Ambassadors for Northern Ireland, Ambassadors for Christ

One aspect of living here is that you have to interact with people who would not normally cross your path. The SIL community draws from a wide range of classes and nationalities. We are surrounded by the Cameroonians we meet on a daily basis, whether as work-colleagues, vendors or simply the people we pass on the street.

Whether we like it or not, we are all representatives of our home nations. Soon after arriving here we had a conversation that went roughly like this: “Do you think all Americans/Canadians/Dutch/insert-nationality-of-your-choice are like that?” Unknown to some unsuspecting colleagues, we were forming basic opinions (whether good or bad) about their entire nation, based on their actions and attitudes. Likewise, our interactions with local people have all been useful in helping us learn about our host culture and as part of the learning experience we've tried to identify patterns, rules, etiquette, etc.

You might think it's silly to base an opinion on an entire nation because of your dealings with a handful of people. However, if you have encountered a handful of loud, bombastic people from wherever, you are likely to assume the next person from there is loud and bombastic too. If they are, the rule (that everyone from wherever is loud and bombastic) can set in your head like concrete. Likewise, if your first dealings with a group tell you they are kind and generous, you will assume the next one you meet is wonderful too and be very forgiving if they are not.

Even the Bible (Titus 1:12) quotes a 600 year-old piece of national stereotyping when considering the lazy, lying, cruel, gluttonous Cretans! That happened to be written by one of their own people too!

It's quite likely that somebody, somewhere, has formed an opinion on Northern Ireland because of us. I hope it's a good opinion!

So what's the point? Sometime soon after starting secondary school all pupils get the “I don't care if you are in the building, in a shop or even in your own house – when you wear that uniform you represent this school and every pupil in it” talk. Outsiders cannot help but form opinions on schools by how their students behave. You are a representative of your school/club/nation/whatever, whether you like it or not.

So, when I read of some tourist in Northern Ireland being ripped off or even being attacked by 'spides', I know they will go home and tell their friends not to come near NI. It's hardly fair on the rest of us, brought up to believe in warm Irish welcomes, but that's life.

When some outsider walks into your church, what is their first impression? Does the grumpy person on the door create a bad impression the rest of you unknowingly have to reverse? Does a good impression allow the minister to get away with a long-winded sermon? What message do you give someone driving by when you cut them up? When you go to local businesses and ask them to promote some event, whether they say yes or no was probably pre-determined years before by their interactions (or lack thereof) with the church body. When someone is invited to go to a church for the first time, their previous dealings with those claiming to be Christians may make the decision for them.

I've heard many sermons based on 2 Corinthians 5:20 (“We are ambassadors for Christ”). They can be summed up as, “The British Ambassador goes to another country to develop Britain's interests and to tell them what Britain is like. When someone in that country wants to know about Britain, their judgement is based on the Ambassador.” This is only partly true. My opinion of the Americans here is not based on the American ambassador, but on the many Americans who are here with SIL, Peace Corps and others. Likewise my opinion of the Dutch is based on the ordinary Dutch people I know.

For many people, is their opinion of Christ based on the 'important' Christian – the minister? Or, is it based on the rank-and-file Christians. I hope I'm creating a good impression – what about you?