MPC 25th September 2005.Hebrews 13 - "Outside the Camp"
Phil Campbell MPC 25th September 2005.
I wonder if you've ever known how it feels to be excluded... because of your faith? To be left out. Made an outsider. Because of your commitment to following Jesus?
A friend of mine pastors a church in Adelaide. And I heard him speaking recently about a young Asian doctor from his church, whose family were from Hong Kong.
This guy - we'll call him Chris - had been investigating Christianity for a while during his time at Uni. He'd grown up a Buddhist. But by the time he graduated, he'd decided - the claims of Jesus couldn't be ignored.
For Chris, that's when the problems started. Because when his parents back in Hong Kong heard about it, they were furious. They contacted him, and told him in no uncertain terms that he could no longer consider himself their son. He was excluded from the family. Written out of the inheritance. Excluded from family events and occasions. Don't bother turning up to your sister's wedding. Because you've brought disgrace to the family.
That's not where the story ended. Because a few months later Chris had a call from his brother in law who'd flown to Adelaide from Hong Kong. Chris agreed to meet him. And over lunch, his brother in law brought out a cheque from the family. For one million dollars. He said to Chris, the family is tired of the disgrace you've brought on them. They want you back. The money's yours. If you give up your Christianity.
Chris looked at the cheque. Shook his head. And refused. The brother in law tore it up. Started writing another cheque. He said, what's it going to take... to make you change your mind?
And Chris shook his head. And excused himself from the table. And left.
Since then, he's been living in motels and driving a rental car. Keeping a low profile. Because he's thinking, if the family were prepared to use that much money to try to change his mind, the next step is probably something a bit more physical. And he's fearing for his life.
Maybe for you the sense of exclusion hasn't been quite so dramatic. Just left out of going to the movies with your friends. Because they know you wouldn't approve of the sort of movies they want to go to. Left out of conversations in the office, because you're not in the inner circle of the gossip network.
As we come to the end of our tour through Hebrews today, the message is, get used to it. Because being Christian is always going to mean being an outsider. Which is something those first Jewish Christians needed to take on board.
You'll see that's an idea that keeps coming up here in chapter 13 in the words outside the camp. It's an idea that comes up three times in quick succession in verses 11 to 13. And summarises in a sense what Hebrews has been all about.
Because you'll remember time after time, we've seen that these early Jewish Christians are so tempted to abandon ship. They're tempted to turn back to the temple. They're tempted to go back to conforming with their Jewish friends. They're enticed by the easy road. They're being pulled away by the tide of popular opinion. And they're longing to be back in the in group. Instead of copping it. With the Christians.
As usual, it's not immediately obvious. But when you boil it down, that's the point being made.
We saw last week the fact that the sacrifice of Jesus made the Jewish temple redundant. Which is easy to say from our point of view. But the temple we're talking about was one of the wonders of the ancient world. All that's left of it these days is a broken down bit of what they call the wailing wall. But in the years up til 70AD, it was majestic. And so we've got to keep in mind, to stop being Jewish back then was to step out of the mainstream. And face sometimes painful consequences. Especially because in the Roman Empire, being Jewish was to be part of a licensed religion. Being Christian was not.
But read the words from verse 11, and see what they're saying... about being an outsider.
The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 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. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
See, the temple and the city of Jerusalem that all their Jewish national pride was tied up with... it looks substantial. But it's not. And so you've got to realise when you're signing up with Jesus, you're signing up with the one who was marched outside the city walls with a cross on his shoulders. Who was treated like the animal sacrifices that are burned outside the camp. Jesus was excluded from the community of Israel in disgrace. So why should these first Christians expect things to be any different for them?
And why should we?
If you've signed up with Jesus, you're saying you're ready to go outside the camp. To step outside the sort of values and lifestyle that the people inside the camp defines as being normal.
Which is costly. And dangerous. And tough.
For the readers back then, stepping outside the camp is going to mean facing persecution. Maybe even jail. Second, we're going to see stepping outside the camp is going to mean having very different values and attitudes. Valuing what the world doesn't, and holding lightly to what the world wants to cling to. And third, stepping outside the camp, if you're going to survive it, means sticking together. And following your leaders.
You might remember there were hints of the sort of persecution they're facing back in chapter 10. In the early days, they handled it well. Flick back and have a look. Verse 32:
Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
Public insult. Persecution. Prison. Confiscation of your property. No worries.
A few years later the Christian writer Irenaeus talks about the way Christians in prison were cared for. The older women in the church would cook for them, the kids from the church would play in the courtyard outside the jail cells; while Christian friends would bribe the prison guards so they could be locked in the cells overnight as well. To keep their imprisoned brothers and sisters company.
The word sympathy literally means suffer together. And that's exactly what they did. Because they knew there were better and lasting possessions ahead.
And that's exactly what they're urged to keep doing here, verse 1:
Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
In fact, you'll notice in verse 23, it's not so long ago that the Apostle Paul's right hand man, Timothy, has been in prison himself. And he's just been let out.
I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.
Being marginalised as a Christian is dangerous. And it's costly. But it comes with the territory of standing with Jesus.
If you're following on your outline, you'll see the second sub-point is that stepping outside the camp is going to mean you'll have a different set of values. Which are no longer governed by peer pressure or the fear of other people.
Different values in the very basic areas of sex. And money. Which are more powerful forces than most of us probably like to admit. Sex and money have been the undoing of more lives and relationships and careers than you could start to imagine. And we live in a world that's totally switched the price tags. Values sex more than it values marriage. And my guess is, loves money more than both.
But here's where we're going to be very visibly outsiders. Because these days, fidelity is apparently a JOKE.
I was watching Spicks and Specks on TV a couple of weeks ago. The music quiz on ABC. And they were talking about Jon bon Jovi, the rock star. Who somebody mentioned had been happily and faithfully married to his high school sweetheart for something like 18 years. And the thing that was striking was that everyone on the panel laughed. At how unlikely it was that a rock star would stay faithful to his wife when he was surrounded by adoring and available female fans.
Well, fidelity might be unusual with rock stars... but for Christians, it's one of our key distinctives. Because we know what a great gift marriage is. We know how beautifully God has designed our sexuality. And how much he hates it when we misuse it. Take a look at verse 4.
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
I wonder if you're struggling with that. Keep in mind that God delights in pure sex. And no matter how much the world devalues marriage, God delights in it. And he's going to judge adultery. And sexual immorality.
Honour marriage. Whether you're married or not. But verse 5 says, whatever you do, don't love your money.
You know, there's always been a sort of a conventional wisdom that money can't make you happy. But I heard the other day that new research has actually proved that it can. And apparently - this is true - apparently they've proved there's a simple formula for the amount of money you've got to have for it to make you happy... the amount is... more than most of your friends.
University research has proved it. If you've got more money that most of your friends, it's going to make you happy.
Which says just about all there is to say about human nature, doesn't it?
Time to come outside the camp. Read verse 5.
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
If you're saying that, you really are very different, aren't you? And if you're like that, you'll find it easy to be hospitable, like it says in verse 2. And to do good and share with others, verse 16; which is the sort of sacrifice we saw last week that God delights in. Verse 16. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
As we draw the threads together, there's just one more idea I'm going to close with. Because we're outsiders here, because these first Christians know what it's like to be excluded and ostracised and ingored; it's all the more important that they stick together. Verse 1 says, "Keep on loving each other as brothers." And don't stop.
But there's more. They're called to stick together. And to respect and honour their leaders.
And that's a thought that comes up more than once. So it's got to be important.
It's actually awkward for someone in my position to say this stuff. And I don't say it often. But Hebrews 13 is a chapter loaded with stuff about the way to treat Christian leaders. And I hope you'll take notice. Because again, in our culture particularly, and in our generation, it's counter cultural.
But will you notice, it's not saying call your leaders reverend and put them on a pedestal. And it's not talking about the old fashioned idea of respect for the office; as if it's some sort of positional respect.
Verse 7 is a good starting point. And a good definition of the role of a Christian leader. It's not often understood. The Christian Leader is not the CEO of the corporation. Which is what some churches seem to look for. The Christian Leader is not the chief therapist either, the one who'll make you feel better if something's wrong. Which is another popular model. The Christian leader is the one who speaks the word of god. The bible teacher.
But more than that, the one who speaks the Word of God, and works at living it out as well.
There's no room for the Christian leader who says do as I say, don't do as I do.
Verse 7. Read what it says. It says, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of god to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."
I wonder if you can look back on people like that. Who've impacted you. Because they've taught you the word of God... and lived it out.
Friends, you need to honour people like that. Whether they're your elders or your Growth Group leaders or your ministry team. Look at verse 17. And again, maybe uncomfortable words.
See, you're thinking church is just something you come along to every now and then, and it's a volunteer organisation and you can take it or leave it. And yet it's more than that. And God has actually given structures and authority to people. Not for the sake of their ego. But for your benefit.
It's interesting, the word there in verse 17 that we've got translated as keep watch, it literally means they are sleepless. So it's actually saying this. "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They are sleepless over you as men who must give an account." They can't sleep at night they're so concerned for your welfare. "So, obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."
Maybe it's hard to imagine. Leaders who you co-operate with so their leading is easy and joyful. And not a constant power struggle. Leaders you co-operate with willingly because you know that what they're concerned about most is your advantage, not their own.
And the question is, what good is it to you... what advantage is it... if you're so unco-operative and un-willing and un-responsive that to lead you is a burden rather than a joy? And I can tell you there are plenty of churches that are exactly like that. Which is demonstrated by the long trail of burnt out ministers you see along the side of the road.
But can I urge those of you who are leaders in our church... maybe you're an elder or a growth group leader; can I urge you to keep watch faithfully. Even if it means losing sleep. Because you're accountable to God for the ones you're leading. And lead out of concern not for your own status, but the welfare of those God has given into your care. I think it's easy to be glib about it. Easy to fall into the status trap where you're enjoying the rank and the title and you think leadership is about you. Rather than the ones you care for.
And on the other hand, for those being led... please examine your hearts on this. Reconsider your whispered conversations. Your negative gossip. Reconsider the value of arguing the point just for the sake of being heard. Because of the way you value what your leaders are doing for you. And you want to honour that. And take away the burden.
Leadership can be very tiring. And very tough. Verse 18 says, pray for us. And can I encourage you to do that.
Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
And then the letter closes, in a fairly typical New Testament letter sort of way. Pray that I can see you soon. Timothy's out of jail; he's coming to see you, and I'll come with him. Greet your leaders and all God's people. Your Italian friends have asked me to say hello. And verse 25, grace be with you all. But verse 21 and 22 are a blessing that make good words to close with. We've come a long way. From chapter 1, and the reminder that even though God spoke in various ways in the past, in these last days, he's spoken through Jesus. So don't turn back to what you were before. Whether you were Jewish; or just a plain ordinary Australian who lived your life as if God was just an inconvenience. Whatever you do, don't turn back. Because God's got a great future for you. Jesus has gone on ahead as our great High Priest. And you've been invited in to the heart of the universe. Why settle for anything less? So now, verse 20,
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory... for ever and ever. Amen.