Ambassadors for the King 

One of the main characteristics of being a citizen of a country is that it means you are not a citizen of any other country (with a few exceptions). Jesus said: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24a). If we are truly living as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, we cannot be a citizen of “this world” (speaking in a spiritual sense). This makes us foreigners in the kingdom of the world. However, God calls us to be so much more than foreigners with a lifetime green card – He calls us to be ambassadors.

The Definition of an Ambassador
By definition, an ambassador is “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country”. An ambassador is not a visitor. He is not a tourist. He is not a person who was chosen at random and casually shipped overseas. An ambassador is someone who has been intentionally chosen to represent the country they are from.

The Biblical Foundation
The concept of being an ambassador for Christ is a recurring theme throughout the New Testament. Peter, Paul, and even Jesus teach us that we are not citizens of this world. Consider these verses:

John 18:36: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
John 15:19: “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
2 Corinthians 5:20a: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ…”
Philippians 3:20a: “But our citizenship is in heaven…”
1 Peter 2:11a: “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles…”

The Role of an Ambassador
So, what does it mean to be an ambassador? We know what an ambassador is and that we are taught to be ambassadors. How does this look in everyday life?

Ambassadors follow local laws – In Romans 13, Paul teaches us that to disobey the government is to disobey God.
Ambassadors interact with others – The main purpose of being an ambassador is to build and maintain relationships with people in the country they are visiting.

Ambassadors show interest in local culture – An ambassador is not necessarily expected to engage in every cultural practice of the country they are visiting, but they can be seen as cold and uncaring if they do not show any interest in the lives of those they are reaching out to. Jesus does not call us to live in our own bubble, separate from the world. In 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, Paul gives some very solid advice about interacting with people of the world.
Ambassadors stay informed with current events – Keeping up to date with current events is a key part of an ambassador’s job. If they do not stay in touch with what is going on in the country they are visiting, they can quickly lose out on important details that are essential to maintaining relationships with the people of that country.

Ambassadors pay taxes – While ambassadors are often exempt from local income taxes, they are usually still required to pay other taxes, such as sales tax. Jesus taught us in Matthew 22:15-22 that even though our allegiance is to God, we are still expected to pay taxes to the local government.

Ambassadors represent their own kingdom – Ambassadors are representatives of their home country and are expected to portray the best possible image of their country. They also show pride in their home country and are not ashamed to be different from those around them. In Romans 1:16a, Paul teaches us to do the same: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel…”

Things an Ambassador Does Not Do
While the role of an ambassador is to represent their home country, there are some things that ambassadors do not do.

Ambassadors do not vote – An ambassador cannot vote in the country they are staying in. They are, however, allowed to take part in elections in their home country. They are also allowed to voice their opinion in matters of state in the country they live in but are expected to do so in a way that maintains a respectful image of their home country.
Ambassadors do not serve in government positions – An ambassador is not allowed to serve in government positions in the country they visit.

Ambassadors do not serve in the military – An ambassador is not allowed to serve in the military of the country they are visiting. In most situations, doing so is actually an act of treason to their home country.

How Can I Be an Effective Ambassador?
Sometimes, the role of being an ambassador can seem like a really big challenge. It is important that we, as Christians, can effectively portray a positive and accurate image of Christianity. One of the best things you can do is study God’s word and apply it to your life. I could go into more detail about preparing yourself for the role of ambassador, but there is someone else who has created an excellent resource for people wanting to improve their skills in this area.

If you are interested, check out https://www.str.org/about/ambassadors-creed. This is an excellent resource for any Christian.