Ambassadors or Embarassments?

Are we an ambassador, or an embarrassment of Christ?

2 Corinthians 5:20 speak of us Christians as being Christ’s ambassadors. This passage revolves on the premise that 1) we are foreigners on earth and belong to Christ’s kingdom and 2) we represent Christ, our king, who has sent us.

From those premises let me expound on two prevailing ideas: our Christian citizenship, and our Christian diplomacy.

Christian citizenship is based on the fact- fact based on our faith- that we belong to the kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Our kingdom is the one that God has set apart for us. As ‘citizens’ of Christ’s kingdom, our way of life is the way that Christ has asked us to lead, and Jesus himself has shown the way. The Bible spoke so many times of Christ’s compassion (Matthew 14:14, Matthew 15:32, Matthew 20:34, etc.), his humility (Matthew 4:8-10, Matthew 17:24-27, Luke 23:34), his forgiveness and mercy (Matthew 21-35, Matthew 9:2-8, John 8:3-11, Luke 7:44-50, John 18:15-18, 25-27, 21:15-19, Luke 23:39-43) and his call to righteousness (based on many accounts in the gospels, most notably when he drove out cheaters and vendors from the temple). The gospel is treasure-filled with how as Kingdom-Citizens we should live our lives. The Beatitudes gives an excellent guide:

The Beatitudes

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Jesus himself made this call. Our saviour has given us instructions, truths and promises of reward for us to be ‘responsible citizens of the Kingdom of God’. Our Heavenly Father, no less, commanded us to listen to Jesus’ words: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)

So now that we have an idea and understanding about the way we should live our lives as Kingdom-Citizens, how then do we live our life in this ‘foreign world?’

We know ourselves as belonging to Christ’s kingdom and that in fact, our life on earth is but a life in a foreign place. But realistically, and physically, this world is where we live. Like a foreigner in another country, we are citizens from another ‘land’, but residents of this one. How then should we respond?

2 Corinthians 5:20 tells us: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

Indeed. We are Christ’s ambassadors, with the ultimate mission of reconciling the world to our Heavenly Father. This brings me to the other idea: our Christian diplomacy.

Our Christian diplomacy is exemplified by Christ as well. Just look how he, the Son of God, through whom all things were made, came to earth as humble law-abiding citizen! He paid church taxes (Matthew 17:24-27), got baptized himself (Matthew 3:13-16), and even subjected himself to corporal punishment to be a mediator for us to the Father. So as not to be an embarrassment of Christ, we follow the laws of the land we live in, since by our actions we represent Christ himself, while maintaining to obey the laws of our kingdom and fulfilling our mission of bringing people to God.

But of course, some may say that Christ is the exception rather than the rule. And indeed there were cases when Jesus went against tradition (but only to prove the point that it is not man’s tradition that matters but following the Word of God). Nonetheless Jesus gave specific instructions on how we are to act as his ambassadors on earth. Matthew 18:14 teaches us not to look down on others: “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven….your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” Jesus also mentions the important matters of the law- justice, mercy and faithfulness. And most importantly, Jesus called us to love one another (John 15:17).

Our Christian life involves the way we deal with God personally and the way we deal with others. For who can say he loves God but does not love his brother whom God loves? We are both Kingdom-citizens and Christ’s ambassadors. We live a life that is for God and by the way we live our lives we send a message to the world of His love.

On judgment day, the King himself will separate his good ambassadors, from the embarrassment. Matthew 25:31-46 when the Son of Man comes in glory he will judge every nation. So are we living our duty as citizens of the kingdom of God? By our actions, are we being good ambassadors of Jesus Christ? Let us strive to remember the duty that Christ has called us to, so that when the day comes that we face our Lord, we are confident that we have not been his embarrassment, but his faithful ambassadors to the world.