Standing Outside The Camp
By Gary D. Nunn
For some, there is no choice; they are basically forced out of one sect or another. Others leave because they do not see the expected light of Christ shining there; yet they are unable of themselves to change the tide; they desire a closer walk with the Savior as well as a closer walk with the children of God. Their personal spiritual needs are not being met in the sectarian setting. Many are torn between staying and leaving, because they no longer see Christ exalted in the pray, pay, and obey church. Simply obeying those in positions of authority (so-called), having not received satisfactory spiritual answers to spiritual questions, they find they can no longer obey due to conscience, the Spirit also bearing witness to their conscience.
Making the decision to leave a sect is not an easy one. For some, It means leaving the familiar for the unfamiliar, leaving the comfortable group with the established, denominated name for one with no name. Such may cause rifts with parent/s, families, and friends -- it usually does. Then, there are the accusations with which to contend when one leaves "the temple". However, many have left the "temple" already. Many have already experienced "freedom in Christ" having found peace and a place "outside the gate" in which they are serving Jesus only. Many have found a peace and joy they weren't sure existed beyond the walls of the "sanctuary". By sanctuary, I mean the building of wood and stone with the name out front. Many have already found "there is life out there!"
However, to say a thing and even to believe it is different than putting it into practice. We know (intellectually) that the "temple" was destroyed (i.e., through Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection). So were the altars, incense, offerings, and the priestly system, etc., gave way to the new High Priest, Jesus (Heb. 2:17). The whole "system" of service/worship to God was nailed to the cross. (Col. 2:14) It was a system of bondage that brought death; however, Jesus fulfilled the Law and all its requirements -- we are no longer under bondage or the Law. (Gal. 4:7 - 5:1) We are now free from a "law system" of worship and service to God and have been for almost 2,000 years. Christ is the end of the law. That being so, it surely begs the question: Why have men created a "New System" and a "New Law" that imitates with all its symbolisms the old??? God forbid, you say -- and what am I talking about? To create a "new system" patterned after the old (after we have been told, shown, and our consciences bear witness to the truth that the Old Covenant/Old Law/Old Testament is not in effect) is NOT GOD'S DOING -- IT IS MANS!!! If you're still wondering where all this is heading, let me illustrate using the following illustrations. Judge for yourself.
Old Testament Worship & Symbols
1. Symbols = shadows of things to come
2. External, Visible, Carnal
3. Incense burned in temple
4. Altars in temple
5. The Veil (holiest of holies)
6. Sacrifices offered (blood of animals)
7. Circumcision = an outward symbol (seal)
8. Ordinances of temple
9. High Priest (among men) offer sacrifices
10. Priests (chosen by men)
11. Tabernacle/Tent/Temple = visible structure
12. Law written on stone tablets
13. Law of Bondage (Moses) = Death
14. Chosen by birth (Abraham's seed)
New Testament Worship & Symbols
1. Symbolism fulfilled in Christ: for all believers
2. Internal, Invisible, Spiritual: for all believers
3. Prayers the only incense: for all believers
4. No altars; the Lamb slain on a cross: for all believers
5. Heaven itself (Jesus entered for all believers)
6. One Sacrifice: Jesus, the Lamb of God for all believers
7. Baptism = a figurative seal of death/separation
8. Ordinances of love and good works
9. Jesus Christ = God's Son is High Priest for all believers
10. Priests = All believers are priests chosen by God
11. No tabernacles = Each believer's body is a temple
12. Law written on tables of the heart
13. Law of Liberty (Christ) = Life
14. Chosen by rebirth (spiritual seed of Abraham by faith)
I will not explain the differences between the examples above but, merely ask the reader to make comparisons between the old and new, then check to see what is revealed in the new covenant scriptures. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to notice the great number of things that have been borrowed, brought over, and crept right back in to "modern-day-religion" from the Old Testament. (Since the Apostle's time and beyond, some of the traditions of men have been regarded "as law"-- the every things which Jesus and the Apostles warned against.) Jesus never authorized, commanded or gave example for most of what is done in the name of "religion". I would ask the reader to note and make comparisons between what can be clearly seen between New Testament and Modern-Day theological teaching and practice. Some examples follow:
Modern Worship & Practice |
New Testament Practice |
Meet in Temples & Cathedrals Church building is called house of God Men prescribe liturgy (order) Clergy/Pulpiteers take lead Specially-educated clergy Take good news to pews Shows/Productions by the few Collections for salaries/expenses Ministers/pastors are hired/fired |
Met in Homes & Houses People are the building of God Holy Spirit prescribed order No clergy/laity = all were servants Uneducated fishermen, etc Took good news to world All had song, a word, teaching Collections for needy Christians All ministers servants & vice versa |
(It is interesting to note there is nowhere found extant in any Greek scrolls a word that can be correctly translated "church" -- the word "ekklesia" was so rendered [church] by the translators under King James, who was the Head of the Church of England. The translators lavished great honor on King James as they said: "And now at last, by the mercy of God, and the continuance of our labours, it being brought unto such a conclusion, as that we have great hopes that the Church of England shall reap good fruit thereby; we hold it our duty to offer it to Your Majesty, not only as to our King and Sovereign, but as to the principal Mover and Author of the work: humbly craving of Your most Sacred Majesty, that since things of this quality have ever been subject to the censures of illmeaning and discontented persons, it may receive approbation and patronage from so learned and judicious a Prince as Your Highness is..." Therefore, they could ill have translated the word as most modern scholars agree it should be translated, i.e., "the called out, the called out ones, the assembly, the group, or any group or assembly called out for some purpose".)
The truth of the matter is this: God set in place, through Jesus Christ, from the beginning of the last days (early New Testament times) what He wanted. Jesus blessed this arrangement from heaven and sent (after His ascension) the Holy Spirit to earth. The Holy Spirit has borne witness to the Son, confirmed the word through miracles, been the Comforter, and been Resident in the believer's heart. In the New Testament writings, believers were issued stern warnings of coming false teachers, false teaching (doctrine), false apostles and false (anti) Christs. Imposters, the scriptures warn, would come and continue to become worse and worse. It is so. Religionists since that time (modern-day included) have exchanged one set of laws (under Moses) for another set of laws (under Christ they say). Jesus and the apostolic writers all affirm that Jesus came to fulfill, complete and take the old law (which was against us and contrary to us) out of the way, nailing it to the cross. Jesus bought our freedom from bondage (with His blood) and the only law He brought in is the "law of liberty" which is the "law of love". Quite a different thing than the Law of Moses, isn't it?
However, most theological schools fail to see (give in to) the law of love, the law of liberty, the freedom we should enjoy in Christ. Why? It would mean giving all control (authority) to Jesus Christ who reigns from His Heavenly Throne. Jesus made the statement: "All power/authority in heaven and in earth has been given to me. (Matt. 28:18) Since Jesus has ALL AUTHORITY, that doesn't leave any authority for you or me (any men/women), does it? All subjects loyal to King Jesus must be SERVANTS, since a servant isn't above his Master.
Is something wrong with the picture yet? In the illustrations above, you should be able to see the old mixed with the new. That's not what God had in mind at all. It's not what the Bible teaches. There were no "special buildings" for saints to meet in until after 300 A.D. and that was only after Emperor Constantine had made Christianity the official state religion. Abuses begun earlier were given license; pagan beliefs were admitted and pagan practices were being practiced (concessions were made to gain everyone regardless of their idolatrous beliefs and practices). The majority in the universal (catholic) body gave way to abominations which, ultimately, plunged the world into spiritual darkness (approximately a thousand years known as the dark ages). A system (like unto the Old Testament) was laid over the New Testament which wreaked havoc of "the faith once for all given to the saints". Now there were tabernacles (cathedrals), priests and high priests (bishops & archbishops -- so-called), holy places (so-called), and the "new altar" (sacraments) which only the "clergy" could administer to the "laity" (separate classes of God's servants now). All this doesn't include the "religious language" that sprung up; i.e., the religious mumbo-jumbo only the clergy could understand (further separation between God's servants). The picture is still pretty fuzzy today; the trappings of all "organized" religions are with us and still going strong.
Did someone say unity? There is no hodge-podge, mish-mash, mixture of religious organizations (600+ and growing) hardly anywhere on earth as there is in the United States. In one of Jesus' last prayers, he fervently prayed that "they all might be one". Unite the more than 600+ denominated sects in our country? Where is an honest seeker of truth to turn? Which group is right? How can we know which ones are the real disciples of Jesus? Does it make any difference?
We read the plain statement of Jesus Himself that says: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." [Jn. 13:35] This is the litmus test: to love one another. Is that the one defining feature of your group? Is Jesus' name exalted in? Does your group meet under the Headship and by the authority of Jesus alone? The faithful disciples of our Lord were not presumptuous or self-willed. They were humble people with a simple message: Christ and Him crucified. Is that the "theme" of your group? Do people support and care for one another? Do they build one another up? Or is there no opportunity for one-on-one, face-to-face exchange? Do you get the feeling "someone" is in charge and running the show? Or do you have the distinct feeling that the Holy Spirit is in charge and all the servants are equals? Is there opportunity for everyone to speak, sing, pray, read scripture, or otherwise have input or make a contribution (not in the plate either)? Or does everything seem to be well-orchestrated, timed and controlled, a wonderful production of a religious theme? Is your religion traditional and satisfying? Are you truly "free" in Christ?
I'm not criticizing, please understand this. There are many people who are completely satisfied and have no qualms about their present religious affiliations and circumstances. To this I say a hearty "amen". God is able to use His servants wherever He puts them. However, there are many all across our land (and the world) whom God has set free from denominated, sectarian religion. They are now free indeed -- free in Christ -- some for the first time ever. They are free because Christ, the Son of God, has made them free. (Jn. 8:36) They are not shackled by institutionalized "religious machinery" any more. Some continue to meet in traditional church buildings; some meet in rented buildings, many in their homes and/or in the homes of others. They meet without clergy or pulpit ministers (no separate clergy or laity) and personal growth of each member of the body is the outcome; they don't take collections (unless someone has a need); they don't have to pay for a "building" (they are the building in which God is most interested -- the true temple); they emphasize building up the living stones, instead of the building fund.
In short, many today are meeting in much the same way God's people met in New Testament times almost 2,000 years ago. Back then, many served "outside the camp". (Heb. 13:10-14) Jesus said "where two or three are gathered together in My name, there will I be in the midst of them also." Man is much more interested in numbers than is God. Numbers (attendance and money) is of the world; it is a human thing. Who despises the day of small things? (Zech. 4:10) God always delights in using underdogs. Today, many have changed their focus; many more are in the process. It is a wonderful thing God is doing in our day in that many are no longer content with "religion". They want the real thing. They want to know Jesus and Him crucified! To know Jesus is to know God. He doesn't dwell in temples made with hands -- He dwells in these "living stones" who have the Word written in "hearts of flesh". They are the "ekklesia" or "the called out" and are meeting in homes (house churches) across the country and around the world! Our God is building up a "holy temple, an house not made with hands". Men and women are standing "outside the camp" today where Jesus stood 2,000 years ago. Amen.