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.

Will the Church Transform the World? — UHD 14:6

Jesus suggests a negative answer.  “Narrow is the way, and few there be who find it” (Matt. 7:13-14). According to Jesus, “narrow is the way.” Most people will reject the Truth, and Jesus Christ is the Truth. They will also reject His Body, the Church (John 15:19). For that reason, the Church will never bring in the kingdom or transform the whole world. Jesus Christ will do that himself when He returns.

When Jesus said “narrow is the way,” He knew that He is the only way to heaven (Acts 4:12) and to the presence of the Father (John 14:6 processor of this UHD blog). This is the nature of truth. Truth is very narrow. For example, to reach this blog you entered the true address that led you to this blog. If you deviate, differ, swerve away, add to, change, or say that the truth of the address of this blog doesn’t matter is to miss everything in the blog. If you deviate, differ, swerve away, add to, change, or say that the truth of Jesus as the only way doesn’t matter, it will lead only to destruction (Matt.7:13).

Any so-called church or Christian who leaves out Jesus Christ is missing everything. God did not give us many roads to heaven and His presence. He gave us one way. Jesus is not one option among many. He is not one of the electives that might be chosen along with other viable choices. Jesus Christ is the narrow way because He is the truth, and Jesus said that few will find this narrow way. The impact of this minority on a world stage that rejected Jesus Christ might not be very great.

What does this mean for the ultimate effectiveness of the Church to change the world or to bring social, structural change? The minority Church should not assume that it will be able to transform the whole world, nor should that structural approach toward evil consume the majority of any local church’s mission, goals, or time. The Church’s mission is to reach people with the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ as the only way, and leave the results to God. Only when people are transformed from the inside out will the change be lasting and effective.

No Tolerance for Intolerant Inspectors — UHD 14:6

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to find a flaw in this thing.”

“A flaw?  Who cares?  This structure serves a greater purpose.  You are too picky.  Nothing is perfect. You need to loosen up and be more tolerant of flaws.”

 

So they left the primary support for the huge bridge like it was.  Traffic was heavy on the bridge because it worked.   After all, this bridge was doing something useful and helpful, such as connecting people.

 

This kind of thinking that produces sloppy inspection of a physical bridge that puts lives in physical danger would not be tolerated.

 

How much more should we be careful of the ways we carry the precious cargo of the gospel to reach out and connect with people’s souls and eternal destinies?

Careful inspection of a personal bridge that might put souls in eternal danger should not only be tolerated, but encouraged.

 

Gal. 1:6-9;  Acts 20:29-31; 1 Cor. 6:13; 1 Pet. 5:8

The Emerging Asceticism — UHD 14:6

Why, as if we are living in an earth-bound world, do we submit to decrees such as “Creation care, ending poverty, and health care?”  All of these are destined to perish with use. 

God says, “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, ²¹ “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” ²² (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)– in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? ²³ These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence”  (Col. 2:20-23).

 

 

The Gospel According to Jeans ‘R Us — UHD 14:6

“Nobody’s listening. They’ve lost touch with reality.”

“They don’t even care about God’s creation, they disengage from culture, they talk as if they know it all, and they run over people with their hierarchal attitudes. They don’t even agree among themselves to the point where there’s no unity.”

 

“They think it’s enough to tell people how Jesus died on the cross, rose again from the dead, and how He will forgive their sin. I mean, is that all? C’mon, we see the gospel as being about conforming this world to heaven in a holistic way.”

 

“Let’s plant a church that focuses on the whole message of Christ, and emphasize creation care and stewardship of the environment.”

 

Great idea. We’ll have unity in the church then too.”