What is an Ambassador?

Many years ago as a young curious 14 year old I went to Haringay Arena in North London to listen to this phenomenon from America named Billy Graham. This man was to shake the world. He was on a Crusade to convert the English to Christianity. Campaigns running 6 nights a week were going to take place and people were being bussed in from all points around the country. Tall, young, dynamic were some of the descripters. A huge entourage traveled with Mr. Graham, including his own platform group of supporters and a singing star named Bev Shea.

Well, Mr. Graham took the London area by storm and each evening thousands answered the altar call to come forward and accept Christ as their savior. “Tonight, let Jesus come into your heart”. They would be approached by a counselor who would help them through the process and then encourage them to not only return and bring a friend, but to return to the church of their choice on Sunday for worship and continuing association with fellow Christians. I went several times (it was easy living approximately a mile away as the crow flies). I even met Mr. Graham in one of the underground passages as he and a large group were walking in my direction. I stopped and politely asked for his autograph, which he kindly gave to me even though it was ‘against policy’---I wish I had that autograph book today. Despite his best efforts, I was not converted to the truth. I also have an acquaintance who told me that Billy Graham converted her three times before she came to understand ‘the truth’.

Recently ads have been on the internet advertising a book titled, Billy Graham, God’s Ambassador. Once again, my curiosity was peeked--what did this all mean in biblical terms?

Paul called himself and fellow ministers, ‘Ambassadors for Christ’, who were part of a work involved in reconciling humanity to God. This special position or title, Ambassador, fits with the modern understanding of the word where a representative of a sovereign or foreign country permanently resides in another state or country and represents his own sovereign or government to that country. Accepting this definition, correct by both dictionary and the bible, in what way do we see Billy Graham as an Ambassador. If it as a representative of God, Christ or the Kingdom of God then this begs a question.

What does that make the Pope? or the head of the Russian Orthodox Church?, or even the Greek Orthodox Church?, or the 12 apostles of the Mormon Church. If Billy Graham isn’t an apostle in this given sense of the word then in what way should we view him?

In my view or opinion he is just one of hundreds upon hundreds of ministers who in their own way claim to understand the bible and the see themselves as contributing to the work of reconciling humanity to God. Can any one of them be called exclusively, God’s Ambassador. I think not as there is such a divergence of views between ALL leaders of religious groups. Simply put, all can be wrong, but not all can be right, it is huge dichotomy of understanding or belief. From the major to the minor groups all thru the 2 billion Christians in the world there are vast gulfs in their approach to right and wrong.

I mean no negative aspersions to Mr. Graham’s name or reputation sincerity or character, but his message did not convert me. I know of no scandals or skeletons in the closet yet to be revealed, and I hint at none, either.

It didn’t work for me because when I actually studied the bible and early church history I found quite a different message from God’s ambassadors written back then. It wasn’t just turn from sin and give your heart to Jesus and then go to the church of your choice.

No, it was more profound than that, as it included obedience to what God says to do--and what the early church and it’s ambassadors (also its apostles) actually did.

If you want to know more on the road that truly leads to Eternal Life why not read about it in our free booklet, The Road to Eternal Life.

Jesus said “…in vain do they worship me teaching for doctrine the precepts of men.” A good question to ask oneself is where man’s precepts come from. Are they from the scriptures or from men? Download our free booklet, Is the Bible True? I promise you it will open your eyes and you may even become converted by the word of God and not by a man.

Paul Suckling