March 19, 2011

• Losers for Christ

  The life of an ambassador requires humility, since one is not representing oneself, but another Person or Country.  If people happen to secretly hate that Person or Country and habitually vent their dislike by disdaining you and giving you the cold shoulder, you just have to endure it.  That's part of the job.  If you get upset and try to defend yourself and prioritize gaining their respect over representing the Person or Country accurately, you will fail at being an ambassador.

  Those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ are called to a role of 'ambassador' to everyone we come in contact with.  Our job is to represent Him, to increase His good reputation, and to introduce others to Him.  As Paul wrote in 2 Corinithians 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."

  But this life is not easy.  It often does not lead to honor and popularity.  It sometimes leads to being despised and rejected by one's friends, neighbors, coworkers, and even fellow churchgoers.  As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:9-13,

  "For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
  We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.
  To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands;
  when we are reviled, we bless;
  when we are persecuted, we endure;
  when we are slandered, we try to conciliate;
  we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now."

  Common knowledge says that the only people who "try to conciliate" when they are slandered are people who are unimportant, boring, pathetic, losers.  "If you are worth something," says common knowledge, "then if someone shafts you, dish it right back to him/her.  Don't let people treat you disrespectfully.  Stand up for your rights."

  But those of us who are called to represent Jesus Christ cannot act that way.  We are seeking His approval, not our peers'.  There is zero allowance for self-pride and self-exaltation.  Our ultimate goal is to hear from Him on Judgment Day, "Well done, good and faithful servant!  Enter into the joy of your Master."

  When someone insults us or criticizes us, instead of becoming defensive, our gospel-steeped response should be "Actually, I'm far worse than you say... far worse than you can imagine... far worse than I am even currently aware... but God's grace is also far bigger than you or I can imagine."  In Tim Keller's words, "I am more sinful than I could dare to admit, but at the same time... loved and accepted than I could ever dare to dream..." through Jesus Christ.   "I am so bad he had to die for me, and I am so loved he was glad to die for me."

  "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
  "Therefore I have hope in Him."           Lamentations 3:24

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