OnlineBibleTalk

Yesterday I blogged about Jake Follis, who has a nice little blogspot blog called 'Outside Camp, because he talked about 'Stopping'. If you take some time to stop doing things, the thinking goes, you can free your mind to pray and meditate. For those of you familiar with Tim Ferris and his low-information theory, this is exactly what Tim is getting towards, even though Tim's motivations is purportedly 'bizness', not spiritual.

But I wanted to bring up another interesting point Jake made when he commented on Hebrews, Chapter 13, verses 12 through 14. Now Hebrews 13 is one of the best chapters of the Bible -- Paul at his sharpest -- so let me quote a few lines before getting to verse 12.

It starts out:

1 Let brotherly love continue.

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Wham. Let brotherly love continue. Welcome strangers into your life or your home -- you never know who that stranger might be. This was not a new concept, because Jesus preached it himself, but here Paul is encouraging us to let it continue -- let's Jesus's message of brotherly goodness continue.

Then he gives us advice that I think stands the test of time:

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Oh how I wish more people's conversations were without covetousness. This is when some says 'Damn, I wish I had this and I wish I had that.' or ' What the hell, why does she get that? I should have that! That should be mine!'. Or 'Can I please have that? It's not fair, that is mine, or at least it should be'

Me, mine, not fair, gimme, come on, etc. What he's saying basically is 'stop whining'. Be content with what you have.

This is advice for the agess; I don't think it means you can't strive for more, but it means that whatever you have, be happy with it, and don't continually whine about what other people have that you don't. If you achieve this, then, says Paul:

... we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

No fear. Freedom. Next:

9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

What he's saying goes toward the idea of 'Starting Stopping' -- clearing your mind. He is saying, stop thinking about every whacky idea or belief system that comes your way. (a "diver" is one who practices divination). Filter that noise out and in return you get Grace, whatever that may be. Beasts that have been burned (sacrificed) as offerings to 'strange doctrines' are burned 'without the camp' -- outside of God's dominion. That is, they are unholy, they are not meat that you want to partake of, instead nourish yourself with Grace.

Then he talks about Jesus, and what Jesus did

12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name

Jesus went out beyond the gate, without the camp, because he wanted to make a point that 'the camp' doesn' t really exist. That is to say -- Heavan is not of this earth: "we have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come."

This must have been very encouraging to Timothy, who was definately without the camp, rotting in an Italian jail when he received this uplifting letter from Paul.

This is all just a brief introduction to Jake Follis's more in depth meditation on Hebrews 13; read more.