Nothing like a warming campfire...
Around your fellowship campfire, you’ll find five types of campers. These campers, influenced by the Jews over the 400 years between Malachi and Matthew, offer a glimpse into the diversity of those who gathered around Jesus’ fire. Let me elaborate on their traits—and perhaps, you’ll recognize them in your own fellowship meetings.
The Sadducee's: They believed only in the five books of Moses (the Laws). They didn’t believe in the resurrection, the afterlife, or in angels.
The Pharisees: They separated themselves from others and adhered to the Laws, the Prophets, and the Writings. They believed in resurrection, afterlife and of angels. While some might have made good Christians, others eventually did convert to Christianity.
The Essene's: These were the “good men- campers,” leaving the temple to retreat to isolated places like the mountains, deserts, and wilderness. They dedicated themselves to creating scrolls and doing their own thing. It’s believed that John the Baptist was an Essene.
The Zealots: Passionate and zealous, these campers believed in taking immediate action for God—whether by fighting against the Rules of the day or resisting paying taxes to them. They were fired up about reclaiming their land for God.
The Herodians: These were the “why can't we all just get along - campers". Half a believer is better than nothing. They believed in making peace, even with those who didn’t fully share their beliefs.
Around Jesus' campfires, harmony and gaiety were rare. In fact, the fire often sparked conflict and discord as they argued over matters of faith and life.
The disciples themselves were deeply divided. They were not a group that would have naturally chosen one another—and, truthfully, they didn’t. Jesus did. He chose to bring these clashing individuals together, knowing that their disagreements and challenges would shape them.
It wasn't only around the campfire. In every audience in the gospels, when Jesus made a statement, there was always someone who agreed—and someone who didn’t. Disagreement was inevitable.
But Jesus, our Camp Leader, handpicked each of them for His campfire. As the Master, He knew how to take people from where they were and mold them into who He wanted them to be.
As we follow the same Jesus and explore our Jewish roots, we too find ourselves surrounded by these same types of campers in our church communities and fellowship groups. Recognizing these backgrounds helps us understand that we, too, are in training to love one another gently, even with our differences. Our First Love, the Master, is committed to taking us from where we were to where He wants us to be.
Jesus is our example. We must learn to love one another unconditionally, just as He loved us—through eternity.
To truly love every camper in this world and for eternity, is part of my 1040 year plan.
Comments
Post a Comment