Preparing to Fulfill Our Call as Ambassadors for Christ

An ambassador is “the highest-ranking person who represents his or her own government while living in another country.” As Christians, we are ambassadors for Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:20). We represent the government of Heaven. How does one prepare for such a high call? Here are some common questions and answers to help develop our role as ambassadors for Christ.

I know God wants me to share my faith, but I feel that if I don’t, God doesn’t love me and that I cannot maintain a relationship with Him. If we are saved by faith and not by works, why can’t I have that relationship with God without witnessing?

This is an honest question. Here is the problem. We know that we are saved because the fruit of God’s Spirit begins manifesting through us. God is love, therefore we should be filled with love, if we have been truly saved (see Romans 5:5). Think of this scenario. You are in Africa. A child is lying on the ground in front of you starving to death. You have food in your hand. You know God wants you to share the food with the dying child. So the question is, “Why can’t I have a good relationship with God, without sharing the food?” You have to answer that yourself.

“An ambassador is “the highest-ranking person who represents his or her own government while living in another country.” As Christians, we are ambassadors for Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:20). We represent the government of Heaven.”

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Why do Christians have so much fear and hardship proclaiming the truth, when the cults and other religions have no troubling proclaiming lies?

It’s important to remember that we fight a spiritual battle. Whenever we approach someone with the gospel, we battle the spirit of fear. However, those in cults and other religions are not wrestling against demonic forces. There is no battle for them. Instead of fighting against the enemy, they are fighting for him. But they also have another incentive. Their public agenda is to spread what they believe is the truth, but their motive is one of self-advancement. They don’t believe that they will enter the kingdom unless they add works to their faith, so that becomes a strong incentive and energizer. The Christian, however, has a nobler motive. We reach out to the lost because we love God and because we are deeply concerned (horrified) at the fate of the unsaved.

Thus far I’m alone in my efforts in biblical evangelism in my city. Other Christians say they appreciate what I’m doing by going out on the streets but think it’s because I have a “gift” for evangelism. They say it’s not their gift or calling so they’ll just stay in their comfort zone and pray for me. They hide behind Ephesians 4:11: “He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.”

Point out to them that some are called to be evangelists “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry.” All Christians (saints) are commanded to evangelize. We have a moral obligation to do so. How can any person who professes to love God have no concern that sinners are going to Hell? To encourage and equip other believers to step out of their comfort zones to reach the lost, you may want to invite some to study the “Way of the Master” Basic Training Course in your home or church. Pray that God would raise up laborers, and see what you can do to help.

Is it wise to send new converts out into the battlefield before they are grounded in the Word and apologetics?

It is the best thing you can do for them. The woman at the well didn’t go to a seminary before she testified of the Savior, and she brought a whole village to Him. After finding Christ, Andrew immediately told Simon Peter. The first thing Philip did was find Nathanael and immediately tell him about the Savior (see John chapter 1). If new converts came to Christ under the sound of the Law, they know enough to go and do likewise with the lost. They will make mistakes. They may get bruised. But that is how we learned to walk in this life, and the same is true spiritually.

Adapted From The Blue Book on Evangelism