Articles from Rev. Ed Adcock,
President, CAMMA Executive Council
ARM Director of Discipleship and Music Ministries
"Worship On the Front Lines"
“Worship comes before service, and the King before the King’s business.” – John Blanchard
Ambassadors for Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:10-21
Years ago I had a band that performed during a party hosted by the Ambassador of the United
States to Mombasa Kenya while we were in Africa. There in Mombasa, foreign dignitaries and
high-ranking foreign officials were enjoying the grace and hospitality of the United States of
America; thereby providing a foundation for negotiations of peace, commerce and other
beneficial relations between the two nations.
Later, the Ambassador very kindly thanked us for providing the music and also for our
participation in maintaining a valuable representation of American good will towards the nation
of Kenya. It would be many years later before I would more completely understand the
significance of what it means to be an ambassador.
Technically speaking, an ambassador is a diplomat of the highest rank. He is appointed and
accredited by his government, and invested with full powers to represent his nation’s interests
while residing in a foreign country. His full title is "Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary."
Characteristically he is sensitive, experienced and tactful in dealing with people. He is also
skillful and adept in dangerous or difficult circumstances.
2nd Corinthians 5:20 tells us that “we are ambassadors for Christ”. These are very heavy words.
They place a very serious obligation on us who call ourselves “Christian”. If we are honest
followers of Jesus Christ and confess Him as our Lord, then we should behave like His
ambassadors. But how can we do this?
States to Mombasa Kenya while we were in Africa. There in Mombasa, foreign dignitaries and
high-ranking foreign officials were enjoying the grace and hospitality of the United States of
America; thereby providing a foundation for negotiations of peace, commerce and other
beneficial relations between the two nations.
Later, the Ambassador very kindly thanked us for providing the music and also for our
participation in maintaining a valuable representation of American good will towards the nation
of Kenya. It would be many years later before I would more completely understand the
significance of what it means to be an ambassador.
Technically speaking, an ambassador is a diplomat of the highest rank. He is appointed and
accredited by his government, and invested with full powers to represent his nation’s interests
while residing in a foreign country. His full title is "Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary."
Characteristically he is sensitive, experienced and tactful in dealing with people. He is also
skillful and adept in dangerous or difficult circumstances.
2nd Corinthians 5:20 tells us that “we are ambassadors for Christ”. These are very heavy words.
They place a very serious obligation on us who call ourselves “Christian”. If we are honest
followers of Jesus Christ and confess Him as our Lord, then we should behave like His
ambassadors. But how can we do this?
1. Always remember that ambassadors represent their government’s interests while residing in a
foreign nation. Meaning that we should be “in the world” but not “of the world”. We are to
represent God’s kingdom and His interests in every venue of this “foreign nation” that we are
currently residing in. The areas of family, science, education, law and government,
philosophy, music and the arts, commerce and finance, medicine, agriculture and yes, even
media and entertainment are arenas in which God has vested interests and opinions, and we
are to faithfully represent Him and His Kingdom in them.
2. Always remember that ambassadors communicate the will of their government. On different
issues and policies an American ambassador can be thought of as saying…”Thus sayeth the
United States of America…” where as a Christian, the Ambassador for Christ is actually
saying…”Thus sayeth the Lord God Most High…” in his every day lifestyle. An
Ambassador's words and deeds are declarations of his position, and are witnessed by all
around him. It would be good for us to remember that Jesus did and said only the things that
the Father authorized Him to say or do. “I can do nothing of Myself. As I hear, I judge; and
My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who
sent Me.” John 5:30. Therefore we have a serious responsibility of studying the scriptures
and living out the Word of God, as well as communicating the Will of God. It is true when
foreign nation. Meaning that we should be “in the world” but not “of the world”. We are to
represent God’s kingdom and His interests in every venue of this “foreign nation” that we are
currently residing in. The areas of family, science, education, law and government,
philosophy, music and the arts, commerce and finance, medicine, agriculture and yes, even
media and entertainment are arenas in which God has vested interests and opinions, and we
are to faithfully represent Him and His Kingdom in them.
2. Always remember that ambassadors communicate the will of their government. On different
issues and policies an American ambassador can be thought of as saying…”Thus sayeth the
United States of America…” where as a Christian, the Ambassador for Christ is actually
saying…”Thus sayeth the Lord God Most High…” in his every day lifestyle. An
Ambassador's words and deeds are declarations of his position, and are witnessed by all
around him. It would be good for us to remember that Jesus did and said only the things that
the Father authorized Him to say or do. “I can do nothing of Myself. As I hear, I judge; and
My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who
sent Me.” John 5:30. Therefore we have a serious responsibility of studying the scriptures
and living out the Word of God, as well as communicating the Will of God. It is true when
it is said that sometimes we are the only Bibles that people read.
3. Always remember that ambassadors have a specific mission. They establish relationships
between Kingdoms. We, as Christians, have a specific mission to communicate God’s
forgiveness of man’s sin, which reestablishes a lost relationship between man and God. 2
Corinthians 5:18 calls this “the Ministry of Reconciliation”. As a musician, I have to be
diligent, sensitive, experienced, and tactful in dealing with people. How can I play and sing
about “sex, drugs and rock n’ roll” Monday through Saturday; mimicking the policies and
interests of a foreign kingdom, then on Sunday honestly singing “Have Thine Own Way
Lord”? How can I tell my residential nation that I represent the interests of the Kingdom of
God, let alone tell them that God desires a new relationship with them, when I don’t do or
say anything better or different than they do?
Stay focused on your mission of reconciliation. "You can NOT serve two masters." For the
true follower of Christ, every thing you do or say must glorify God. There is no
secular/sacred split for the Christian because “the world is God’s and all that it contains.”
This also includes our families, jobs, our entertainment, and our finances, not just on Sunday,
but also Monday through Saturday.
There is a popular attitude among some Christian musicians that say, “I’m a musician who
just happens to be a Christian.”
I must confess that I used to be in that camp. I can confess to you that this type of attitude has
very serious implications. The very statement itself says that you place a higher priority upon
being a musician, upon your music and your instrument, than upon being a true worshiper of
God. Even though I never prayed to engraved statues, my own words about being "a
musician who just happens to be a Christian" confessed that I was involved in idolatry! The
fact is that you don’t just happen to be a Christian. Don’t cheapen the price that Jesus paid to
reconcile you to God. Unfortunately, a lot of Christian musicians try to mimic the world's
philosophy of music by using their skill to promote themselves and their careers instead of
"decreasing, so that Christ may increase." As a Christian, the musician should be an
Ambassador for Christ acting as a Minister of Music, entreating others to be reconciled to
God, whatever the style of music.
between Kingdoms. We, as Christians, have a specific mission to communicate God’s
forgiveness of man’s sin, which reestablishes a lost relationship between man and God. 2
Corinthians 5:18 calls this “the Ministry of Reconciliation”. As a musician, I have to be
diligent, sensitive, experienced, and tactful in dealing with people. How can I play and sing
about “sex, drugs and rock n’ roll” Monday through Saturday; mimicking the policies and
interests of a foreign kingdom, then on Sunday honestly singing “Have Thine Own Way
Lord”? How can I tell my residential nation that I represent the interests of the Kingdom of
God, let alone tell them that God desires a new relationship with them, when I don’t do or
say anything better or different than they do?
Stay focused on your mission of reconciliation. "You can NOT serve two masters." For the
true follower of Christ, every thing you do or say must glorify God. There is no
secular/sacred split for the Christian because “the world is God’s and all that it contains.”
This also includes our families, jobs, our entertainment, and our finances, not just on Sunday,
but also Monday through Saturday.
There is a popular attitude among some Christian musicians that say, “I’m a musician who
just happens to be a Christian.”
I must confess that I used to be in that camp. I can confess to you that this type of attitude has
very serious implications. The very statement itself says that you place a higher priority upon
being a musician, upon your music and your instrument, than upon being a true worshiper of
God. Even though I never prayed to engraved statues, my own words about being "a
musician who just happens to be a Christian" confessed that I was involved in idolatry! The
fact is that you don’t just happen to be a Christian. Don’t cheapen the price that Jesus paid to
reconcile you to God. Unfortunately, a lot of Christian musicians try to mimic the world's
philosophy of music by using their skill to promote themselves and their careers instead of
"decreasing, so that Christ may increase." As a Christian, the musician should be an
Ambassador for Christ acting as a Minister of Music, entreating others to be reconciled to
God, whatever the style of music.
4. Always remember that ambassadors must be skillful and adept in dangerous or difficult
circumstances. Even though they might not realize it, our residential kingdom is at war with
God. We, as Christians, face all kinds of hostilities because of Whom we represent (John
15:18-27). But we are commanded to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you,” and also “if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink,” also
“do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Remember as ambassadors for
Christ, we are “ministers of reconciliation”, not ministers of war.
circumstances. Even though they might not realize it, our residential kingdom is at war with
God. We, as Christians, face all kinds of hostilities because of Whom we represent (John
15:18-27). But we are commanded to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you,” and also “if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink,” also
“do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Remember as ambassadors for
Christ, we are “ministers of reconciliation”, not ministers of war.
5. Finally remember that an ambassador’s full title is Ambassador Extraordinary
Plenipotentiary. The word pleni = full, and the word potent = powerful. As Ambassadors
for Christ we have vested in us the power of the Most High God in the form of God the Holy
Spirit. “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the World.” We have been given the
accreditation, and have been filled with the power of God, to proclaim God’s forgiveness of
Man’s trespasses, through the death and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Full power
to withstand the enemy, even in the face of a hostile foreign nation, until His return.
Plenipotentiary. The word pleni = full, and the word potent = powerful. As Ambassadors
for Christ we have vested in us the power of the Most High God in the form of God the Holy
Spirit. “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the World.” We have been given the
accreditation, and have been filled with the power of God, to proclaim God’s forgiveness of
Man’s trespasses, through the death and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Full power
to withstand the enemy, even in the face of a hostile foreign nation, until His return.
Soli Deo Gloria