I was arrested this morning by Hebr. 13 about going outside the camp to the place where Jesus is and be challenged about its practical implications.

What “camp”? you may ask. From its context it´s the religious camp that supports an external, well established system where however Christ is left outside, nay frozen out, standing at the door of the heart knocking in vain. (Rev. 3:20).

So the religious camp is not a particular church, but any religious system with its laws and rules (or orthodoxy) so well known in the old Judaic dispensation and elsewhere, on which the epistle to the Hebrews elaborates to present Christ as the once for all made sacrifice and His powerful presence in the lives of believers.

I may nevertheless be sitting in a church rejoicing at a powerful, anointed gospel message and at once I forget the outward frame work of that church just longing to share that gospel with others. -  On the other hand I may also be sadly exposed to a  religious machinery with a quenched Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19).  In that case I feel very much “outside the camp” in fellowship with Jesus.  For He is there, praise God!

Right outside the camp with its dead set-ups I may sit down with some stranger sent on my way, ignorant of John. 3:16, but to whom I may testify of the joy of knowing Christ.  That may not lead to an immediate conversion, but there will always be listened to a burning heart, even today in 2021.  Or what do you think?

A burning witness, a missionary to Malaysia, visited many churches in America during the war.  His name was Paul Fleming, and he faced much self-righteous indignation in the church establishment.  That dear American-Swedish man of God stood there “outside the camp”, but several responded as they sensed that Jesus was there, and that became the start of “New Tribes Mission” reaching out for remote tribes (in the regions beyond) who have never heard the gospel..

That young man had nothing to offer except obedience to Christ and His commandments.  He asked nobody to subscribe on a particular religious system, and didn´t covet anybody´s money.  But he did covet obedient hearts for Christ.  This is still the orders of the day, i.e.  the challenge of Christ “outside the camp.”

May 28, 2021 - jn