Christ’s Ambassador
2 Corinthians 5:20 AMP

Ambassador, Diplomat, Representative, Envoy. If, as an Emissary, I am to represent the country or government that sent me. Should I voice my own opinions or interpret the facts? Am I not to be a clear voice of the one who sent me? Am I wrong, then, to manipulate to achieve my own agenda or twist out comes? Should this be considered an abuse of my power? I’m going to pause there and create a little whitespace in a world that won’t allow it, I think it’s worth repeating the question. If I’m pushing my own agenda to those I was sent to minister to, am I abusing my authority? Does this also apply if I am preaching from the pulpit? Teaching or deciding policy for a public school? What about a politician persuading an audience for votes? If my view cannot be defined by the entire Bible, meaning I’ve taken a line of scripture out of context and warped it to back my own views, am I ABUSING my authority?

The love of Christ controls and compels us, that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for their sake. From now on we regard no one from a human point of view [according to worldly standards and values].

All these things are from God. He gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him], that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has given us the message of reconciliation. We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. 

You should read and understand this entire passage for yourself, because I’ve deliberately cut parts out of this, but to me the gist is that, if I am going to align myself with Jesus and use His name to refer to who I am, I need to be super aware of what that looks like. It becomes really important to understand what’s at stake here. The idea that the US could somehow be dissolved or morph into something none of us recognizes is to major on the minors in the context of forever and ever. This scripture seems to indicate that Paul’s only concern here is to plead with us on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. The sole purpose of this man’s life is to beg people to get right with God. Can I say the same thing?

Today, Let me lay down my petty American Hood or PTA issues and angelic pretense and focus on acting in a manor that speaks for itself. My words and my actions scream everything about me, good or bad. Today, may mine confirm that I adore Jesus and in that have a growing desire to love His children, whatever my official position.