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.

What's In It for Me?

I was thinking about the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John. The entire chapter is a fast-paced adventure that moves from scene to scene with light-speed.

Several thoughts occurred to me about the Lord's sermon concerning the bread that came down from Heaven. Just one of the many things I love about the Holy Scriptures: you can read it for years and you'll still discover something new.

Okay, Christ fed the five thousand and then preached a sermon about Heavenly Bread.  The news of the bread spread, (sorry,) and people came from miles around to get their fair share. When they found His boat missing, the one His apostles had used, they went so far as to track Him down on the other side of the lake. They even followed Him to a synagogue where He was teaching.

He told them that they weren't following Him for the miracles; they were only following Him because He gave them a full belly.

Being the rabbit hunters that they were, they made a couple of sad attempts to bait Him into the discussions about works and signs. Really? Everything they'd seen Him do and they wanted to talk about works and signs? Sheesh!

So, he continued trying to explain to them, in essence, if they didn't eat His body, they could have nothing to do with Him. Moreover, He told a bunch of Kosher Jews that they also must drink blood...His blood! He continued further that Moses gave the Israelites manna and they died, but the Bread He offered granted eternal life. He told that them that He is the Bread that came down from Heaven.

I am that bread of life. John 6:48

I can just imagine them cutting their eyes in astonishment and disbelief at the words of the Galilean. Some even whispering to one another their doubts about not only His words, but His sanity. The only response they could muster was that what He was saying was "hard."

They had witnessed many of His miracles. They had even been fed by them. Yeah, the five loaves and two fishes routine. For sure, they had seen much to encourage them to believe He was who He was. Shucks! They had even wanted to make Him King!

Verse 66, (interestingly) says, after that time, many of His disciples no longer followed Him. They, pardon the pun, had their bellies full of Him.

Then, to my mind, one of the most dramatic moments in the Holy Bible occurs. Jesus, after watching the crowds whom He had shown so much love walk away, turned to His disciples and asked what was, perhaps, the most poignant question He ever asked. He looked into their eyes and asked, "Are you going to leave me too?"

Just for a moment consider the thought. (Yes, a favorite thought of mine to which I keep returning.) Our Lord, our Savior was a man. Albeit, a  lonely man. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He knew what it was to lose and He knew what it was to be left alone. He, the One holding the keys to life and death, had lost loved ones through sickness, age and injury and He certainly knew what it was like to be abandoned by many whom He had loved and, one would have thought, loved Him.

So, here he stood, once again, abandoned by so many to whom He had given so much. It wasn't a new thing for Him, but it, obviously, never lessened the pain it caused Him. Furthermore, He knew total abandonment was not so very far away. He knew a time was coming when even His own Father would abandon Him. Yes, the man knew pain on a scale that we can't even begin to imagine.

His disciples had just seen Him feed five thousand with a little  bit of fish and bread. As if that wasn't enough, they saw Him walk on water. No small thing, but when He then climbed into their boat, they were suddenly transported through time and space to their destination on the other shore.

Oh, yes, they had witnessed so much. They had seen and heard things that so many others had not. And now, Jesus was asking them if He could depend on them. Would they stay or would they go?
A thousand things must've rambled through their minds: the miracles, the lessons, the "hard" words. They saw so many who had followed the Lord so far simply walk away dazed and confused. They had left so much behind and had invested so much time and energy in the man. Were they now beginning to understand a little about what would ultimately be required of them? Now, He wanted them to answer, likely, the toughest question He had ever put to them.

People come to religion for a myriad of reasons. They often seek peace, fellowship, support, help, an anchor, escape and even, sometimes, Heaven. Many seek a full heart. (Whatever that means.)

I've seen many men, young and old, inquire about joining the Lodge. Most don't really know what they're seeking. They come because of our reputation, factual or otherwise, or because of kinsmen or friends. I've seen far too many receive bad information about the purpose of Masonry. They are erroneously told that the best thing about it is the fellowship. While, yes, it is something special and rare, but if that is what a Brother sees as the number one thing Masonry offers, well, he hasn't been listening during the degree work.

Many come to America, not for the miracle of liberty that she is, but because they can get a full belly here. Granted, many have crossed the oceans for economic opportunity in our fair land and that is no sin. Still, they grew to love her. If you don't love her for more than just what she gives you, you will never be willing to die to sustain her. Freedom is not without responsibility. Otherwise, it is only anarchy.

Those who want to take and take and never be a part of us will never love her. They will treat her like a woman to be used and cast aside before the sun rises the next morning. Sadly, these include not only illegal immigrants and "anchor babies," but fourth and fifth generation Americans and more. Those who are so enthralled with themselves that no one and nothing else matters.
So, here stands our Lord, His eyes moistened, (I've no doubt,) with the earnest desire to hear their response. At the same time, He was both cursed and blessed by the knowledge of what their answer would be.

Now, good old Peter, who's heart was gold, but, like the rest of us, was too often swayed by his humors like a cat by it's tale, answered with the answer of all answers. Being the good little Jewish boy he was, he answered our Lord's question with a question.

"Where else can we go?"

He, of course, continued with the declaration that only Jesus had the Word's of Life and that He was truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Peter, whether it was walking on water or fighting a host of temple guards, if he didn't take time to think about his response, seemed to usually have pretty good
instincts.

Finally, Jesus, without actually acknowledging Peter's response reminded them that, although he had chosen them all, one of them would betray Him. He understood that there would always be those who would never...get it! No matter how much food or how many miracles and no matter how much love He showed, there would always be those who, like the others who abandoned Him, who could never see past their own desires and urges...and their own bellies.

Big Brother is Watching You

The rumor is that the SBC is wanting to change its name to the BBBC. (Big Brother Baptist Convention.) They determined some years back that they could treat Christianity more as a science than a religion. They love setting goals: number of Baptisms, special attendance Sundays, keeping track of your Bible study, etc. You know, like good Thought Police. They want to control our lesson plans, our tithing, our study and, mostly, they just want control!
I’m always reminded of the story in I Chronicles when Satan "provoked David to number Israel."

David thought he could better control Israel by numbering them. (And he was right.) He did this even against the good advice of his chief general. David, like any centralized governor, e.g., Congress, the President, the SBC Executive Board, lives on control. It’s what any centralized body, however well intended, finds itself eventually doing.

It’s the nature of bureaucrats. They are constrained to protect and justify their existence. Bean-counters need beans to count. The more beans the more, dare I say it, authority, power and, yes, money. How else can they justify those really nice salaries?

I really wish that I was wrong and that they are merely concerned about my meditating on the Holy Scriptures, but I am more convinced every day that this "thing of ours," (you know, the Cosa Nostra,) has strayed far, far away from being the spring-board for missionaries that our founders intended way back in the 1850’s. Even if they are totally, seriously just trying to help us, they are totally, seriously out of line!

Far too many are glad to see the SBC move toward pushing, er, I mean, inspiring its members to greater heights of study and prayer. After all, if they don't do it, it won't get done. Right? Far too many are quite content to go along just to get along. Worse yet, far too many never even notice that there is a problem.

We've heard the old adage about boiling a frog, though. So, if we are willing to give up our personal kingship and yield our sacred priesthood, even to our particular denomination, it won't be long before we are cooked. We will become no more than cogs in a machine as opposed to the living cells of a body our Groom always intended His bride to be.

They cannot manipulate us by scientific methodology into being better Christians, a stronger congregation or even save one soul by prying into the prayer life of believers. All they can be is nosey!

We are to love Him and give our obedience to Him and Him alone. This is between me and God and if anyone comes between me and God, well, then, duh, someone is between me and God. What is between He and I is between He and I!

Like Samson who gave his secrets to the wrong person and paid with his life. Like David who desired to know the number of Israel and paid with the life of thousands of his people. All that will be achieved from their schemes is false goals, useless targets and insipid ambitions that will, in reality, bring no one to the cross of Christ. (Remember how to make God laugh?)

Politely refusing to participate in their inane polls can be difficult, but it can also be entertaining. Don't let the perplexed looks and condescending eyes allow others to pry into the very, very personal relationship you share with your Savior.

Beware! It's not enough to simply obey Big Brother. You must love him too!

I Won't Dance. Don't Ask Me!

Once upon a time, when King David first brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, he was very happy. So much so, that he removed all if his fancy king clothes and began to dance before the Ark as it was carried on the shoulders of the children of Aaron. He even made sacrifices every few steps. It was a real mess!

Unbeknownst to David, his wife, the daughter of Saul, was watching him from in his house. (No, it seems she was not interested in joining the party.) The more she saw, the less she liked. Frankly, she was really embarrassed about the whole affair.

After David had put the Ark in its place, he blessed the people and went home to bless his own house. That's when Michal, his wife, met him at the door.

"You think you're hot stuff, don't you? All you did was make a big fool out of yourself. Dancing around, practicality naked, showing off in front of all those young women."

David replied, "I was dancing for God, not for you. That's why God picked me over your dad! Incidentally, if you think I made a fool of myself today, baby, you ain't seen nothing yet!"

So, Michal, Saul's daughter, grew old and died and had no children.

II Samuel 6:13-23 ADV

Going West

More than a few sermons, books and Sunday School lessons have been based on the Jordan crossing of the Children of Israel. Although most of them have contained valuable concepts and great lessons, a few questions have sprung to my mind over the years.

How strange and terrifying must it have been for those Canaanites who lived north of the Jordan crossing, when Joshua first lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land? What, I wonder, went through their minds as they watched the waters of the Jordan flood their fields and homes for days as, perhaps unknown to them, a million Hebrews were going over.

As for those living south of the crossing, how horrified would they have been to see the waters of Jordan swiftly wane and  trickle to nothing for no apparent reason? Did they fear that somehow the water had been dammed off or the rains on the Mountains of Hermon had simply stopped? Did they think that some curse of their gods had taken from them the blessing of the always reliable Jordan River?

They must have known, had to have known, that the Hebrews were sojourning east of the Jordan. But could they even guess that their plan, for forty years, was to cross over and settle the already inhabited land of Canaan? Did they see or, at least, hear the teaming thousands as Joshua lead them across the now dry river bottom?

As for those heathen on the east side, who had watched in awe for decades as the cloud by day and fire by night lead the twelve tribes around the wilderness, to see it suddenly turn west, did they also see the mass of dust kicked up by a million pairs of feet moving away from them? Would they have even began to understand what was about to happen?  Were they presumptuous enough to think that that was a good thing?

How about those on the west side of Jordan? Did they see the people? Did they hear the noise? Did they comprehend exactly what was coming? Did they realize how much trouble they were in?

For its current residents, it must have been a sight to behold to witness this mass, not exodus, but mass penetration into a land where they themselves had lived for centuries. Did they realize just how dangerous things were about to get for them? Did they feel save because the Hebrews seemed like Lilliputians to them? Did they feel safe in their walled cities? Well, we all know how that ultimately worked out for them.

What about those who actually observed the crossing? What did they think when they saw the waters of the Jordan river wall up on the north side and deplete on the south? What did they think as that wall of water grew taller and taller and broader and broader? What could they have thought as they saw a million Hebrews march across the, albeit narrow, dry river basin? What might they have thought as they even saw them take the time to build an alter of stones in the middle of the now thirsty river bed? One can only imagine their shock and awe, amazement and befuddlement!

It all must have been a breathtaking sight, indeed. No doubt so, but I can only assume that while the ground may have been dry under the feet of the children of Israel crossing Jordan, it would definitely have been wet under the feet of the pagans fearfully observing this, for them, disheartening spectacle!

So, You Wanna Go Back to Egypt?

After God freed the Children of Israel from the slavery of Egypt, they left bondage behind, taking with them the spoils of war as if they were the ones who had conquered their former masters. They sojourned in the wilderness, received the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses, were fed manna from Heaven and water from a rock.

Yet, in spite of the Providence of the Great I Am, they incessantly whined and complained against Moses and Aaron and longed for the days of captivity. They railed against God over and over, grumbling and asking if there were no graves in Egypt for them.

Sheesh!

So, if you've read your Bible at all or maybe even just watched "The Ten Commandments," you know that God cursed them to walk for forty years just across the Jordan River, within sight of the Promised Land. He decreed that only those who were under forty years of age, save Joshua and Caleb, would ever stroll through this renowned land of "milk and honey."

Now, you might ask yourself why this great and powerful, merciful and loving God would do this to the former slaves of Egypt? Well, the constant rebellion and stubbornness is the obvious short answer. Still, there is a little more to this story than what might be so apparent.

Have you ever sat in a Baptist church, (not only us Baptists, though,) and listened to the old farts shooting down any particular idea that came along just simply because it was new? Oh, no, most would not be so bold as to declare their feelings and prejudice honestly and openly, but if you could see into their heart, you'd know that's exactly and only why they are against it...whatever "it" may be.

"That's not the way our last pastor did it."

"That's not the way grandma and grandpa did it."

"That's not the way mom and dad did it."

"Why do we have to sing those new songs? Why can't we sing something we know?"

"We've always did our order of service this way. Why change now?"

"The deacons have always taken care of that."

"The trustees have always taken care of that."

"I've always sat in this seat."

And the beat goes on and on and on and on!

What are they really saying? They're saying,  "That's not the way we did it back in Egypt!"

We all remember the great Jerry Clowers quote: "A rut is just a ditch with the ends knocked out." We are so very comfortable in our bondage. It is what we are familiar with and the thought of changing the familiar is terrifying to us.

It begins when we are children. We won't to play the same game and watch the same video and sing the same song over and over again. Hypocritically, it makes us adults crazy, but we have retained that childish love for the familiar. Even in our congregations. We want to walk through the door and know exactly what will happen on any given Sunday. We don't like deviation or messing with the status quo. We don't like change!

God, Who knows past, present and future, looking down upon this mutinous host, saw that, sadly, sometimes the only way to move a nation forward is to get rid of the dead weight. It was a sure thing that if the youth of Israel grew up with the negativity and defeatism of their parents and grandparents ringing in their ears, they would do no more than repeat the same process in a vicious circle that must be broken and broken only as God can do.

With each new generation, God gives opportunity for a congregation to be, if you will, born again. Now, I'm not talking about a different Gospel here, I'm merely saying, look at things from a different angle and, perhaps, try a different approach. Accept the fact that different people have different tastes and agree to disagree. As I look around our congregations and see the pride and selfishness that people exhibit. Even those who are of the opinion that they are trying to do right, They clutch with a death grip the things of the past that are dead and gone and stink. Regrettably, it usually is the old who have become so comfortable in their pews that nothing less than their own funeral would move them.

Yes, I miss my parents too! One day, I'll make that final move and see them again. But I can't keep them alive by quenching the Spirit of God. He wants to take us places that we can't even imagine. He wants to take us places where we will have not choice, but to trust in Him.

Are you ready to cross the Jordan to a new land blessed by God? Are you ready for God's great adventure?


Exodus 14:11

And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

Crossing Jordan

I can only imagine what it must have been like for Joshua. Did he have to drag the Israelites kicking and screaming out of their comfort zone?

There they were, in a land where they had pretty much taken out all their enemies. They had a daily supply of bread from Heaven and swarms of quail for meat. They never needed new shoes and anytime they needed water, Moses would just get it from a rock. Wouldn't God would grant the same miracles for Joshua?

What was on the other side? Hard labor? War and more war? Giants! Oh, yes, their fathers had even told them of how the Almighty had, for their lack of faith, cursed them to wandering in the desert until all the "old folks" died off. Sheesh! Thousands of funerals a day!

Yeah, the west side of the Jordan had grape vines so full that it took two men to carry a bunch, but things were pretty good in the east too. So good that two and a half tribes chose to stay where they were, (even though they did promise to participate in the conquest itself.) Sure enough, they all greatly desired to go to the Promised Land, but everyone hates change. This would be a big change!

We all fight change and prefer the status quo. Remember, inertia can keep you moving or keep you put. We say we want to grow in the Lord personally and in our congregation, but we don't want to move from our spot...metaphorically, spiritually or literally. We, especially, in small churches, have a "spot" where we sit and Heaven help anyone you find in your "spot." After, all you've been sitting in the same place for years...metaphorically, spiritually and literally. We don't want to sing any different songs. We sing the same ones Sunday after Sunday. Sure, thousands of lovely, Spirit-filled hymns have been written, but, then, we'd have to go through the trouble of learning them. Besides, our songs are the songs Mom & Dad sang. "That's how Daddy did it." are some of the saddest words that a Christian can say.

Daddy was great, but I ain't Daddy. He lived in his world in his way, but I have to live in mine. Moreover, I have to live in the world of others who don't see things my way. Yes, being different just for the sake of being different is no good either, but always remember what the great philosopher said: "A rut is just a ditch with the ends knocked out."We have our regular Sunday services, even though half of the people we know work nights and/or on Sundays. If they can't be there, too bad, too sad, I suppose. Not to mention, that Wednesday "Prayer" Service. Incidentally, have you noticed during "prayer" service that you meet for an hour, but pray for maybe five minutes.

We suffer through the same liturgy Sunday after Sunday and, sadly, many of us don't even notice the rut that we are in. Yes, my Baptist brothers, it is a liturgy when one service is a duplicate of the previous. How do you think visitors feel? The interest they may have in your otherwise loving congregation will wane when faced with stagnation that the rest of the congregation doesn't even notice. Different is not always better, but doing the same thing week after week, month after month and year after year definitely is deplorable.

It's enough to bore the good Lord Himself. Sometimes, I can almost hear him say, "Come on! Are you going to sing that song again?"The Pharisees didn't like the way the Lord made changes. They too wanted things to stay the same and yet we look down our noses at them and judge them for our very own sins. I'm like you. I want to be comfortable and not be annoyed by being forced to move...metaphorically, spiritually or literally. Still, the Lord is moving and if we want to keep up, we need to go with Him.

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 3:13

Change is a comin'! Come along or get left behind.