Ambassadors for Christ

In Jesus' final teaching recorded in Matthew (chapter 28), called the Great Commission, Jesus said the following:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Now, I think this passage may have been done an injustice by labeling it the great commission. In actuality, it is the great Command. It is not optional, it is not voluntary. Romans 6 (and numerous other Bible passages) talk about we are to be slaves to Christ. Now a slave does not live for his agenda, but rather, for the agenda of his Master.

So Christ cleared wanted, demanded, us to teach people the Gospel, and Paul echoes that numerous times by calling us ambassadors to Christ.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20.

Peter says the same thing in 1 Peter 3:13-15:

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed and do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence

Now, gentleness and reverence are keys in this verse. We aren't going to win souls for Christ by being jerks. But we are called to make a defense to others and represent the Lord's cause, NOT OURS.

A US ambassador to another country represents the US. He does not speak on his own behalf and he does not represent his agenda. He is just the messenger. He doesn't change or alter the message; he just delivers it. We're called to do nothing less.

In this age where Satan has largely perpetrated the lies that all truth is relative and man is basically good and the church is not important, so many Christians are finding themselves at odds to deal with the many attacks of trying to make the Bible more politically correct. People say that if God is all loving and wants us to be happy, why not support homosexual marriages? After all, it's not the person's fault they are that way, right? Or, there are so many religions in the world, why be so condemning to say that more than 2/3rds of the world will die not knowing Christ and go to Hell? He isn't the only way, right? Not to mention all that talk about Hell. I mean really, how could a good God throw someone into Hell?? Things like modesty, women's (and men's) submission, God's authority... heck, all parts of the Bible are under attack.

But I've realized something. I don't have to apologize for the Bible. Even if I don't understand it, if God says it, that's good enough for me. Why else are we commanded to have faith? And the Bible is more than capable to stand up for itself, via science, history, creation, or any of the hundreds of ways that prove the truth of His word.

And if we truly claim to know God's character, than we should hate what he hates and love what he loves. And we're just ambassadors; the message is NOT ours to amend in any way. The Bible is EXACTLY the way He wants it.

I know I've at times shied away from evangelism because I didn't want to come across as sounding superior and saying that others were wrong. But listen to what D.A. Carson wrote in his book, Becomming Conversant with the Emerging Church:

Evangelism, understood to be proselytization, is often viewed in the broad culture as intrinsically obnoxious, because no matter how gently it is done, it cannot avoid giving the impression that Christians think that have something superior. Otherwise, what would be the point of trying to win others to their camp?

We do have something superior, but not by anything of us, but by God. The book of Hebrews methodically outlines the superiority of Christianity over Judaism, but it's superior to all other religions too. And if God says something, and someone tells me different, they are wrong. And if we never tell people that there is a right and there is a wrong and Jesus is the only right and truth and way to Heaven, then they will never feel obligated to know Him as their Lord and Savior. Now, that's a tragedy.

So stop apologizing for what God has said. Stop worrying about how it will come across. But carry the message (and I'm saying this to myself too) and tell what God told. And remember, the Gospel does mean the "good news." And praise Jesus, it is!!