Thoughts From Hebrews 13

 " And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. Heb. 13:13

         I thought we would spend some time on "outside the camp" and unpack this. Jesus was crucified outside the city at Golgotha and the writer states that this is where we find Him. Crucifixion was not only one of the most painful ways to die but it was extremely disgraceful being stripped and publicly hung on a cross exposed for at least 24 hours as people walked by. We think wearing an orange vest with your crime imprinted on the back as you work along the highway is bad!

        As I ponder "outside the camp" I think about what the writer was trying to get accross to his readers. As we read through Hebrews we see a group of "firstfruit" believers leaving the synagogue - the sacrifices, feasts, cleanliness laws, sabbath days, priests interceding, etc, (the Old Covenant) and embracing Christ and the New Covenant. The author has said that the old way couldn't take away sins, didn't cleanse the conscience, didn't bring you into the presence of God, and basically needed to be replaced by a superior one that did all the above. Unfortunately it was difficult for many to leave for a number of reasons. They received bad teaching saying that they needed to do all the things in the Mosaic covenant if they wanted to be saved. They were persecuted and some placed in prison for following the New Covenant. Lastly they were mocked and the combination of these three things led many to go back. Throughout Hebrews, the author is pleading with them not to go back.

        In Exodus 33:7 we see Moses meeting with God at the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. Why was it outside the camp? Aaron and the Israelites had just done the golden calf debacle and I would assume God in His Holiness didn't want to dwell in that sinful atmosphere. In the same way, the author of Hebrews is saying that if they wanted to experience God's presence, the early followers of Christ would find that outside the synagogue and in doing so would experience the disgrace from those who didn't leave traditional Judaism.

     How's that relate to us? If you are attending a legalistic church that has added many traditions that inhibit the freedom that you have found in Christ - leave. If you are attending a Catholic church that says the priest or Mary must be your intercessor or you are praying to saints - leave. If you are attending a Seventh Day Adventist church or Messianic Jewish church that says you must follow Old testament laws to be saved - leave. If you are in a Mormon Church or Jehovah Witness church or Church of Christ that is adding prerequisites to salvation besides being saved by grace through faith alone in Christ alone - leave!