(Photo by Randy Faith on Unsplash)
Consider these verses of scripture.
We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. (Heb 13:10-14, ESV2011)
One time after failing to fit in and get along with Christians in many different churches, I cried out in frustration, “God! I don’t fit! I just don’t fit!” To my surprise He replied, “YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO FIT!” Abraham was a pilgrim and sojourner in a strange land where he even had to buy a plot of land to bury his wife Sarah when she died. If we are to find our place in HIS kingdom, we will not find a place in any other kingdom until we finally find our rest with Him. Yes, let us go to him outside the camp!
I recently found an amazing parody that explains my experiences in Christ. It was in chapter three of an insightful book by Brennan Manning, Lion and Lamb, the Relentless Tenderness of Jesus (Fleming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, NJ, 1986)
There are two visions of life, two kinds of people. The first group sees life as a possession to be carefully guarded. They are called settlers. The second group see life as a wild, fantastic, explosive gift. They are called pioneers.
These two types give rise to two kinds of theology: Settler Theology and Pioneer Theology. According to Wes Seeliger in his book, Western Theology, the first kind, Settler Theology, is an attempt to answer all the questions, define and housebreak some sort of Supreme Being, establish the status quo on golden tablets in cinemascope. Pioneer Theology is an attempt to talk about what it means to receive the strange gift of life. The Wild West is the setting for both theologies.
In Settler Theology, the church is the courthouse. It is the center of town life. The old stone structure dominates the town square. Its windows are small and this makes things dark inside. Within the courthouse walls, records are kept, taxes collected, trials held for bad guys. The courthouse is the settler’s symbol of law, order, stability, and—most importantly—security. The mayor’s office is on the top floor. His eagle eye ferrets out the smallest details of town life.
In Pioneer Theology, the church is the covered wagon. It’s a house on wheels, always on the move. The covered wagon is where the pioneers eat, sleep, fight, love and die. It bears the marks of life and movement—it creaks, is scarred with arrows, bandaged with baling wire. The covered wagon is always where the action is. It moves toward the future and doesn’t bother to glorify its own ruts. The old wagon isn’t comfortable, but the pioneers don’t mind. They are more into adventure than comfort.
In Settler Theology, God is the mayor. He is a sight to behold. Dressed like a dude from back East, he lounges in an over-stuffed chair in his courthouse office. He keeps the blinds drawn. No one sees him or knows him directly, but since there is order in town, who can deny that he is there? The mayor is predictable and always on schedule. The settlers fear the mayor, but look to him to clear the payroll and keep things going. Peace and quiet are the mayor’s main concerns. That’s why he sends the sheriff to check on the pioneers who ride into town.
In Pioneer Theology, God is the trail boss. He is rough and rugged, full of life. He chews tobacco, drinks straight whiskey. The trail boss lives, eats, sleeps, fights with his people. Their well-being is his concern. Without him the wagon wouldn’t move; living as a free man would be impossible. The trail boss often gets down in the mud with the pioneers to help push the wagon, which often gets stuck. He prods the pioneers when they get soft and want to turn back. His fist is an expression of his concern.
In Settler Theology, Jesus is the sheriff. He’s the guy who is sent by the mayor to enforce the rules. He wears a white hat, drinks milk, outdraws the bad guys. The sheriff decides who is thrown into jail. There is a saying in town that goes: those who believe the mayor sent the sheriff, and follow the rules, they won’t stay in Boot Hill when it comes their time.
In Pioneer Theology, Jesus is the scout. He rides out ahead to find out which way the pioneers should go. He lives all the dangers of the trail. The scout suffers every hardship, is attacked by the Indians. Through his words and actions he reveals the true intentions of the trail boss. By looking at the scout, those on the trail learn what it means to be a pioneer.
In Settler Theology, the Holy Spirit is the saloon girl. Her job is to comfort the settlers. They come to her when they feel lonely, or when life gets dull or dangerous. She tickles them under the chin and makes everything okay again. The saloon girl squeals to the sheriff when someone starts disturbing the peace.
In Pioneer Theology, the Holy Spirit is the buffalo hunter. He rides along with the covered wagon and furnishes fresh meat for the pioneers. Without it they would die. The buffalo hunter is a strange character—sort of a wild man. The pioneers can never tell what he will do next.
He scares the hell out of the settlers. He has a big black gun that goes off like a cannon. He rides into town on Sunday to shake up the settlers. You see, every Sunday morning, the settlers have a little ice cream party in the courthouse. With his gun in hand the buffalo hunter sneaks up to one of the courthouse windows. He fires a tremendous blast that rattles the whole courthouse. Men jump out of their skin, women scream, dogs bark. Chuckling to himself, the buffalo hunter rides back to the wagon train shooting up the town as he goes.
In Settler Theology, the Christian is the settler. He fears the open, unknown frontier. His concern is to stay on good terms with the mayor and keep out of the sheriff’s way. “Safety first” is his motto. To him the courthouse is a symbol of security, peace, order, and happiness. He keeps his money in the bank. The banker is his best friend. The settler never misses an ice cream party.
In Pioneer Theology, the Christian is the pioneer. He is a man of daring, hungry for a new life. He rides hard, knows how to use a gun when necessary. The pioneer feels sorry for the settlers and tries to tell them of the joy and fulfillment of life on the trail. He dies with his boots on.
In Settler Theology, the clergyman is the banker. Within his vault are locked the values of the town. He is a highly respected man. He has a gun, but keeps it hidden in his desk. He feels that he and the sheriff have a lot in common. After all, they both protect the bank.
In Pioneer Theology, the clergyman is the cook. He doesn’t furnish the meat. He just dishes up what the buffalo hunter provides. This is how he supports the movement of the wagon. He never confuses his job with that of the trail boss, scout, or the buffalo hunter. He sees himself as just another pioneer who has learned how to cook. The cook’s job is to help the pioneers pioneer.
In Settler Theology, faith is trusting in the safety of the town: obeying the laws, keeping your nose clean, believing the mayor is in the courthouse.
In Pioneer Theology, faith is the spirit of adventure: the readiness to move out, to risk everything on the trail. Faith is obedience to the restless voice of the trail boss.
In Settler Theology, sin is breaking one of the town’s ordinances.
In Pioneer Theology, sin is wanting to turn back.
In Settler Theology, salvation is living close to home and hanging around the courthouse.
In Pioneer Theology, salvation is being more afraid of sterile town life than death on the trail. Salvation is joy at the thought of another day to push on into the unknown. It is trusting the trail boss and following his scout while living on the meat furnished by the buffalo hunter.
The pioneers and the settlers portray in cowboy movie language the people of the law and the people of the Spirit. In the time of the historical Jesus, the guardians of the ecclesiastical setup, the scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees had ensconced themselves in the courthouse and enslaved themselves to the law. This not only enhanced their prestige in society, it also gave them a sense of security. People fear the responsibility of being free. It is often easier to let other people make decisions or to rely on the letter of the law. Some people want to be slaves.
After enslaving themselves to the letter of the law, such people go on to deny freedom to others. Jesus described them this way: “They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s solders, but they themselves are no willing to lift a finger to move them” (Matt. 23:4).
Jesus wanted to liberate His people from the law – from all laws. Under His word we become free people, people of the Spirit and the fellowship of free people grows up, as in the New Testament, beyond all kinds of theological disagreement.
It is in Galatians 5:1 that Paul writes, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. If we are not experiencing what Paul calls in Romans 8:21, “the glorious freedom of the children of God,” then we must acknowledged that his World has not taken sovereign possession of us, that we are not fully under the way of the Spirit. (end of excerpt)
Abraham was a pioneer and those who walk by faith as He did, following the Spirit of God, are also pioneers for he is the father of our faith. This is what it means to be the sons and daughters of God.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. (Heb 11:8-10, ESV2011)
A Wilderness Voice 
Hi Michael,
Didn’t fit with my Father. Same with my mother. Same with all my relatives Didn’t fit at school. I learned how to fake it (for my own survival!) Found Jesus at age 25. Found I fitted for the first time. At church I only fitted with some people but not others. Couldn’t stand the religious. Couldn’t stand the arrogant. Couldn’t stand the hypocrites. But I always felt comfortable with those who genuinely were satisfied to walk humbly with the Lord. Sort of tells the story, doesn’t it? After 75 years of living, nothing changes. I am not home yet. Soon will be. Then I definitely will fit.
Rick
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My dear brother Rick,
Thanks for writing. Man, do I relate. I soon will be 80 and this is the story of my life, always hoping to find my spiritual family, suffering one rejection after another with a brief time of having fellowship with true Saints of God in His love here and there. Right now we are meeting in a home with some other misfits and it has been good to have a sense of family again.
I think that Jesus warned us to watch out for the religious ones whom He called “snakes and vipers.” These make pretense of loving us so they can get under our guard, but are like that viper that Paul picked up thinking it was a stick that would give him warmth. As is the case with vipers, they attach themselves as they inject their venom (hypocrisy) until we become “twice the child of hell as they are.” We just have to remember to shake them off into the fire as Paul did and go on about His business of reaching out to the destitute rejects as Paul did with all those shipwrecked soul on that island.
Jesus told us that we were to take up OUR crosses and follow Him. I was thinking about the setting when He spoke those words. Where was He going … right into the heart of those who hated Him, the religious establishment. He said, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me” (John 15:20-21, KJ2000). Remember His reply to the ones that called Him, “Lord, Lord” and in their minds had done so many wonderful things in His name, “Depart from me you who work iniquity, I NEVER KNEW YOU much less have known [the Greek for this is an intimate knowing] Him. It is one thing to read all about Him in the Bible and quote volumes of scripture, but it is another thing to know Him as our Brother. I hope to get to know you better, my brother.
Michael
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Me too. 60 years old. Abusive childhood which included but was not limited to lying to me about who my biological father was. Atheist/ agnostics ( including mother) very angry when Jesus rescued me. Found out I was Mexican , mother disowned. Churches loving on a superficial level. Went on to be married to an abusive man.. hurting this morning.. the Lord has been turning my pain into poetry … a book is coming out in fall….. but… for that the publisher likes and has already placed the picture of me which my Ex took.. and turns out I have to ask him for permission to use… he hasn’t responded.. and it just takes me back to all his rejection and abuse… might sound silly .. but I’m really hurting this morning.. if you feel so led… would u please pray for me? The pioneering life with Jesus is the only only way to find life on this planet.. but I’m tired..
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Kimberly, thanks for writing and sharing your painful past. It is good to hear that you have found a constructive way to deal with your many wounds and the confusion of “not fitting” in this world. Jesus said, I have said all these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble: but take heart! I have overcome the world.”“ (John 16:33, BBE) It has taken me a lifetime to understand that as long as I focused on being “in the world” I would never fit in its systems (including religious ones) or amongst its people. It is IN Him that we can finally find peace and IN Him we become more than overcomers because HE is more than this world will ever be. Surrendering our lives fully to Him is the key. He must become our ALL in all.
The key is not only having faith in Him, but fully believing INTO Him.
At the end of His time on earth Jesus paryed:
Blessings IN Christ, dear sister,
Michael
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Yes.
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Dear sister Kimberly,
Your story moved me. I pray our Abba will hold you in his hands and show you each step to take, each word to say, and each thought to think.
Love in our Savior,
Louise
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Awesome! Thank you:)
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This article spoke to me, Michael.
It is always a lonely experience to be a pioneer on a new way unknown to ourselves than to step on a well-trodden path that offers no real surprises. However, it is a wonderful adventure to get to know the real God and to explore heavenly things of the Kingdom of God with our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
I just wanted to share a quote from T. Austin-Sparks’ book “Pioneers of the Heavenly Way”, chapter 1.
“But it is a costly and a suffering thing to come up against the religious system that has ‘settled down’ here. It is, I sometimes feel, far more costly than coming up against the naked world itself. The religious system can be more ruthless and cruel and bitter; it can be actuated by all those mean things, contemptible things, prejudices and suspicions, that you will not even find in decent people in the world. It is costly to go on to the heavenlies, it is painful; but it is the way of the pioneer, and it has to be settled that that is how it is. The phrase in this letter is, “Let us therefore go forth unto him without the camp” (Heb. 13:13) – and I leave you to decide what is the camp referred to there; it is not the world. “Unto him without the camp” means ostracism, suspicion.”
https://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/000987.html
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Susanne, my dear sister IN Christ, Thank you for commenting and sharing that passage from TA Sparks. Yes, as Sparks pointed out, we both have experienced rejection and loneliness most of our lives. We share a common “birthmark” that can be seen by the enemies of Christ and the demons as well. I once saw a “Far Side” cartoon in which two buck dear were standing on their hind legs talking. The one had a red bullseye on his chest. The other was saying to him, “Bummer birthmark, Hal!” God knew us from the foundation of the world and has put in us a hunger to be close to Him and know Him as Father. It has made us different and not of this world system and its people no matter how hard we have tried to “fit in.”
When I met my wife, Dorothy, she had been raised in a “Bible church” and was attending a Christian college at that time. I was raised a Catholic and knew nothing about the scriptures. We were in our early twenties and she saw the difference in me and later remarked to others, “Michael has a deep desire to know God that I have never seen seen among my peers.” Not long after we got married I was exposed to the gospel of Christ for the first time and that hunger has continued to grow.
Susanne, for the last ten plus years since you first commented on this blog our fellowship, though we have been separated by thousands of miles, has drawn us closer to Jesus and our Father. Thank you for sharing your godly insight and encouraging fellowship even though we have been physically distant all this time.
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You are very welcome, my dear brother. Indeed, in December it will be 11 years since I commented on your blog for the first time although I was a silent reader of AWV since October 2013, waiting on God when He would allow me to make myself known to you. 😇
Thank you for being such a faithful brother in Christ for me! Your consistent prayers through numerous trials meant a lot to me. 🙏🏻🕊🌈👍🏻
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It has been a joy to fellowship with you and to know you not only in this world, but also by the Spirit. I am looking forward to spending eternity not only with you, but with all His true saints who I have come to know along the way.
Therefore from now on know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet from now on know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2Cor 5:16-17, KJ2000)
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It has been my pleasure and joy to be able to fellowship with you, Michael.
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This spoke to me, Michael. It’s a little weird to think of a hard drinking trail boss as God, but it fits. I find myself vacillating between pioneer and settler, but pioneer is more exciting.🤩
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Well, Jesus came both eating and drinking with sinners and the religious Jews called Him a wine-bibber (someone who drinks a lot of wine) and a glutton. John the Baptist came neither eating or drinking and they said he had a demon. Go figure!
Yes, pioneering is MUCH more exciting and real, my dear sister. Frankly, I get along with this world’s sinners than I do with religious folks. It is good to know you and read your heart felt comments. May our Father continue to draw you ever deeper into His loving heart.
Michael
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Michael, on the phone it did not work, but on the computer. Here eventually is the URL to Brennan Manning’s expository and Spirit-led teaching and preaching regarding settlers and pioneers.
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Thanks for finding this version of Pioneers vs. Settlers and posting it. At about the nineteen minute point of this video He goes beyond what I posted above and goes beyond this parable and personalizes it in such a way that it makes one think about our own relationship with Jesus and where we sell Him short of the depths of the friendship He desires with us in the Spirit.
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As far as I can see it, Michael, it starts at 11:45 when Manning begins by saying, “My friends….” explaining settlers as keepers of the law and then goes on to preach.
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You are very welcome, Michael.
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Brother Michael
This post is timely for me. It’s been years since I have been to your site and I actually had spoken to you on the phone back around 2001. I guess I’m still in the wilderness presently and still learning to live like a pioneer since I don’t fit in. What I do know and continue to do is keep my eyes on him who fills all things and is all in all. Blessings!
Shalom
Mike
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Wow! That has been 23 years ago! Well, Mike, it is good to hear that you are still “looking unto Jesus who is the Author and the FINISHER of your faith.” Thanks for your encouragement, my brother.
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This is good:) yes:)
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Thanks, Kimberly. I am getting to really appreciate the things that were written by Brennan Manning. He really brings forth the liberty that is ours as we walk by the Spirit IN Christ.
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