of what constitutes maturity for the work of the Lord. In the final analysis, we all should be seeking a clear demonstration of God’s timing, choice, and direction. But we should not put God to the test in asking Him to overcome our slothfulness, carelessness, and abdication of simple and practical observations and recommendations when we are asked to commend someone to the work of the Lord full-time. “Decently and in order” is the principle that should guide us (I Corinthians 14:40).
July-August 1989 issue of MISSIONS magazine
Gordon and Florence Wakefield were commended to the Lord’s work in Lima, Peru in 1964 by the saints meeting at the Gospel Chapel in Hutchinson, Kansas. The assembly in Lawrence, Kansas joined in their commendation in 1975. In the fall of 2015 the Wakefields returned to the States for health and age reasons, after 51 years of missionary service.
