The Marriage Covenant as a Diplomatic Mission

                                                           H.E. Dr. Anita Mckaney

In my work as a Peace Ambassador and Chaplain, I often find myself discussing the nuances of international relations and the high-stakes world of diplomacy. We think of diplomacy as something that happens in marble halls or at large roundtables between nations. But as I reflect on the beauty of "walking together towards God," I am reminded that the most important diplomatic mission we will ever lead is the one that takes place within the four walls of our own homes.

Recently on our mission trip to Ghana through The Titus Ten Foundation program, my husband and I had the opportunity to walk royal residential halls in a historic monument to African freedom. After the amazing tour and history lesson, we had the distinct opportunity to sign our names as a testament to this amazing tour and diplomatic mission as a couple. I sentimentally call it the Grace Treaty and this document got me thinking...

The Home as an Embassy

In 2 Corinthians 5:20, the Word tells us, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ..." An ambassador is a high-ranking official sent by a country as its resident representative in a foreign land. As believers, our citizenship is in Heaven, which makes our marriages the primary "Embassies" of God's Kingdom here on earth! Imagine that. When people look at our union, are they seeing the culture of the Kingdom—peace, love, and reconciliation—or are they seeing the chaos of the world? 

Walking in Agreement

Amos 3:3 asks the poignant question: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" In diplomacy, agreement doesn't mean you never have a difference of opinion. It means you are committed to a shared mission that is greater than your individual preferences. To walk together towards God, a couple must:

1. Maintain Open Channels of Communication: Just as nations must keep dialogue open to avoid conflict, a "Diplomatic Marriage" requires us to be "swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (James 1:19).

2. Practice Soft Power: In leadership, "soft power" is the ability to influence through attraction rather than coercion. In marriage, this is the power of a "soft answer" that turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1). This is especially important for us wives!

3. Protect the Covenant: An ambassador’s first loyalty is to the government they represent. Our first loyalty in marriage is to the Covenant God established. Always.

The Mission of Reconciliation

As we close out the month of April and look toward the future, I challenge you to view your spouse not just as a partner, but as a fellow diplomat. When you "walk together towards God," you aren't just moving in the same direction; you are representing His character to a world that is desperate for a visual aid of true peace.

Let your home be a place where the "treaty of grace" is signed every morning and where the "peace that passes understanding" guards your doors.