FAQ’s

Q: What’s up Keni?

You call yourself an ‘Ambassador for Christ‘. Aren’t we (Christians) all ambassadors for Christ?

• Not according to the Bible. Keep reading.

Q: What is an ambassador?

• Jesus often used natural concepts to illustrate spiritual realities.
• I once asked an audience how many of them were United States citizens. Everyone in the auditorium raised their hands. I then asked, “How many of you are ambassadors for the U.S.. No hands went up.
• Next, I then asked them, “How many in this room are Christians?” All hands went up.
• Finally, “How many of you Christians are ambassadors for Christ?” Once again, all hands went up.
• To begin our study of ‘ambassador’, lets look at the new testament Greek definition – ‘presbeuo’: Denotes (a) to be an elder. ‘There is a suggestion that to be an ambassador for Christ involves the experience suggested by the word ‘elder’ (W.E. Vines Expository of New Testament Words).

Q: If an ambassador is an elder, how old does one have to be to qualify?

• Referring back to natural things, according to the U.S. State Department, an ambassador to its nation must be at least 20 years old. However, there is no age restriction listed in the Bible to be an ambassador for Christ. I believe ‘elder’ is a qualification met by spiritual maturity, not natural age. For example, if a 29-year-old Christian studies the scriptures and conducts themselves accordingly and as a mature adult, while a 60-year-old ‘Christian’ has lived no differently than a sinner, the younger is the elder in regards to spiritual experience.

Q: What does an ambassador for Christ do?

• Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20
• An ambassador pleads with and implores people to be reconciled to God. In other words, they earnestly work to get people saved.
• Now I have a question for you; ‘Do all Christians work earnestly to lead others to the saving grace of Christ Jesus?’

Q: Can an ambassador disagree with the Bible?

• It can be said that an ambassador does not have a thought of their own. It’s not that ambassadors are mindless idiots. When an ambassador speaks, they speak on behalf of their governing authority, keeping their opinions to themselves.
• Consider an ambassador for any earthly nation. Can they act and speak on behalf of their leader while contradicting the character and commands of that leader. No!
• God will not send an ambassador out to represent Him if their behavior and words violate His character and commands.
• Jesus did not speak on His own authority: For I have not spoken on My own authority; the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. John 12:49
• The Holy Spirit did not speak on His own authority: He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. John 16:13,14
• An ambassador for Christ must speak what the Holy Spirit teaches: These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:13. ‘These things’ will always agree with the Bible. Here are some scriptures that are very relevant and applicable today:
  • When does life begin? Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Jeremiah 1:5
  • Is the gay lifestyle acceptable to God? For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. Romans 1:26-27

God loves the sinner: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Q: Any other qualifications?

• One of the parting instructions after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father was to preach repentance and remission of sins to all nations. But first, He said that they should be filled with power. Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. Luke 24:46-49
• But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8
• And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4
• An ambassador for Christ must be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Q: An ambassador for Christ sounds like an evangelist. What’s the difference?

• The office of the evangelist is a ‘calling’ from God, and only ‘some’ will serve as an evangelist:
• He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, Ephesians 4:11
• Ambassadors are appointed and sent by the Lord:
• After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Luke 10:1,2
• Any follower of Christ can be an ambassador for Christ. Just like any earthly ambassador for a nation, certain qualifications must be met.

Q: What about missionaries. Are they the same as ambassadors for Christ?

• My personal observations:
• I believe many missionaries are actually ambassadors for Christ sent by the Lord. However, I also believe some people on the mission field are dedicated, concerned Christians who went, but were not sent. While I applaud their passion to serve God, I believe we should adhere to the scriptures by designation and deployment regarding the Great Commission. While we’re not all called, we, the body of Christ can all be sent. ‘Go‘ Matthew 28:18-20
• Be an ambassador for Christ with all God’s power and might.

Ultimately, it’s not what we call ourselves that’s important, it’s what we do to fulfill the plan God has for each one of us to build His Kingdom.