Safe in the Camp

 Safe In the Camp

Exodus 32, 33

So, I had gotten finagled into a religion discussion with a customer. (Something I sincerely avoid.) He's a regular, I know him to be a professing Christian and he's always, though dry of humor, very amiable toward me.

He has brought up things regarding our Lord to me before, but, this particular night, he started asking me, shall we say, questions on the matter of religion, church, etc. I can't remember exactly the evolution of the discussion, but I wound up asking him some questions that garnered some telling responses.

He said much in the course of the conversation about how open minded he is and expressed the same about his church. (The local First Baptist. But of course!) He continued that he is also a deacon at that particular congregation.

I think the conversation was begun with me responding to a remark by him, making some silly comments about my beliefs being outside the mainstream of orthodox thought. I might've referred, euphemistically, to my thoughts as being "strange" to most people.

He assured me that he was of his own mind and that he didn't have any problem disagreeing or hold anything against those who do. I doubted his illumination.

His defense was one I'd heard from hundreds of Christians about their welcomeness to contrary thought. They all seem to boldly state their independence of belief and tolerance for heterodoxical thinking.

I began, as gently as I knew how, to question his and his church's alleged open-mindedness. I wondered out loud that, if one of their own was to doubt, disagree or, at least, seriously question the doctrines normally accepted among the circle he goes round in, would they be all that accepting. He assured me they would.

Me being me, I thought that I might put him to the test. So, I began to ask a series of eschatological questions that I felt certain would get the Fundamentalist accepted answers that I expected. I was not disappointed.

My hooks were well-baited. 

"Do you think the anti-christ is alive today and possibly living somewhere in Europe?"

"Do you believe there'll be a seven year Tribulation when the church is called out?"

"Do you believe Christ and the church will reign in Jerusalem for a thousand years upon their return?"

I might've asked a couple more questions, all along that line, but I got what I was looking for. He answered in the affirmative his basic agreement with the concepts and doctrines I was asserting with my little pop quiz. Of course, he was slightly defensive, saying he didn't give that sort of thing much thought, but that it wasn't the most important point of Christianity. (Basically, words to that affect.) He fell right into my trap!

This is where I apologized for my insincerity. I explained to him that I was just checking to see if he was standing where I already assumed he stood. He did.

I vainly tried to express to him that he was safely in the camp. Sure, he might not have invested hundreds of hours of study in these particular matters, but he was always faithful to the accepted orthodoxy. He would never give any real consideration to viable alternatives. Yes, he would give lip-service to the possibility of other ideas, but he would know no details or doctrines and, in his heart of hearts, should he give it any thought at all, would dismiss any other lines of thinking out of hand.

Sadly, most Christians are "safe in the camp." Like the Israelites of old, they huddle together, avoiding gentiles like leprosy and look out at those who are any different as no more than mistakes to be ignored. Or disposed of.

The problem with being safe in the camp, though, is that God, is, in actuality, not in the camp. He's outside the camp.

After Moses had received the Ten Commandments, he returned from Mt. Sanai only to find the children of Israel involved in a raucous party and worshiping a golden calf. Punishments were meted out and the people paid the price. He then relayed the plans for the temple, which was promptly placed outside of the camp. Not in the middle, where it would be surrounded by the people, but outside of the camp.

This was obviously an abbreviated version of a long story, but the point remains that the forlorn children of Israel, instead of having the Temple, ergo, God, in the middle of their camp, it was placed outside of the camp where they would be forced to leave the comfort of friend and family to seek God elsewhere. Yes, friends and family were good, they knew of God, but God was not there. They could stay comfortably in the camp or could seek God where He may be found.

This, actually, was against God's design, but was still part of His plan. Much like Adam and Eve were designed for a garden, God knew what was coming and it all fit perfectly, completely into His plan. As my brother says, "God has no plan B."

As the Children of Israel were unprepared to hear the Voice of God speaking from Sinai, neither were they ready to have the Tabernacle of God in their midst. One day, though, the Tabernacle of God would be with men. Then men would not have to seek God, for God would be in us. 

Hallelujah! That days is here!

Exodus 33:7 KJV

And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

Revelation 21:3 KJV

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Crazy Ex-Wife

Imagine ladies, that you meet your husband somewhere publicly, and, as you embrace the love of your life, somehow, you notice his eyes are not closed, as yours are, in full enjoyment of the moment. Worse yet, you notice he seems distracted and distant. You can feel that he's not hugging and holding you the same way you are him. Even worse, you open your eyes and look in his face to find that his eyes are wandering and, moreover, wandering to someone else. Then, just when you think it can't get any worse, you notice that the “someone else” is his ex-wife.

Now, depending on how brave and brassy or shy and timid you are, you might confront him. You might question why he was looking at her while holding you. Depending on how fast he is on his feet, he might possibly respond with some paltry excuses about her merely being in his line of sight or that she looked at him first.

Then, depending how good he is at deception or how gullible you are, you might walk away from this incident feeling more or less secure. Also, it might be greatly dependent how good he is at lying or how good you are at lying to yourself.

Then, some while later, when you thought this little episode is a thing of the past, you stumble on the two of them, your husband and his “ex.” You see him looking, what can only be called, longingly into her eyes. Frozen in terror of what this appears to be, joined with hope that it is anything but, you stand, watching and listening to these two former lovers.

“You know, I haven't forgotten you or how beautiful you are. Yes, I'm married to someone else, but I remember you. I haven't forgotten you. I even have a plan so that you and I can be together one day. You, my new wife and myself. Yes, it'll just be the three of us. We'll be so happy together. I promise you! Just be patient. I know I put you away for her, but you will be with me again. I haven't forgotten my original promises to you. I'll keep them all!”
 

Your stomach becomes Gordian knot as he continues.
 

“And don't worry. She'll understand. I'm sure that, once I explain how important you were to me and how much I loved you and how I just can't abandon you or forget you or our vows, she'll understand. She's a very understanding person.”

About now, a million thoughts are rushing through your mind! Your head is swimming and your feeling woozy and dizzy. Among the numerous thoughts jumping into your consciousness are the many, many stories your husband told you about her. About all the fussing and the fighting. About how unfaithful she was! About all the men! About how she wasted all of his possessions! About the disrespect! About how crazy she is!
 

As you try to catch your breath and still your reeling mind, you see him slowly walk away from this melodrama. You turn your head in an attempt to prove, against hope, that the insanity you saw happen, did not actually happen. As you do, you note that the “ex” wags her head with a dark look of contempt in her eyes for her former, forlorn lover. You feel certain, though said lowly, you see the words form on her lips, “How pathetic.” Yes, it seems neither of them have changed their feelings for one another.
 

Now, this is the scene of lunacy I have painted for you. I'm sure you're thinking, there is no way any self-respecting wife would tolerate this! Yes, I would agree. Still, ever so sadly, this is the view of the average Baptist/Fundamentalist regarding the Bride of Christ and Israel.
 

Without delving too deeply in the fact that Baptists today neither can identify the Groom or Bride, most, in reality, believe in neither. If they did, they would realize that the entire Bible is a sermon about the wedding of the Bride and the Groom and that all the teaching about marriage in the Bible is by God's own design. You don't have to wonder which came first: it was the plan.
 

Still, many have a death grip on their own preconceived ideas. They hold onto, what can only be called, “Jew Worship.” Yes, they truly seem to worship the supposed recipients of the blessings of God rather than God Himself. They worship the creature rather than the Creator.
 

Now, very quickly, there is no problem with being a Jew. Also, there is no advantage.
 

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
 

Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.  
 

I must've read that Scripture a hundred times over the years. One day it hit me. Jesus was taking Himself! He was trying to tell us, "I am a one woman man!"


Yet, to be a part of the crowd, to avoid the contempt of the like-minded and lock-stepped, many swallow horrid accusations against Jehovah that will not bear the weight of Scripture. Their stubbornness blinds their eyes and they ignorantly accuse the God of Heaven of no less than adultery!

Now, before you say, “Hold on a minute! I would never accuse God of anything like that!”


Wouldn’t you? Don’t you? Isn't that exactly what you are doing when you say that the Church is His Bride, but He is still in love with and pining for his first bride, Israel? Yes, she was His first love, the apple of his eye, but she was adulterous and backsliding. So, even though it broke His heart, he had to put her away. He was forced to divorce her.

I know saying that God is divorce' causes Fundamentalists to cover their ears and go, “la, la, la, la, la!” Prejudice causes the best of us to sometimes hide from the truth.
 

Jeremiah 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
 

Not to digress here, but when the Bible says, “God hates divorce,” it’s mostly because he has been through one himself. No pain like the pain you’re in!
 

Malachi 2:16 For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
 

Oddly enough to me, many think that our God looks lustily at His former wife, Israel, and dreams of a time when He can be with her again. He thinks of all the promises He made to her and all of the promises she made to Him and sighs with remorse. He pines away for the old days, crying over the loss of his first love, a love that betrayed Him in every way. Yes, He did divorce her, finding Himself a new love that He swore to Himself would be delivered chaste and pure to Him.
 

Revelations 21: 11 Having the glory of God…
 

Genesis 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:　

Was the law of Moses God's ultimate plan? Was salvation and the Church an afterthought? Perhaps, Plan B? Did God not see it coming? Was he caught unawares?
 

They talk as if it was always God’s intent that Israel should be His closest love and, after she fouled it up, He had to go off and find another way. I suppose these same people think that God intended man to live forever in the Garden of Eden and, after Adam fouled that up, God had to go off and find another way. Actually, entire “Christian” denominations as well as other religions are founded on these very concepts.
 

The Church was not an afterthought! It was always God’s design to employ Israel, the Law and the failure of both to bring about the Church age. Israel, like Adam, was never intended as a permanent solution, but as a means to an end. Does that lessen God’s love for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? No, because they too rejoiced to see His day. It was never about the branches; it has always been about the Vine.
 

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
 

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.　
　

For God to have multiple brides, is contrary to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. Yes, God allowed multiple wives and concubines but, if you follow the trail, it was always a headache for all concerned. Many men will think more than one wife is great! But remember, more than one wife means more than one mother-in-law. Like they say, two's company, but three's a crowd!
 

Still, God like Adam, is happy with one wife at a time. Amazingly, of course, God always gets good from our evil.
 

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
 

Now, back to our adventuresome guy with the roaming eyes. He is a man who has everything he has ever longed for in the beauty, loyalty and fertility of his current glorious bride. Sadly, like some men, he thinks the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. He forgets the bad things from his earlier relationship and only remembers the lust that burned in his heart for a woman who, basically, hated him. He doesn’t think about the relationship. He only thinks about her physical splendor.

Yes, it’s true. All men are pigs!
 

Disgustingly, our little anthropomorphic egos assign attributes to God that should make our skins crawl. We think He is just like us, only bigger and stronger. You know, like Superman.

We muse, admit it or not, “After all, God does it!” We justify so much of what we believe by imputing our God with ideas and concepts that are more foreign to him than the surface of mars is to us.

Remember Esther? The woman who became queen because another, the first queen, was disobedient to her husband. You might almost defend the thought process of the former bride. She just didn’t want to be paraded before a bunch of desirous, disorderly, drunken men. On the surface, I’d agree with her point of view. I mean, what woman would want to be put in such an embarrassing situation. She was the ultimate trophy wife. Frankly, she did not care to be. Sadly, she did not realize her place in the chain of command.

Still, isn’t that what God wanted from Israel? He placed them in the best land of all, at the virtual center of the world where all mankind would have to travel through their borders. They thought He put them their so they could be spoiled and fattened and showered in His love. In actuality, it was not God’s intent that they should shut the gates to the city, locking the world away. I think he put them their to show them off to the world. He put them there that they might be a testimony to all the heathens encompassing them of the power and righteousness of God Almighty. God put them there to be missionaries!
 

Isaiah 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

This new Bride of God is, like Jerusalem, a “city of peace.” Even more so, it is a new “city of peace.” It is a city that has its gates open to all points of the compass. Unlike Hell, it fears no danger of being prevailed against because the Lamb is present and He is the light of that city. Only citizens are allowed in this city and they can only be naturalized, adopted, by the edict of the King of Kings! This city contains no murderers, drunkards or liars, simply because once they are allowed in this city, they are no longer any of those!
 

Revelation 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

Upon trying to explain this concept to a Fundamentalist friend of mine, his only argument was to decry, “What about the 'Tribulation?' God still has a plan for the Jews!” He even claimed desperately, “It's not a marriage like we have marriage.”

In exasperation, I asked, “Then what kind of marriage is it? God could've used any number of metaphors, but he chose marriage! But we say, it's not like 'our' marriage”?
 

What can you really say to a death grip religion like that? God on his throne can't move them! How can I?

Inside Baseball

Have you ever tried to explain the difference between a Catholic and a Baptist to a Buddhist? Believe me, it’s worse than pulling teeth! All they understand is that we both believe Jesus died on a cross and was raised from the dead. The subtleties fly over their heads like inside baseball.

It’s much the same when dealing with what I refer to as “Fundamentalism.” The outside world can’t understand what they view as insignificant subtleties. That’s why I have been called a “Fundamentalist” by non-believers and a “liberal” and unbeliever by good old Baptists, et al.

It’s not a matter, or at least it shouldn’t be, of eschatology or what version of the Bible we prefer. It goes much deeper than that. It really deals with the age old formula: “You don’t believe like I do, so you don’t believe.” It’s much like I’ve taught my daughter, Natalie, about people who “know” things: be afraid; be very afraid! Because, if you don’t know what they “know,” then you’re…pick your poison: lost, stupid, liberal, backslidden. This has been my experience.

We all have our weakness, myself in the lead, but my point is, if there is a worst trap of all, which there appears to be, it’s if we decide that those who don’t agree, don’t believe. When a fellow Christian tells me, by connotation or by plain speech, because I disagree with his or her particular interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, that I don’t believe the Bible, I think you can comprehend the danger contained therein.

Why So Serious?

I had to apologize recently to this hedonist I know for telling her how terrible she was for pooh-poohing the death of Christ. She repeatedly said, “It's not that big of a deal. God knew Jesus would be back.” She had made similar arguments before in more or less differing ways.

Frankly, the many times I’ve tried to get through to her, I’ve met with no apparent success. She continually argues that since God knew He would raise His Son from the dead, it wasn’t the sacrifice that we Christians make it out to be.

I tried then, as before, to express the awful agony and anguish that the man, Christ Jesus, experienced in the hours leading up to the cross, the crucifixion itself and the abandonment by His friends and His Father. I explained my belief that the latter was the worst part of the entire ordeal. For Jesus, the Only Begotten Son of God, God’s most favored, the one He loved, shall I say, the most, to become the very thing that He hated most…sin!

“He who knew no sin became sin…” II Corinthians. 5:21

It had zero effect! As usual, her jaded heart reflected every dart of Gospel I fired her way.

The conversation was interrupted and it seemed it would not continue. (I wasn’t unthankful for that.) At least, at that moment, I thought not.

Some minutes passed and my thoughts were roving between the previous conversation and a thousand other things before me that day. Whatever path my mind was wandering in was suddenly at a standstill. I had what I believe to be an epiphany. I also knew I had to share it with her the first chance I had or, at least, the first chance I could make.

Several minutes later, at the first opportune moment, I called her by name. I then told her I owed her an apology. She looked at me knowingly. She recognized that something was coming. She had seen me in action before. She bit and inquired as to why.

I told her that I was sorry that I had been scolding her for being so complacent over the death of Christ, when, in actuality, she sounded, to me, much like your typical Baptist. I told her that most Baptists really didn’t take the crucifixion all that seriously either.

She laughed half-heartedly and tried to reiterate some of the silly points she had previously made, but I was past the moment. I chuckled and thanked her for helping me to understand, so to speak, and went on my way.

Through our previous conversations, it had never really occurred to me how off base I actually was. I was directing my displeasure toward the wrong person. I should have been angry with someone else or, rather, another group of individuals.

We fuss and carry on about sinners who don’t seem to give a wit about the love of God or the eminent damnation of their own souls. We seem to be shocked that they care so little. We are astounded that they care not at all!

Funny thing about it, though. They probably are so little affected by the thought of Christ’s agony and their own impending doom because we Christians are so very little affected by it ourselves. It’s much like so many things in our Christian lives: We talk the talk, but we often don’t quite walk the walk.

I remember a story a former pastor of mine once told. It went something like this:

A little boy was sitting in the pew next to his mother one Easter service. The man behind the pulpit was bringing a message that was very apropos for the particular holiday in celebration. As he talked, he went into some detail about the crucifixion itself and concerning the great pain and suffering our Lord endured at the hands of His oppressors.

After some time had passed with the minister detailing the arduous events taking place on that day of days, the mother noticed the sounds of quiet whimpering in the pew beside her. She turned her head to see her little boy with his face in his hands and tears flowing down his cheeks.

Astonished, the mother inquired of her child, “What’s wrong, son?”

The boy looked up at her through red eyes and sobbed, “Don’t you hear, Momma? Don’t you hear what they did to Jesus?”

Alas, his mother reached down to him with tender hand and stoic voice replying coolly to her weeping offspring, “Oh, child. Don’t take it so seriously.”

Isn’t that our problem? We don’t take the price for our salvation “seriously”. Are we so used to the Gospel that it can hardly bring a tear to our eye much less a shout to our lips? Have we become so accustomed to the “Old, Old Story” that we don’t even get excited about telling it anymore?

Even Lazarus got up and walked when the Lord called his name. We sit in our pews afraid to spiritual death that someone will think we might be the least bit out of our own control.

Worse yet, we, who forget the Passion of the Christ who bore our sins, bear little or no compassion for the millions who are starving for someone to truly, sincerely and simply care about them. Instead, we treat them as lepers! We treat them as if they are beneath us. We treat them as sinners, forgetting that we ourselves are only sinners saved by grace. When will we learn? When will we care as Christ cares?

Let us not stop at mere sentiment. Let us not get so caught up in our own therapeutic bouts of emotion where we zealously express our yearning for some enigmatic something and forget that the “greatest of these” is what we should desire.

When will we care? More importantly to me, when will I care?

Our preacher was preaching about Barabbas and the exchange that was made for him when a thought occurred to me that may explain a little of why we are so complacent about the cost for our salvation.

He remarked that he didn’t know if, later in his life, Barabbas was ever saved. The Bible doesn’t really address the prospect. I’m guessing he was. Why? Because if the Lord died for anybody, He died for Barabbas! (No, that doesn’t prove anything, but it’s an argument for my reasoning.)

Did he recognize that he was given a second chance at living? Did he witness the crucifixion? Did he understand that it surely, easily and even should’ve been him on that cross instead of Jesus of Nazareth?

If he did, he certainly would’ve had a different perspective than we. He certainly would’ve had a different testimony that any of us might’ve. I can’t help but think that if Barabbas were standing before your average Baptist congregation today, he, of all people, would be able to look us all in the eye and say, “If you’re not excited about the crucifixion, well, I guess you just haven’t been where I’ve been!”