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Eric Schnackenberg explores how Christians, as Christ’s ambassadors, can sometimes become obstacles that drive people away from God rather than drawing them near. He focuses on three personal areas of temptation where he has struggled to represent Christ well, using the analogy of an ambassador who must engage with the foreign land they are sent to rather than isolating themselves or misrepresenting their sender.
[00:00:29]The world needs Jesus, and as believers, we are Christ’s ambassadors, meaning God makes his appeal to others through us.[00:03:28]Eric identifies three specific areas where he can become an obstacle to others seeing Christ: 1) Me, Christ, and politics; 2) Me, Christ, and other people; and 3) Me, Christ, and my kids.[00:05:18]Me, Christ, and Politics: He admits to a temptation to engage in political debates to win arguments and feel self-righteous, which does not fulfill the goal of being a loving ambassador.[00:09:18]In these political debates, he realizes he accomplishes nothing for God’s kingdom and fails to follow commands like being kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving.[00:11:39]He observes that kindness can open doors for influence, even with those who hold different views, while an unguarded tongue can close hearts forever.[00:12:07]Our speech, including online interactions, should always be gracious and seasoned with salt.[00:13:47]Me, Christ, and Other People: A more recent temptation is to live an isolated life, retreating into comfort and avoiding the energy required to engage with others.[00:15:41]An ambassador cannot do their work if they stay in their embassy; we are called to be out interacting with and building up others.[00:17:28]We must not forsake gathering together, as we need the encouragement, guidance, and correction from other believers just as much as they need it from us.[00:18:04]Isolation can lead to a slow, aimless drifting of our faith without the check and balance of godly counsel.[00:19:01]Me, Christ, and My Kids: Parents have the greatest influence on their children and the primary responsibility for shaping their character and view of Christ.[00:21:11]There is a danger of becoming an obstacle to our children’s faith, especially if we neglect consistent, early training.[00:22:22]He interprets “train up a child in the way he should go” as applying to very young children (ages 1-3), with the fruit seen by the time they are older children (ages 10-11).[00:23:01]The early years of child training can be frustrating and tiring, leading to the temptation to neglect consistent correction.[00:25:22]If early training is neglected, parents may later try to force older children into compliance, which can lead to louder altercations, bitterness, and resentment.[00:27:34]This forced compliance is a hollow victory that can cause children to reject everything the parent teaches, including faith.[00:29:36]Fathers are warned not to embitter their children, which can happen if we neglect early training and then try to control them harshly later.[00:30:56]A transition needs to occur from a ruler relationship to one of mentorship, guidance, and example as children grow.[00:31:06]This transition sometimes requires fathers to surrender their own life goals for their children and avoid using them to serve personal plans.[00:34:30]No matter how parents performed, children have a duty to honor them, as it is a commandment without conditions.
Scripture References
- Matthew 28
- Matthew 5
- 2 Corinthians 5:20
- Ephesians 4:32
- Romans 2:10
- Colossians 4:6
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11
- Galatians 6
- Hebrews 10:24-25
- Proverbs 22:6
- Galatians 3:21
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