Some of my friends were considering taking the Foreign Service Exam when they completed their studies in America and returned to Taiwan. Asked why they’re interested in being representatives to other countries, they all replied, “English proficiency is required for this type of job and our English is good enough to be qualified to serve for our country. Though language proficiency is a good indicator of being a representative or an ambassador, yet other factors should be taken into account such as communication and negotiation skills. A successful diplomat must have no personal agenda and stand for his/her country.

As Paul writes the letter to his fellow Christians at the Corinthian church, he claims he and his Christian workers ware Christ’s ambassadors and therefore speak for Christ. The message of Christ is the message of reconciliation of sin, to reconcile the world to Jesus Christ. He has no personal message or agenda except Christ through whom we are all put right with God. An ambassador is a citizen asked and sent out officially by his/her own country to live in another country in order to legally represent it. When Paul refers to the followers of Christ as ambassadors, it is apparent that they (Christians) are asked and sent by their own country to live in this world to represent it. What is Paul’s nationality? What is his citizenship? He used to be a Jew and a Roman, but as he came to Christ, he has become a citizen of the kingdom of Christ. He didn’t represent his old nation, Israel; instead, he represents the kingdom of Christ and defends the message of Christ.

As Christians, do we hold the same view as Paul did? Whenever we claim to be ambassadors of Christ, do we consider we are from another nation, the nation of God, but not from this world and do we represent the kingdom of Christ but not our earthly kingdom? As ambassador we belong to no one even ourselves but Christ alone. As ambassadors we spread the message of Christ and reconcile this world to the kingdom of Christ.