Ambassadors of Jesus Christ Based on Contributions From Jim Parlato All true Christians have an important role as representatives of the Kingdom of God. As official representatives we must remember how to properly carry out our duties.
S ome of us are fortunate enough to have a friendship that we have maintained for the majority of our lives. I have had such a friend for 56 years. Though we have different beliefs, we have managed to main- tain our friendship through mutual respect. My friend, now retired, had a long and successful career in the foreign service. Through our friend- ship, I have had the opportunity to visit countries I might never have gone to on my own. We have trav- eled to Belgium, Japan, Myanmar, and Russia. It was a real treat to tour the American embassies in each place and experience unique sights that a civilian would not normally have access to. Finding common ground involves knowing when to speak and when to remain silent. In 2001, I visited my friend and his family in Russia. In order to travel, I had to undergo considerable prepa- ration to meet the host country’s re- quirements. One major obstacle was securing a visa from the Russian
Embassy, which required my friend to officially sponsor me. There was a lot of paperwork, both from the Russian Embassy and the U.S. State Department. The paperwork I re- ceived from the U.S. State Depart- ment made it clear that while I was in Russia, I would be representing the United States. It also cautioned me to carefully follow Russian laws. WE ARE AMBASSADORS One document I completed had a detailed list of behaviors: “Don’t do this, don’t do that, don’t act like a fool in public” etc. My friend assisted me by highlighting, circling, and adding arrows to emphasize each behavior, making sure I understood the point. I thought it was very humorous. However, the key message was that I was representing my home country in a foreign land, and my behavior mattered. I reflect on that experience because it reminds me that as a Christian, I, too, have a role in a Foreign Service. In fact, all of God’s people represent a foreign government—we hold the office of Ambassador. In II Corin- thians 5:20, it states: Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. The second half of that scripture is often overlooked: “God is pleading
through us.” This speaks directly to an ambassador’s responsibility. SELFLESS REPRESENTATION An important characteristic of am- bassadors is the ability to suppress personal opinions, always reflecting the official position of the govern- ment they represent. For baptized Christians, this means we must al- ways carefully consider what we say. The phrase “suppress personal opin- ions” refers to those natural, carnal thoughts that can suddenly pop into our heads. This can be challenging because, in moments of weakness, our mouths can run faster than our brains can filter. But being careful about what we say requires us to know the official government posi- tion—God’s Word. Any advice we give or stand we take on important life issues is empty unless it’s backed by the Word of God. Christ himself said: Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. (John 14:10) Jesus made it clear that He was not just giving His own opinions. True Christian ambassadors must be knowledgeable in the scriptures and always be ready to give an answer if
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