The Importance of Character

Given the objective power of the preached gospel, why does God care so much about the character of the missionary? After all, in Philippians 1:18, Paul prioritizes the message of the preacher over the motives of the preacher. Therefore, doesn’t it suffice to have sound theology?

In short, no. It doesn’t. Those aspiring to long-term missions must be exemplary in their character. True, God uses those who “preach Christ from envy and rivalry” (Phil 1:15 ESV), but that’s no excuse for any missionary to be lackluster in the pursuit of holiness.

Perhaps you are aspiring to serve on the mission field for the long haul. Or maybe it is your responsibility to assess the qualifications of men and women who desire to be sent by your church. Please do not overlook character. To be sure, there is no perfect way to ensure the missionary you send possesses the necessary godliness. People can hide their sin, even from themselves (Jer 17:9). Still, faithfulness demands we probe. “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out” (Prov 20:5).

With this in mind, how should an aspiring missionary prepare to be character-qualified? Consider these 10 essential questions:

1. Are you known by the members of your local church? 

It’s not enough to be a church member. Sadly, it’s possible to attend church and remain largely anonymous. Moreover, it’s possible to attend a local church while the lion’s share of your ministry is outside the local church. The church should be where we roll up our sleeves and invest in other believers for discipleship and join with other believers for evangelism. The local church is ground zero for character development.

2. Are you being discipled by mature believers? 

Growing in grace and godliness begins with being known by others, but it demands stronger, deeper relationships. The author of Hebrews does more than urge believers to assemble together. He says we are to “exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb 3:13). The Christian life is not a solo project, and patterns of sin will rarely be identified by the lone-ranger Christian. It takes one-to-one or small group discipleship.

3. Are you aiming to meet the qualifications of elders and deacons? 

Scripture does not provide specific missionary qualifications. This is because the target of missions work is starting and strengthening churches, and churches are led by elders and served by deacons. Therefore, those on the mission field should meet the qualifications of an elder and/or a deacon. Study 1 Timothy 3 and remember, an aspiring missionary should be open to candid conversations about these qualifications.

4. Are you pursuing intimate communion with the Lord? 

Most aspiring missionaries, when asked this question, will quickly answer yes. It’s important to slow down and carefully consider whether that is actually true. For fear of legalism, many Christians today are careful not to clock how much time they spend in the word or in prayer. To be sure, the question is not, “How much time did you spend with the Lord?” as much as, “Are you experiencing God strengthening you ‘with power through his Spirit’?” (Eph 3:16). There is no character without communion.

5. Are you a wise steward of your finances? 

An extraordinary number of passages (including 1 Timothy 3) address the topics of greed and contentment. This is a character qualification worth emphasizing. We can lay up treasures on earth or in heaven but not in both places simultaneously (Matt 6:19-21). An aspiring missionary ought to let an older, wiser Christian examine his financial habits. The failure to steward wealth well will undermine a ministry.

6. Are you putting sexual sin to death daily? 

Like financial stewardship, how we steward our bodies, including our eyes, is a telltale sign of spiritual maturity and readiness for full-time ministry. An aspiring missionary must be brutally honest with someone about the sexual temptations faced, overcome, and at times succumbed to in the process of sanctification. This self-examination should address media consumption, private thoughts, and interactions with members of the opposite sex.

7. Are you assessing your motivations for ministry? 

Gone are the days when a missionary boarded a boat and headed for an obscure ministry in a foreign land. Today, every step of the journey is often chronicled with pictures, prayer letters, social media posts, and sometimes even conference appearances. Aspiring missionaries should beware the allure of the spotlight. It’s easy to say you are all about the glory of God when, in reality, you want the glory that comes from man (John 12:43). Yes, God can use a missionary who is envious of others’ ministries (Phil. 1:18), but surely that must not be acceptable.

8. Are you actively looking for blind spots? 

Galatians 5:22-23 is a wonderful guide for assessing character blind spots. An aspiring missionary should carefully examine the fruit of the Spirit and discern which aspects are woefully lacking. He may realize he lacks the joy necessary to sustain a life of ministry on the field. She may discover she lacks the patience required to endure decades of evangelism in difficult soil.

9. Are you receptive to criticism? 

Aspiring missionaries who truly want to ensure they are character-qualified for the field will receive criticism. How do they respond? Solomon said to love discipline is to love knowledge (Prov 12:1). This means receiving correction without anger or defensiveness. It doesn’t mean the person making an observation about our character is always correct, but it does mean we are willing to listen and examine our hearts.

10. Are you pursuing holiness from the heart of the gospel? 

The best missionaries are not perfect; they are humble. They realize we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. They long, like Paul, to know nothing “except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2). Character must not be separated from the cross because only the cross can fuel a lifetime of holiness.

There is no surefire plan to become character-qualified for full-time missions. But these 10 questions are a place to begin. Ponder them if you are aspiring to give your life to missions or trying to discern whether someone in your church is ready to go.