We are called to be ambassadors for
Christ.
I recently had the opportunity to
attend a ceremony honouring the relationship between Canada and
China. China has loaned two giant pandas to Canada for 10 years.
The Prime Minister of Canada spoke nice words about China. The
Chinese ambassador to Canada spoke nice words about Canada. It gave
me a brief picture of the role of an ambassador. Their role is to
ease relations between their country and another.
“At the embassy of a foreign country, there usually exists at least
one person who is titled as an ambassador, and stands as
representative of his or her country. Should problems or concerns
arise between the two countries, the ambassador acts on behalf of his
or her government, and meets with heads of state to try to resolve
problems or make clear his or her country's stance on a particular
issue.”
China and Canada have a lot of very
different views on how to run their government, on the rights of
their people, on freedom, etc.The ambassador tries to resolve problems, not cause them. If the ambassadors tried to force
their views on the people or leaders of the other country, they would
be cause strife between the nations. They would have failed in their
role as ambassador and would be quickly removed from their post.
We are called to be ambassadors for
Christ. Most Christians know that phrase, but many have no clue what
it means. Two women from my small group recently shared about the
damage caused by other “Christians” who did not understand their
role as ambassadors for Christ.
In one situation, my friend was
shopping with two of her non-believing relatives. They were having a
wonderful time and in one store found all sorts of treasures they
were going to buy. Then the store's owner or manager found out that
two of them were not Christians and she went after them so
aggressively that they fled the store and left the many treasures
behind.
In another situation, a friend is the
only believer in her family. Members of her family own a franchise
and these non-believers choose to open on all holidays. She has
spent years gently loving her family and trying to let them know that
this is not best. One day shortly before Easter, a woman game in the
store and saw the sign that the store would be open on Good Friday
and Easter. She started blasting the person behind the counter (my
friend's son). She told him that she was so disgusted that they would
dare to be open on such an important holiday. She told him he should
be ashamed. After further brutal attack she finished with the
declaration that she would never again enter that store.
These two women thought they were doing
what they were supposed to – forcing their convictions onto others.
Their actions undid years of loving witness by my friends. What
does it really mean to be an ambassador for Christ? Let's see what
the Apostle Paul had to say when he first used that term in
Scripture.
Since,
then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade
others.... For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced
that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all,
that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him
who died for them and was raised again.
So from now
on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once
regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone
is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is
here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through
Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was
reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s
sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of
reconciliation. 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. (1Co 5:11a,14-20)
These women seemed to understand the
beginning of verse 11 – they were trying to “persuade others.”
Unfortunately, they missed the rest of the passage! Our desire to
persuade others must come from a deep understanding of Christ's LOVE.
We are no longer to live for ourselves, but for Jesus who is love
incarnate. (1Jn 4:8)
“So
from now on we regard no one with a worldly point of view.”
The world is full of judgment and condemnation. We must get
rid of that judgment and condemnation as we try to persuade others.
Why? Because we have been given a ministry and message of
reconciliation, not a ministry of condemnation!
Maybe we need to understand what
“reconciliation” means. From http://www.thefreedictionary.com
“reconcile: 1) To reestablish a close relationship between.”
So our ministry is to reestablish a
close relationship between Jesus and the lost people around us. If
we approach someone with judgment in the name of Jesus, do you really
think that person will want a close relationship with Jesus? When I
was younger, I certainly didn't want anything to do with Jesus or God
when ambassadors for Christ judged me and condemned me –
especially when it was for harmless actions.
So what will motivate people to want
to come back to God? Clearly judgment is not the answer. Absolutely
people need to deal with sin, but more people repent in response to
love and grace than in response to judgment. Paul declares in the
passage above that, “God
was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s
sins against them.” It
doesn't say that God was reconciling the world to himself by pointing
out all their sins. It doesn't say that God was reconciling the
world to Himself by forcing people to accept Him. How was God
reconciling the world to Himself? By NOT COUNTING people's sins
against them!
Is
this how we share Jesus? This is a message of GRACE, not a message
of judgment It is with this understanding that Paul then gives us
the commission that we are to be Christ's ambassadors. We are to
ease relations between Jesus and the lost. We are to share the
message of grace. We received grace, and it is this grace we are to
proclaim to others!
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. Yes,
we are to implore people to be restored to a close relationship with
God. I want people to get to know the God of Grace who has set me
free! I want people to change their lives because there is a God who
loves them so much He died on a cross to take the punishment for
their sins. I want people to know that God loves them in spite of
their sins and their brokenness. Too often the message Christians
give to the lost is that they are not good enough for God. That god
is not Jesus Christ – the One who died and rose again to give us
New Life and a Living Hope!
Father,
Thank you so much for Your incredible love and grace. We do not
deserve anything that You give us. Yet, You desire an intimate
relationship with us. You sent Your Son to die in our place so that
we could enter Your holy presence. That love and grace is truly
beyond my comprehension! Please Lord, help us to be grace-filled and
loving Ambassadors for Christ. May people be drawn to You by our
actions and our words. Forgive us when we speak with judgment and
condemnation. Teach us to love others as You love us.
