OUTSIDE THE CAMP

Where am I?

I've asked myself this question many times in the last decade. Questions like:

• Is the traditional church real?
• Are religious leaders in churches and ministries living the true Gospel of Jesus?
• What is the true Gospel of Jesus?
• Why do people with different beliefs get angry when I share mine?
• Why has a political spirit been allowed to take over most churches and religious organizations?
• How can people support leaders that don't demonstrate godly values?
• How did I get here and am I outside the camp?

Right off, I hope I'm not being self-righteous in my writings. For many years after I became a born-again Christian, I think I was. You know, better than all the others I judged for their faults. Through pride, ignorance and zeal, I suppose I still am still self-righteous in some ways. But I really don't want to be self-righteous, just righteous in the Way of Jesus Christ. So, if you read this blog to answer some of your questions about where you are, please give me the benefit of the doubt. Just chew up the grass and spit out the sticks!

Are you in a camp?

What is the camp, you might ask? I guess it could be anywhere in life. Professions, trade skills, jobs, family, generations, religious organizations, political parties, even hobbies and other arenas of living are a few examples. These represent groups of people that have similar interests, both natural and inherited, that join together for mutual benefit and that tend to shape the life direction of their members. It is likely we will be members of several camps, either at the same time or throughout our lives.

So, how do we find the right or the most important camp? I don't know about you, but I still have to begin with what I don't want or like. Maybe some of these would be on your list:

• I don't want to be in a relationship with people that are:
•           Disingenuous, that say one thing and live another.
• Always trying to change me to their way of thinking.
• Untrustworthy or dishonest.
• Mean spirited and unfriendly.
• Narcissistic.
• Users and takers seeking gain at my expense.

I could go on, but you are probably asking where we find people that are not like this! Truth is, we all probably have some degree of these attributes. When I look deep in my heart, I know I do!

Where is the right camp?

I think the starting place is within each of us. R.T Kendall has a sermon on YouTube entitled "Outside the Camp." This sermon started me thinking again of life issues I started considering almost four decades ago. I don't fit in most camps. I'm a CPA but I don't make legalistic standards the only way to do my job. I am old: I look and sometimes act the part, but age doesn't define who I am. I have a strong, daily relationship with God, but after 30 years in churches I no longer attend. I like and need relationships with people, yet all but those with a few people have failed. I am still working presenting webinar training, but I still look for the rest of my purpose on earth. So where am I? Where is my camp?  Where is yours?

Outside the camp may be the right camp!

In these blogs, I have called myself a contrarian Christian. This doesn't mean I am stubborn and unbending. It doesn't mean I intend to be argumentative and judgmental. It means that, for whatever reason, I have different viewpoints on a lot of subjects and on religion. This may also be true of you. Many of us are likely outside of the religious camp. We may still be inside but are really outside in our hearts. I believe God's words to Jeremiah (vs.29:11) applies to each of us as well: "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jesus is the Blessed Hope! We may find Him inside the camp, but for me and perhaps you, I believe He is waiting for us to meet outside the camp!

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