What The World Needs Now Is Love Sweet...Ambassadors

I have begun this morning to study the changing nature of actively believing in God.  One of the great changings that will occur is how contemporary culture is interpreted and how we choose to live in relationship with that culture.  Some would encourage us to live in isolation and opposition toward the current culture.  I believe that it is God’s will that we live beside and in concert with popular culture.  One of the greatest fears I see in young Christians today, often taught by their parents, is the fear of our current culture resulting in hiding from and rejecting it.  Nothing is more foreign from Scripture or more damaging to culture than for believers, especially young passionate ones, to refuse to play an active role in culture.  It helps if we distinguish culture from people, culture is current trends in what life means, but it is people that are important to God.  There is nothing more important in this world than for Christians to just show up, to be there alongside, with and participating in the lives of the humans of this world because it is in this “alongside” that we have the biggest impact on culture.  As we participate in the lives (not culture) of those around us we give them an alternative example of what living is and how a transformed life responds to all the current cultural trends many of which are hurtful, destructive and should be avoided.  It is what the Bible teaches as “ambassadorship”.  An ambassador does not stay in the country they are from but are sent to another country to represent their country of origin.  However, one warning is in order.  If you are not actively and daily involved in a personal relationship with Christ, by this I mean time spent alone with Him, just you and Him, it is probable that you are not ready to be an ambassador and shouldn’t be foolish enough to try.