Ambassadors for Christ

Ambassadors for Christ

by Kim Larsen

2 Corinthians 5:20, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

Did you ever think about who is watching what you do, what you say, who you are? As I watch the Olympians competing against other countries I am aware of how they represent the United States. These young people are very proud of their country and when they stand during the awards ceremonies they feel the honor when the national anthem is played. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14-16 that we are the light of the world! Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father In Heaven.

A remarkable 35% of Americans born after 1980 (millennials) are not religious, compared with 11% of baby boomers and 7% of the generation born between 1928 and 1945. It’s not clear that millennials will become much more religious as they age either. Despite the cliche about people getting more religious as they get older. It hasn’t been happening recently. No generation has been more religious since 2007 according to the Pew data. Baby boomers and the Gen X have become slightly less religious over that time and millennials have become substantially less.

The religiously unaffiliated called “nones” are growing significantly. They’re the 3nd largest religious group in North America and most of Europe. In the US, nones make up almost a quarter of the population. In the past decade US nones have overtaken Catholics, mainline Protestants, and all followers of non- Christian faiths. There have long been predictions that religion would fade from relevancy as the world modernizes, but all the recent surveys are finding that it’s happening startlingly fast. What are we as “Christians” doing to reverse this tide?

We need to live true to our convictions. We need to be ambassadors for Christ. These young people can spot a fake from a distance. They are watching. Are you up for it? Our verse at the beginning says be reconciled to God. It’s time to put away our party hats and get down to business. Trust Jesus and take a stand for Him.