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Christianity 203 - A Diplomatic Interpretation of the Church
What if many of the questions Christians ask about the Church begin with the wrong assumptions?
When people hear the word church, they often think of a building, denomination, worship service, ministry program, or religious organization. While these things may play important roles, the language of Scripture consistently points beyond them to something larger.
The New Testament describes believers as a holy nation, citizens of heaven, ambassadors for Christ, and a people belonging to God. It presents the Church not merely as an organization, but as a Kingdom people living within the nations of the earth under the authority of King Jesus.
Viewed through this lens, the local gathering takes on a different significance. Believers begin to see themselves not merely as members of an organization, but as citizens of an eternal Kingdom living among the nations of the earth. The purpose of gathering becomes larger than attendance, and the Christian life becomes larger than participation in a religious routine.
This study presents the Church from the perspective of heavenly citizenship, where believers look beyond heaven as merely a future destination and embrace their present calling as citizens of Christ's Kingdom living and serving among the nations of the earth.
If the kingdom of heaven is already the believer's homeland, then our main focus cannot be limited to someday arriving there. Citizens have obligations. Representatives have assignments. Servants have duties. While we await the return of our King, we are called to faithfully represent His interests in the land where we presently reside.
This is the diplomatic perspective.
WHAT IS THE CHURCH? - A QUESTION OF IDENTITY
Few people understood the significance of Jesus' words about building His Kingdom better than Peter. When Jesus asked His disciples who they believed Him to be, Peter's answer became foundational to the ministry and message of the kingdom of heaven:
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter [Petros], and on this rock [petra] I will build my church [ekklesia], and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” — Matthew 16:16-18
Jesus' statement contained a play on words between Peter's name and the rock upon which the ekklesia would be built. Petros means rock or stone. Petra refers to a massive rock, bedrock, or foundation stone. Jesus identifies Peter not just as a stone, but one who would become a principal leader through whom the Gospel spread after Christ's resurrection.
Yet when Peter later described the foundation of God's people, he pointed not to himself, but to Christ (1 Peter 2:7; see also 1 Corinthians 3:11). The petra or solid foundation of the Kingdom is Jesus Christ—the Messiah whom Peter had confessed as LORD.
Peter himself later reflected on the nature of Christ's people in a remarkable way.
Rather than pointing believers to a building, Peter correctly pointed them to Christ. Rather than describing the people of God as stones used to construct an earthly structure, he described Christ as the Living Stone and believers as living stones being built into a spiritual house.
Peter writes:
“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” — 1 Peter 2:4-5
Without Christ, humanity remains like earthly stone and spiritually dead—like clay shaped by external forces yet unable to produce life on its own (Isaiah 64:8, Romans 9:21, Colossians 2:13). Through Christ, believers become living stones, transformed by the Spirit and built together into a spiritual house for God's purposes.
Peter uses the imagery of a building to describe something much greater than a physical structure—a living community of believers joined together by Christ. Christ is the Living Stone in whom all other living stones find their life, purpose, and place.
Each believer is a living stone, not merely observing God's work but actively participating in His purposes with Christ as the cornerstone (Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:19-22). Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, believers become individual dwelling places of God, yet together they are being built into a spiritual house—a holy temple and people belonging to God through whom His presence, truth, and Kingdom are made visible to influence the world around them.
Over time, the zeal and freshness of this new life in Christ can easily become routine and standardized as we seek to balance self-preservation and responsibilities in the real world along with devotion to Jesus and his teachings. The call to live in the world, but not of the world, can gradually become clouded by convenience, routine, and familiarity. When unbelievers encounter Christians, are they seeing the Living Stone reflected in their lives, or are they simply being directed to a place where He can be found?
Have believers traded their identity in Christ as living stones to point others to dead stones?
Is a geographic building or programs the way we were intended to point to Christ? My hope is that this study challenges us to reorient our hearts and minds back to the true meanings intended for the people of God through Jesus Christ.
Many believers today have grown accustomed to thinking of "church" primarily as a building, worship service, or denomination. We ask questions such as:
What church do you attend?
What denomination do you belong to?
While these questions are common, they can unintentionally shift our focus away from the biblical picture.
The English word "church" has traveled a long linguistic path from the language of the New Testament. Along that journey, the emphasis gradually shifted from the people who gather to the places and institutions where they gather.
The Greek Word: ekklesia
The New Testament was written primarily in Greek. The word translated "church" is:
ἐκκλησία (ekklesia)
This comes from breaking the word into its apparent components:
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ek (ἐκ) = out of, from
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kaleō (καλέω) = to call
Even so, by the first century it had become the ordinary Greek term for an assembly or gathering of people.
The word was not originally a uniquely Christian term. It was commonly used in Greek civic life to describe citizens of a city-state called together into an assembly to conduct public business. The emphasis was on the assembly, gathering, or called meeting of people, not on a building.
The Germanic Influence
As Christianity spread beyond the Greek-speaking world, different words emerged to describe Christian gatherings. One important stream came through Germanic languages.
The Greek word kyriakon, meaning "belonging to the Lord," began influencing how Christians referred to places associated with Christian worship and gathering.
Over time this developed through forms such as:
Old High German: kirihha
Old English: cirice
Scots: kirk
German: kirche
Eventually "kirche" was adopted into the English word "church". So interestingly enough, the original Greek New Testament word "ekklesia" is not what the word "church" is based on.
Thus, while ekklesia emphasized the assembly of people, church gradually became associated with things belonging to the Lord, especially the place where Christians gathered.
Peter's description does not stop with living stones and a spiritual house. He goes on to call believers "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God" (1 Peter 2:9). These descriptions move beyond buildings and institutions and speak directly to identity and belonging.
Most Christians readily recognize themselves as members of a church. Fewer stop to consider what it means to belong to a holy nation whose King is Jesus Christ. For many Christians, especially in societies that highly value individual liberty and self-governance, it can be difficult to think of ourselves as citizens of more than one Kingdom.
American culture has deeply shaped how we think about authority, freedom, identity, and government. American government operates through the consent of the governed, while the kingdom of heaven derives its authority directly from the sovereignty of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ.
“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:9-10
“He [the LORD] was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” — Daniel 7:14
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” — Revelation 11:15
Yet Scripture consistently describes believers not merely as free individuals (1), but as citizens who belong to a people, living under a King, and participating in a Kingdom whose authority transcends every earthly nation.
Peter deliberately describes believers as a holy nation. Nations have citizens, authority, laws, and allegiance. Peter's choice of language is therefore far more significant than merely describing a religious gathering. It points to a people who belong to a Kingdom.
If believers truly are a holy nation, then perhaps citizenship is more central to the identity of the Church than many have considered.
Notes:
(1) - True freedom is not the absence of authority but the presence of righteous authority. Liberty is freedom within the law. Without the guardrails of law and order, liberty eventually collapses into anarchy.
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“You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” — Romans 6:18
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“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” — John 14:15
CITIZENSHIP BEFORE MEMBERSHIP
When Jesus said, "I will build my ekklesia" (Matthew 16:18), He was describing something far greater than a religious organization or gathering place. One of the most overlooked truths in modern Christianity is that believers are citizens of a kingdom that is not of this world.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” — Matthew 6:33
Paul describes believers as follows:
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,” — Philippians 3:20
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,” — Ephesians 2:19
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.” — 1 Peter 2:11
Citizenship and allegiance are closely related, but they are not identical.
Citizenship is an external recognition of membership and belonging granted by a nation or kingdom that carries responsibilities, loyalties, and obligations toward the Kingdom to which one belongs. It answers the question: "Who claims me as their people?"
Allegiance is an internally generated connection and submission of the heart to an authority, ruler, nation or kingdom. It answers the question: "To whom am I loyal?"
Through faith in Christ, believers become citizens of the kingdom of heaven. On earth and as dual citizens, they are called to give their highest allegiance to Jesus Christ, the King of that Kingdom.
This understanding should never be interpreted as hostility toward one's nation. In fact, Scripture teaches the opposite.
Jesus said: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” (Matthew 22:21)
Paul instructed believers to submit to governing authorities. (Romans 13:1–7, Titus 3:1)
Peter instructed believers to honor the king. (1 Peter 2:13–17)
Jeremiah instructed God's people in exile to seek the welfare of the city where they lived. (Jeremiah 29:4–7)
Christians therefore should be among the most responsible citizens within their communities.
These descriptions are not merely poetic or dealing with social contracts. They reveal a fundamental shift in identity and perspective. Through faith in Christ, believers are transferred from one realm into another (dark to light, death to life, flesh to Spirit, foreigner to citizen, lost to found).
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” — Colossians 1:13
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” — Hebrews 11:13-16
Christians do not cease being citizens of their earthly nations; rather, they recognize that every earthly kingdom is temporary, while the Kingdom of God is eternal.
“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.” — Daniel 2:44-45
Jesus affirmed this reality when He said:
“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” — John 18:36
This does not mean believers abandon earthly responsibilities or withdraw from civic life. Earthly authorities are real authorities. They deserve respect and honor.
Yet they remain delegated authorities. Their authority is not absolute. Even the Declaration of Independence appeals to "Nature's God" and grounds human rights in a Creator rather than in government. Christians may faithfully participate in earthly governments while recognizing that their ultimate citizenship is in heaven and their highest allegiance belongs to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings.
When earthly authority and divine authority agree, Christians should gladly obey both.
Only when earthly authority contradicts God's commands does a conflict arise. In such cases, the apostles declared:
“We must obey God rather than men.” — Acts 5:29
This principle protects believers from both rebellion and idolatry. Together, this requires believers to understand three foundational truths:
Allegiance
I belong to Jesus Christ. He is my King.
Citizenship
I am a citizen of His Kingdom.
Mission
I represent the King and His Kingdom.
If the ekklesia have a type of diplomatic mission and purpose, how should we understand this in the places they gather? Citizens of one kingdom who live within another often gather in places that represent the authority, interests, values, and message of their homeland.
If citizens of earthly nations establish embassies within foreign lands, perhaps "embassy" provides a helpful way to understand the places where believers gather. In many ways, the relationship is similar:
Ekklesia describes a gathering.
An embassy is a gathering place for citizens living abroad and away from their heavenly home.
As citizens of the kingdom of heaven living among the nations of the earth, Christians gather not merely to attend religious services, but to worship their King, encourage fellow citizens, and represent the kingdom to which they belong.
To understand this picture more fully, we must consider what an embassy is, why it exists, and how it helps us understand the purpose of the Church.
EMBASSIES OF THE KINGDOM
If believers are citizens in the kingdom of heaven living among the nations of the earth, how should we understand the purpose of their gatherings?
An embassy is a recognized place where the authority, message, values, and interests of one nation are represented within another. It serves its citizens in a foreign land while faithfully representing its homeland.
This provides a helpful picture of the gathering of believers beyond the typical Sunday morning routine. The gathering is not merely a place to receive, but a place where citizens are equipped, prepared, and entrusted with responsibilities for the service of their King.
Paul reminds believers:
“So we make it our goal to please him... For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” — 2 Corinthians 5:9-10
As citizens of the kingdom of heaven, Christians gather under the authority of King Jesus to worship Him, encourage one another, and represent His Kingdom in the world. This is what pleases Him—that believers faithfully use the gifts, opportunities, and works of service for which they have been equipped.
In this way, the gathering place functions as an embassy of the kingdom of heaven.
Mission
Since Scripture never defines God's people by a building, shifting perspectives from an organization to representing our King should shift our focus from institution to mission and purpose.
The purpose of an embassy is not to isolate itself from the surrounding culture, nor to become indistinguishable from it.
An embassy faithfully represents its homeland while existing within another nation.
Likewise, believers are called to represent the kingdom of heaven within the nations of the earth. Jesus said:
“You are the light of the world.” — Matthew 5:14
Peter writes:
“Live such good lives among the pagans that... they may see your good deeds and glorify God.” — 1 Peter 2:12
The mission of the embassy is not self-preservation or merely directing people to a place of gathering. Its mission is to point people to Jesus Christ, the answer to humanity's deepest need.
It should be a place where people can:
hear the Gospel,
enter the Kingdom as citizens through faith in Christ (spiritual naturalization), and
be equipped to become faithful representatives of the King until He returns.
Equipping and Preparation
An embassy serves its citizens.
It provides encouragement, instruction, communication, and support.
“not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” — Hebrews 10:25
In a similar way, believers gather together to strengthen one another in faith.
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” — Ephesians 4:11-13
The gathering helps citizens of heaven remain faithful while living within earthly nations.
Spiritual Warfare and Discernment
Earthly governments maintain civil order and defend against physical threats. These governments are not created nor equipped for the unseen battles of the spiritual realm.
The Bible does not teach that civil government is evil or unnecessary. On the contrary, governing authorities are established by God to maintain justice, restrain evil, and preserve order within society (Romans 13:1–7).
Government bears the sword. The ekklesia bears the Gospel.
The citizens of God's kingdom recognize and face a different kind of enemy.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...” — Ephesians 6:12
The embassy therefore prepares believers for spiritual conflict.
It is a place where truth is taught, deception is exposed, prayer is encouraged, and believers are equipped to stand firm. (see Spiritual Warfare and the Enemy)
The embassy prepares citizens to live faithfully in the world while remembering that they belong to another Kingdom. It gathers citizens, equips citizens, and reminds them where their allegiance belongs so that they may faithfully serve those among whom they live.
“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” — 2 Corinthians 5:16-19
For earthly nations, certain individuals are specially trained and appointed to represent their country in foreign lands. They are called ambassadors and are considered the highest form of diplomat.
The kingdom of heaven also has ambassadors.
AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST
When most people hear the word ambassador, they think of a specially appointed diplomat representing a nation in a foreign land.
In earthly kingdoms, ambassadors are relatively few in number. They can either be a civil servant, which required much training and experience to work their way up through the system or they can be appointed by the President of the United States.
The kingdom of heaven is different.
Scripture does not reserve the ministry of reconciliation for pastors, missionaries, evangelists, or church leaders alone. Every citizen of the Kingdom is called to represent the King.
“Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” — John 20:21
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us...” — 2 Corinthians 5:20
Believers, as ambassadors, do not represent themselves, their opinions, their denominations nor their churches.
They represent Jesus Christ—King of Kings and LORD of Lords!
“Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” — Philippians 1:27
The Greek word for "conduct" (politeuomai) carries citizenship overtones and literally means something like:
"Live as worthy citizens."
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” — Matthew 28:18-20
An ambassador does not have the authority to create foreign policy. They communicates the policy of their government. Their authority is derived from the ruler who sent them. Likewise, believers speak and serve under the authority of Jesus Christ, not their own.
Likewise, believers do not create the message. The King has entrusted us with the message of reconciliation through the Gospel, and we are called to proclaim it faithfully.
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation...” — 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
We do not lead with being His ambassador. We lead with the message.
In order to do so, ambassadors must be visible.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14-16
Being visible does not just mean words and spotlights. It means in body, soul and spirit, believers must wear Christ.
“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” — Romans 13:13-14
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” — Colossians 3:12
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” — 1 Peter 2:12
It is from this that all evangelism, witnessing and preaching flow. Believers must understand that as a child of God, in the righteous blood of Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit, there is a transformation. Not everyone is called to be a pastor, missionary, or evangelist, but every believer shares in the royal priesthood of Christ and is called to represent Him before the world.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” — 1 Peter 2:9
Every ambassador is first a citizen. Every believer is an ambassador for Christ.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
Perhaps the greatest challenge for modern believers is not understanding these truths intellectually, but embracing them as a new way of thinking.
For generations, many Christians have been taught to think primarily in terms of churches, buildings, programs, denominations, and membership. While these things may serve a purpose, Scripture consistently places its emphasis elsewhere. It speaks of living stones, a holy nation, citizens of heaven, ambassadors of Christ, and a people belonging to God.
The Church building is more than a place we attend. It serves as an embassy of our heavenly home in a spiritually foreign land. Whether a dedicated building, a home, or another gathering place, it becomes a place where citizens of heaven gather under the authority of their King.
The Church gathering is more than a weekly routine or a place to receive spiritual encouragement. It is where citizens are prepared for faithful service to their King. It equips and prepares citizens of the Kingdom while serving as an oasis where the lost may find truth, fellowship, hope, and the message of reconciliation.
The Christian life is more than participation in a religious organization. It is faithful service to a King whose Kingdom already claims our citizenship and allegiance—calling for every citizen to proclaim the message of reconciliation entrusted to them by their King.
Congregations and church leadership alike should continually evaluate whether their priorities, structures, and traditions are helping citizens serve the Kingdom or merely maintain institutions. The Church exists to advance the interests of the King, not its own.
The question is not merely whether we attend church.
The question is whether we have allowed membership to replace citizenship, routine to replace mission, and organizations to overshadow the Kingdom they were intended to serve.
Are we living as citizens of heaven, gathering as His ekklesia, serving through His embassies, and faithfully representing our King as ambassadors until He returns?