Ambassadors charged with interference with the internal affairs of the host country

Jesus said “my kingdom is not of this world.” Instead, Jesus has commissioned every Christian to be an ambassador of his heavenly kingdom, to serve as an official representative of the Lord Jesus Christ to the “foreign culture” found on this earth. An ambassador is a citizen of the sending country, not the host country. As ambassadors of Christ, our job is to take the message of the gospel to every person in the host country, not to change its laws or social structures.

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is an international treaty adopted on 18 April 1961 by the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities held in Vienna, Austria, from 2 March to 14 April. Article 41 of the Vienna Convention states that it is the job of an ambassador to “respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.”

When Jesus came into the world, people wanted Jesus to take over the earth and make it His kingdom and enforce His laws on the culture. But that was not his appointed mission, nor is it the Church’s appointed mission. Jesus did not seek to change one social structure, one civil or criminal system, or even organize to reach the poor and disenfranchised of the world. Since God made us ambassadors, we have no authority from God to change governments, social structures or laws, or to interfere in the internal political affairs of the receiving country of this world.

Let’s be faithful to maintain the priority of our appointed task as ambassadors who are citizens of heaven, not earth.

John 18:36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

18:37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.