Religion & Spirituality
When in Suva, Fiji, 2006, I went to the American Embassy. A coup was being threatened in the country, and I went to the embassy for advice concerning what I needed to do. An embassy can refer to both a permanent diplomatic mission and the building in which the mission is held. Embassies are an important part of foreign relations. They serve as an official contact point between the visiting and the host nation. An embassy will have an ambassador who acts as the home country’s representative on foreign soil. In some ways, the church – this congregation – is like an embassy. It is a heavenly embassy on foreign soil – this world. This principle is in the thoughts of Paul in our text, Philippians 1:27-30, one sentence in Greek N.T. It is concerned with the impact of Christians/the church in the world. Paul has shown in previous verses the ultimate victory in Christ (cf. 1:21-23). Now he stresses the faithfulness of the church in her mission.