Get Your Pretense On!

Chapter 5: Represent Strong! • 115

We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (ESV). The Apostle Paul isn’t writing this letter to a seminary class of aspiring pastors before graduation. No, this letter is directed to all Christians, no matter their occupation – pastors, school teachers, personal trainers, garbage collectors, stock brokers, moms, police officers. Everyone. Everywhere. All the time . This should be a basic political review: the job of an ambassador is to represent someone or something. Everything he or she does and says must intentionally represent a leader who isn’t physically present. An ambassador isn’t limited by forty hours a week, to certain state events, or to times of international crisis. An ambassador is always on call, always representing the king. In other words, the work of an ambassador is incarnational. Their actions, character, and words embody the king who isn’t present. In the same way, the Apostle Paul teaches that God has called us all to function as His incarnational ambassadors. Everything we say and do has import because of the King we represent. This isn’t a part-time calling; it’s a lifestyle. We represent God’s purposes to the people He places in our lives. The primary question on our mind should be: “How can I best represent the King in this place, with this particular person?” 21 This statement accurately describes the calling and responsibility of those called to serve as ambassadors. They have been given the charge to “stand in the stead” of their absent Government and Ruler, to represent the Kingdom in the context of their words, conduct, and relationships. We are ambassadors for Christ, Paul exhorts, with him making his appeal through us. We are his agents called to represent his will, precisely in the situation where he has placed us.