Christians are called to be ambassadors for Christ in a world desperately needing reconciliation. In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul describes how becoming a new creation in Christ fundamentally changes our perspective—instead of evaluating people based on external criteria like political views or social status, we see them as image-bearers of God who need reconciliation with Him. This doesn't mean ignoring real differences, but not letting those differences determine someone's worth or our willingness to engage with them. Jesus uses the metaphors of salt and light to illustrate our role in the world. Both assume engagement rather than separation—salt must contact food to preserve and flavor it; light must shine openly to dispel darkness. As ambassadors with a ministry of reconciliation, we represent God's character while carrying His message that He is not counting people's sins against them because of Christ's sacrifice. We can engage culture without fear or compromise because our standing with God is secured through Christ's righteousness, not our perfect performance. Rather than assimilating to cultural pressures or withdrawing entirely, we're called to intentional connection with those outside church walls, recognizing that most unbelievers will never enter a church building. Our mission is to represent Christ in every sphere of life, seeing people through gospel eyes and demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit in all our interactions.