We begin with a very relevant question: Who is an ambassador? This is "...an accredited diplomat sent by a state as its permanent representative in a foreign country." (Online dictionary). Wikipedia, another online source, defines the ambassador as: "...an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government..." Additionally, an ambassador may be an advocate for a brand, or a goodwill messenger (especially when charged with some specific role, for example, mediating peace between warring parties - remember the late UN Secretary-General, Koffi Annan, during Kenya's 2008 post-election crisis?
The operative words in the above loose definitions are: ACCREDITATION and REPRESENTATION. The ambassador must have the full authority of his head of state back home, for him to be able to discharge his role in the foreign country to which he has been sent. In fact, the ambassador represents the country, so that, like a head of state is addressed as: "...His Excellency Mr so-and-so..." His official vehicle is adorned with a pennant with his country's national colours and has special plates. Similarly, both the embassy and the ambassador's official residence are regarded as his home country's territories.
Whatever the ambassador says or does in the foreign land where he serves is therefore always carefully weighed and treated with much gravity - it is his country speaking! He is the voice of the president, king, or prime minister of the home country. His country's interests come ahead of all else. He is always rooting for the best advantage for his country in such fields as trade, mining concessions, infrastructural contracts, educational opportunities, cultural influence, peace treaties etc. He aims to secure maximum benefits for his country while ceding or losing as little as possible to the competition (if any). Countries, therefore, seek to send their very best - brilliant, focussed, well-educated, charismatic, articulate, well-cultured personalities to discharge these sensitive roles. Additionally, envoys are people whose integrity and loyalty to the home government must be beyond question. Even if what the diplomat must say is not congruent with the position of the host country on the matter at hand, he must make known his country's position in such honeyed, tactful, diplomatic tones as to minimize any possible friction between the two countries. This is because a careless statement might undo much-existing good between countries. Weighty, grave, sobering responsibilities indeed!
Such, and perhaps more so, is the role of Messianic believers as Yahshua's ambassadors. Says the apostle Paul: "...now then, we are ambassadors for Christ (Maschiakh in Hebrew), as though God were pleading through us: we implore you, on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God..." (2Corinthians 5:20, NKJV, brackets mine). Are we accredited? Yes! Paul says we are "...APPROVED by God to be ENTRUSTED with the gospel..." (1Thessalonians 2:4, NIV, full caps mine).
The gospel message is literally the Good News about the soon-coming Kingdom of God (cf Matthew 4:17). Like Yahshua before us, this is the message we are to take to the world: "...but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8, NIV). In other words, the born-again, Spirit-filled Messianic is a divinely appointed ambassador sent into the world to tell people the wonderful news about God's Kingdom and his message of salvation. His is a very special role, as Isaiah of old observed: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news..." (Isaiah 52:7, NIV).
It is a Kingdom unlike any other. It is an everlasting theocracy. Its territory encompasses the entire world! According to Daniel: "...then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him." (Daniel 7:27, NIV. Also Revelation 11:15, Habakkuk 2:14 etc). It is a Kingdom that has no end and no other kingdom will ever replace it!
As such, its representatives must radiate/beam this important difference to the world! In speech, in dress, in diet, in comportment, in lifestyle, in zeal etc. Charged Yahshua: "...be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect..." (Matthew 5:48). And; "... you must be blameless before the LORD your God." (Deuteronomy 18:13). Just as the earthly envoy is usually impeccably attired and carries himself with sobriety while in the foreign country, so must we, as ambassadors of Elohim. We must always: "... APPROVE of the things that are MORE EXCELLENT..." (Romans 2:18).
We should always remember that we are called to be; "...the light of the world..." (Matthew 5:14). Our actions/lifestyle and how we relate or interact with unbelievers should always reflect the high calling to which Yahshua has summoned us. The people of the world ought to be able to "see God" through us. "Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Messiah and GAVE US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION..."
(2Corinthians 5:17-18, NIV, emphasis added). We are peace ambassadors reconciling the world to God. We should not engage in godless chatter, but rather, our conversation should be seasoned with salt. We are, after all, the "...salt of the earth..." (Matthew 5:13).
On issues of apparel, Messiah's ambassadors need to stick strictly to the biblical dress code. This is because the way one is dressed says a lot about him. In Proverbs 7:10, we read: "...Then out came a woman to meet him, DRESSED LIKE A PROSTITUTE..." So, the manner of dress can abundantly speak about a person's profession. And we do not want to send the wrong message to the people we have been sent to! So what is the dress code for our Messianic ambassador? In Deuteronomy 22:5, we learn that a woman should not be attired in men's clothing and vice versa. They (women) should also be dressed: "...modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold, or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God..." (2Timothy 2:9 - 10). See also 1Peter 3:3-4, Isaiah 3:18 - 23). The men, in their part, must not be sloppy and untidy, but should always seek to be presentable, as is appropriate for high-ranking diplomats! (cf Genesis 41:14; 2 Samuel 19:24, 21:13 - 15 etc).
On issues to do with food, the Messianic ambassador should avoid gluttony, drunkenness and smoking (cf Deuteronomy 21:20, Philippians 3:19, Proverbs 23:21). Besides, he should maintain the dietary code given in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 on clean and unclean meats. His example on this important matter will be good teaching to those he interacts with, as he zealously advocates for the Kingdom of Elohim. Remember, "...we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses..." (Hebrews 12:1).
As goodwill envoys advancing the "Messianic Brand", we have a long-standing obligation to portray Yahshua in the best possible light at all times. Our minds should be constantly renewed in the image of our Maker (Romans 12:2). This is through regular, diligent study of Elohim's word, fellowship, and prayer. We should strive to avoid sin "...that so easily entangles..." (Hebrews 12:1). We should also not be "...conformed to the pattern of this world..." (Romans 12:2). Only then, can we be able to "test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will..." (Romans 12:2, last part).
Yahshua's ambassador should represent the Master with diplomacy and tact among unbelievers. We are called to be fishermen (cf Matthew 4:19), and no sane angler roils the waters he intends to fish in. The fish will obviously flee in alarm! No, he quietly introduces his baited hook into the river and patiently awaits for the fish to bite. He remains fully alert, ready to reel in the catch, the moment something moves his line. Thus, even when disagreeing with our listeners, the divergence need not be acrimonious for: "...the LORD's servant must not quarrel (2Timothy 2:24). We do not want to win the battle and lose the war, so it is always better to peaceably disagree with someone, but maintain an open door for further engagement in future.
Allow me to conclude with the words of the apostle Paul: "...
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8-9, KJV). Shalom all ye Messianic Excellencies! Blessings.
Pst JK Changandu
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