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Dear Reader We are given instructions in the book of Hebrews to go forth to Christ "outside the camp." The words are few, but we believe they have great implications regarding our collective walk today as part of God’s Church. So to help us in understanding this expression, we bring together two well known writers — brother Leslie M. Grant of Seattle Washington, no stranger to the readers of the Assembly Messenger, and brother R.K.Campbell who is now with the Lord, but was a good friend and faithful minister of the Word, and prolific writer. Brother Leslie writes the main part while the summary is adapted from brother Campbell’s book, The Church of the Living God, often referenced in these pages. Let’s see first what brother Leslie has for us. GO FORTH TO HIM OUTSIDE THE CAMP This expression is found in Hebrews 13:12-13, in an epistle that is primarily applicable to Jewish Christians, but is just as necessary for every Christian on earth. We are told, "Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach." Can any Christian think of ignoring such serious words? Are we not deeply concerned to understand their full significance? A similar expression in the Old Testament will be of real help to us in this matter. When Moses had received the tablets of stone inscribed with the ten commandments, he returned to the camp of Israel to find the Israelites worshiping a golden calf and dancing (Ex.32:15-19). He threw down the tablets of stone and broke them, and he ground the calf to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it. He called out, "Whoever is on the Lord’s side, come to me!" The Levites came, and he ordered them to kill the people indiscriminately, and about 3000 were killed (Ex.32:20-28). But even this judgment could not satisfy God’s righteousness. He told Moses to depart and lead the people to Canaan, with the help of an angel, but added, "I will not go up in your midst, for you are a stiff-necked people" (Ex.33:1-3). They had not merely been guilty of failure, but had chosen a standard of idolatry that was a challenge to God’s authority. Could Moses think of leading over two million people without God’s presence? No, he could not. But the camp had been corrupted: what could he do? "Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp" (Ex.33:7). Thus, Moses was saying in effect, "If God cannot go with us, then we must go with Him, even though it means separating from the camp." It was only after this that he obtained the promise of God to go with them (vv.15-17). Is God any less jealous for His glory now than He was then? Certainly not! Just as the camp of Israel had been established by God at first, so Christianity was established by God in beautiful simplicity and purity. Has idolatry invaded Christianity? Sad to say, it is true, for anything that takes the place of God in whatever measure, is idolatry. For instance, the doctrine of the clergy was very soon adopted in the history of the Church, so that a mere man became the head of a "church" or the head of a group of "churches." Scripture allows only one Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, and only one Church, the body of Christ. Again, not being satisfied with the simplicity that is in Christ, many professing Christians have urged the introduction of rituals that are intended to be impressive, and which take the place of heart-affection for the Lord Jesus. These things, and beautiful instrumental music are considered indispensable to a "church service," but they all lead to lesser appreciation of the Lord Jesus. If people want these things, it is because they are not satisfied with Christ, and in the measure they favor these, in that measure Christ is displaced, for such things become idols. But though Israel today does not literally worship a golden calf, the nation is just as guilty of idolatry as they were in Exodus. Why? Because the true God came to Israel, to the Jewish fold, the camp, in the person of the Lord Jesus, to "lead them out" to the blessings of Christianity (Jn.10:3), but they instead led Him outside the gate of its capitol city, Jerusalem, and crucified Him. Thus, we are told, "He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull" (Jn.19:17) and "Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate" (Heb.13:12). When Israel has rejected the true God, who then are they worshiping? They are virtually worshiping themselves and their own imagined righteousness, just as the Pharisee who "prayed thus with himself, God, I thank You that I am not like other men" (Lk.18:11). Certainly Israel’s camp then is corrupted by idolatry. But not only is Israel’s camp set aside because of idolatry. God established it at the beginning, not for Gentiles, but for Israel alone. Now He has introduced the dispensation of the grace of God, in which Jewish and Gentile believers are brought together in one body. This itself is a great contrast to "the camp," for the Church is given heavenly blessings in contrast to Israel’s earthly blessings: it has no appointed human leader such as Moses, no high priest such as Aaron (Christ Himself being the only High Priest); no select priesthood as were the sons of Aaron, for all believers are seen as priests (1 Pet.2:5,9); no elaborate ritual such as offering animal sacrifices. Yet there are many today who urge that the Church should borrow at least some of these things from Israel, and this has been done to a greater or lesser extent in almost every professedly-Christian group. Thus Christendom [professing Christianity] has become "a camp" similar to Israel. Actually, when adopting Israel's principles, we shall be quickly led into idolatry .... or could we not consider that just seeking those things is idolatry? Can we find the Lord in those circumstances? No! He suffered outside the gate, and if we desire His presence, we must go forth to Him outside the camp. Of course we shall find His reproach there, for many refuse such separation. But if we have His own approving presence, what else matters? LMG SUMMARY: OUTSIDE THE CAMP OF JUDAISM AND CHRISTENDOM The following chart summarizes the above by comparing Old Testament Judaism; the God-intended Christian position as seen in the scriptural functioning of the true Church; and the position and practice of the professed Christianity of our dispensation, which religious men have developed to a greater or lesser extent to suit themselves and to provide something for the flesh (our fallen, natural nature) to enjoy. We are saddened wherever Christians are caught up in a false position, to any degree, because it is displeasing to our Lord and it relegates these dear believers to a lower position than Christ ever intended for them. Let’s now look at the summary gleaned from brother Campbell’s writings. Where do you find yourself and your "church"-position in the following chart? Seriously ask yourself whether your position has the Lord’s approval. If not, what are you going to do about it? Will "nothing" be an acceptable answer when you stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ? We in no way claim that the following seven points fit all of today’s religious organizations. But what would the Lord say if only one or two points fit?
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