You’ve Been Cancelled

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

In the height of my addiction, as I ran out of avenues to get my pills, I turned to the power of my own pen to get them. When my drug diversion came to light, I became too toxic to be associated with. My employer allowed to resign, but that was just easier than firing me. For their own protection, I could no longer work for, or represent, the organization. I was a liability, and appropriately, I had to go. I needed to be cancelled.

Whether we like it or not, we represent the things and organizations to which we’re attached. People who don’t go to our gym or our church, will often form their opinion of those places based on interactions with us. When we join anything, we become ambassadors for that thing. Our behavior, good or bad, reflects on whatever it is we represent.

In today’s passage, Paul said that if we follow Christ, we’re his ambassadors here on Earth. We are his physical presence, and it is through us that he spreads the gospel to the world. If we truly believe God is the most important thing in our lives, then, like Paul, our lives should be transformed by God as we implore others to be reconciled to him.

In my addiction, I was a terrible ambassador for anything. Appropriately, no one wanted to be associated with me. In my recovery though, as I now share my story with others, I’ve put myself out there as someone who’s found transformation in my faith. My redemption story can and should inspire others who struggle with addiction. So, at the gym, when I’m frustrated and let out a string of expletives, I’m suddenly aware that eyes are on me. He calls himself a Christian and acts like that?

Whether we think it’s a good idea or not, as Christians, we’re all in this position. Being an ambassador of Christ isn’t optional. He doesn’t cancel us though, even when we deserve it. So, what kind of representatives are we? Do others look at us and think, I want what they have. Or, do they look at us and see only our pride, selfishness, politics, lust, anger, resentments, impatience, or judgementalism?

As Christians, we represent Christ. When others look at us, our lives are to be signs that point to him. Daily, we must seek to know God and to cause others to know him too. If we truly believe, this is our life purpose.