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| Does what you wear and say and do represent Christ or a false god? |
"So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinth 5:20
What exactly does it mean to be an ambassador of Christ? How are we to represent him?
When I served as a chaplain at a juvenile correction facility, I often asked the young men, who professed to be Christian, if they were going to continue to represent their old gangs or if they would represent Jesus. I recall a story one young man shared about how he had become involved in a gang fight outside of a church. He and his friend had worn their colors to worship as did a couple of rival gang members and a fight ensured. Imagine that! They all belonged to the same congregation. After he told the story, and having heard it spoken aloud by himself, he realized what he had done. He had put his gang affiliation before God and before the family of God. He had been practicing idolatry in a house of worship. He had been blatantly representing his gang rather than Jesus in the church of Jesus Christ.
When I served as a chaplain at a juvenile correction facility, I often asked the young men, who professed to be Christian, if they were going to continue to represent their old gangs or if they would represent Jesus. I recall a story one young man shared about how he had become involved in a gang fight outside of a church. He and his friend had worn their colors to worship as did a couple of rival gang members and a fight ensured. Imagine that! They all belonged to the same congregation. After he told the story, and having heard it spoken aloud by himself, he realized what he had done. He had put his gang affiliation before God and before the family of God. He had been practicing idolatry in a house of worship. He had been blatantly representing his gang rather than Jesus in the church of Jesus Christ.
Most of us are a little more cautious about our conduct inside of a church building. We want to look and act like representatives of Christ within the context of a congregation. But, what about outside the church building? The Church is; after all, not a building. Who or what are we ambassadors for when we go out into the world?
May God help us to be more aware of our call to be ambassadors of Christ, proclaiming the Good News of his Kingdom for all who would believe in him.
God's Peace - Pr. J
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