Apostles and Ambassadors

According to Commissioner Phil Needham, all christians "are called to be apostolate"...but what does that mean, exactly?
When we toss around big spiritual lingo, do we know what we're saying?

Definition of an Apostle:
"Someone sent to represent another; in the New Testament, someone who had seen Jesus and been comissioned by Him to teach others about Him"

Main Entry: apos·tle
Pronunciation: &-'pä-s&l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Old English; Anglo-French apostle & Old English apostol, both from Late Latin apostolus, from Greek apostolos, from apostellein to send away, from apo- + stellein to send
1 : one sent on a mission: as a : one of an authoritative New Testament group sent out to preach the gospel and made up especially of Christ's 12 original disciples and Paul b : the first prominent Christian missionary to a region or group
2 a : a person who initiates a great moral reform or who first advocates an important belief or system

hmm....sounds a lot like what an ambassador would do...

Main Entry: am·bas·sa·dor
1 : an official envoy; especially : a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment
2 a : an authorized representative or messenger b : an unofficial representative

...so, checking a thesaurus, we find a number of words


Entry Word: ambassador
Function: noun
Text: a person sent on a mission to represent another (a beloved entertainer who has often been sent abroad by the president as his country's goodwill ambassador)
Synonyms delegate, emissary, envoy, minister, legate, representative
Related Words agent, attaché, consul, deputy, diplomat, foreign minister, nuncio, procurator, proxy; apostle, evangelist, missionary; deputation, detachment, legation; courier, messenger; mouthpiece, spokesperson

Entry Word: exponent
Function: noun
Text: a person who actively supports or favors a cause
Synonyms advocate, apostle, backer, booster, champion, friend, promoter, proponent, supporter
Related Words loyalist, partisan, stalwart; adherent, cohort, disciple, follower; expounder, interpreter; cheerleader
Near Antonyms enemy, foe, rival; belittler, critic, faultfinder
Antonyms adversary, antagonist, opponent