Embodying Christ—to All People
Another important principle in Ellen White’s thinking on mission was the need for missionaries to embody Christ—she was an advocate of what missiologists would call incarnational mission. She advised new missionaries not to immediately erect barriers needlessly, and to ensure that they initially represented Jesus and His love, before teaching distinctive Adventist doctrines. In 1887 she wrote to missionaries en route to Africa: “The one object to be kept before the mind is that you are reformers, and not bigots.” In a subsequent letter she wrote of the “great and solemn work” before them to reach the people where they are. Do not feel it your bounden duty the first thing to tell the people, “We are Seventh-day Adventists; we believe the seventh day is the Sabbath; we believe in the non-immortality of the soul,” and thus erect most formidable barriers between you and those you wish to reach. But speak to them, as you may have opportunity, upon points of doctrine wherein you can agree. . . . Give them evidence that you are a Christian . . . and that you love their souls. . . . Thus you will gain their confidence, and then there will be time enough for the doctrines.GOP 350.2
White advised: “Lead them along cautiously, presenting in love the truth as it is in Jesus Christ.” GOP 351.1
Naturally, then, a theme to which she returned repeatedly was that the missionary needed to be in a transformative relationship with Jesus. In 1888, reflecting on missionary work, she wrote: “Now, the very first thing is to have our hearts and minds and ways and manners so that they will not offend.” It was “the great essential point, to be sure that these workers have the spirit of Jesus Christ” and that “the love of God . . . should be in the heart of every worker,” so that they would be “excellent representatives of the missionary cause.” Two years later, in 1890, she wrote to all the missionaries in South Africa: “My brethren, you are missionaries, and may you be so transformed that your strong traits of character shall do no harm to the cause of God.” What they needed, she counseled, was “the abundant grace of Christ. Self-sufficiency is a hindrance to the work. . . . May the Lord give you . . . His righteousness.” GOP 351.2
In 1896 she wrote to Asa T. Robinson, then serving as a missionary in Africa:GOP 351.3
I feel deeply in regard to the missionary work in South Africa. I do hope you will not look to men, nor trust in men, but look to God and trust in God. We may expect large things, even the deep movings of the Spirit of God, if we have faith in His promises. . . . Has He not shown us how precious we are in His sight, and with what value He regards our souls, by giving us Jesus? We are required to unite our souls with Jesus Christ, that we may have no tame, commonplace experience. GOP 351.4
The following year, 1897, she wrote to Robinson again, with inspired counsel: “You must either mingle more of the oil of love, of tender compassion, with your work, your stiffness and coldness must be melted away, or you will not win your way in such a country as Africa. This country needs men who are as firm as a rock to principle, and who have also the simplicity and love of Christ.” Warning against the danger of leaving “upon other minds an impression of sternness, and coldness, and harshness,” she enjoined: “You need to be baptized in the cheerful sunshine of the righteousness of Jesus Christ.” Two years later, reflecting on the malfunctioning of the Foreign Mission Board, she observed “that some of the men chosen [in positions of mission leadership] were not men of consecrated ability. . . . They became self-important, wise in their own conceit.” White preferred leaders who had “experience in living connection with God.” GOP 351.5
Her desire that the missionary represent Christ to indigenous peoples led her to have no sympathy with those who proposed conforming to racial prejudices in order to smooth the path of mission. Writing from Australia in 1900, she expressed herself very strongly, in terms that were, sadly, to be a standing rebuke to Adventists for much of the century.GOP 351.6
In regard to the question of caste and colour, nothing would be gained by making a decided distinction, but the Spirit of God would be grieved. We are all supposed to be preparing for the same heaven. We have the same heavenly Father and the same Redeemer, who loved us and gave Himself for us all, without any distinction. We are nearing the close of this earth’s history, and it does not become any child of God to have a proud, haughty heart and turn from any soul who loves God, or to cease to labour for any soul for whom Christ has died. When the love of Christ is cherished in the heart as it should be, when the sweet, subduing spirit of the love of God fills the soul-temple, there will be no caste, no pride of nationality; no difference will be made because of the colour of the skin. Each one will help the one who needs tender regard and consolation, of whatever nationality he may be.GOP 352.1
Ask yourselves if Christ would make any difference. In assembling His people would He say, Here brother, or, Here sister, your nationality is not Jewish; you are of a different class. Would He say, Those who are dark-skinned may file into the back seats; those of a lighter skin may come up to the front seats.GOP 352.2
In one place the proposition was made that a curtain be drawn between the coloured people and the white people. I asked, Would Jesus do that? This grieves the heart of Christ. The colour of the skin is no criterion as to the value of the soul. By the mighty cleaver of truth we have all been quarried out from the world. God has taken us, all classes, all nations, all languages, all nationalities, and brought us into His workshop, to be prepared for His temple. GOP 352.3