What’s in a name?
Depending on who you are talking to you would probably get a different response, however it is fair to say that both past and present cultures have placed a great value on names.
In the Hebrew world a name didn’t just identify you it defined you. In our current Western culture we have seen a rising trend called branding. Basically, people hope that when you say the name of their product, church, company, etc…it will evoke a myriad of positive images that will cause you to do something. Something like buying a cup of coffee or referring that product to someone else.
Many of you have asked why did you name this blog, “outside the gate”. Here is the answer. My hope is to jump on the bandwagon we just spoke about. I hope that as you interact with this blog, as you hear its name, that it will evoke an image in your heart that will cause you to act. Act on what you might ask? Act on the greatest responsibility mankind was ever given. To bring the love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus to our communities and world through our words and deeds.
Outside the Gate speaks of the place where many people find themselves in relation to our God and churches. Often times there seems to be a great disconnect between the two.
Jesus calls all people in all conditions to come to Him, but many expressions of Western Christianity do not. Therefore, people who are far from God stay far from Him. Why? Because we have abandoned the words of Jesus and have become comfortable living inside the gate.
This blog is a call to all peoples, especially those who are in Christ to reconsider where they stand in light of Jesus’ Mission to redeem all things to himself.
So what do you think?
outside the gate 
Anthony, great stuff. Thank you for the time and thought put into this.
Hey Anthony, It’s great to see this blog coming on line and to see you taking another step toward the church plant and your ministry here in Daytona-Port Orange. I had a couple of Scriptures come to mind.
Hebrews 13:12-14 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
Here’s another:
Acts 16:13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.
So Jesus and Paul went outside the gate! Let’s go with them.
Peace, Larry
I like the face you put on this blog, may it be read plentifully.
Hey Anthony, glad to see you have the blog up and running:) I can definately relate to being “outside the gate”. I have a distinct memory from when I was 17….I vividly remember sitting down, feeling so alone and saying to myself, “Now I definately won’t go to heaven.” (which is strange I even thought about it at the time not growing up in a church.) But I believe God has kept that memory fresh in my mind so I remember where I’ve come from and where I am now in Him, and so that I can relate to those who ARE on the “outside of the gate.”
I’m so excited for the plant and look forward to reading this blog and hearing more about the progress!
Lindsey, I’m sorry you were treated that way, however your courage to be an agent of change is awesome.
I love that Jesus is said to have suffered outside to gate in order to communicate the sufficiency of His death for all peoples. May the people of Restoration catch this be a people going outside the gate.
Hey Anthony,
Great to see the journey continue. We pray that the community of Port Orange engages in the conversation and that your ministry there is fruitful for the Glory of God.
Awesome blog, looking forward to reading more!!!
Wonder why the time of my post shows 9:38PM, when it is 5:38PM??? Just wondering…..
The time was not set. I just fixed it. Thanks for catching that.
I feel like we are all (both CCC and Restoration) are at the beginning of a new part of our collective spiritual journey. Kinda scary, kinda exciting.
Hey Antwon,
I would propose that Jesus does not primarily “call all people in all conditions to come to him”. He goes to them. The phrase “outside the gate” comes from the letter to the Hebrews. The author speaks about Jesus as joining those “outside the gate” of Jerusalem where the “unclean” things are. He’s not calling people to himself from within the city. He’s more interested in joining all people in all conditions “outside the gate.” I love the name and I think it has a deep significance for mission and life in general. It’s about solidarity more than it is about a sales pitch. Maybe the way of Jesus is more about joining the plight of the oppressed than it is about saving souls.
PS…I can’t believe you joined the blogosphere. If anthony orzo has started a blog, i guess it’s the way of the future. Now I may have to jump on board…
Anthony, is an awsome friend and pastor. We will all benefit from hearing his thoughts on the church, culture, and the Christain life. There is no question in my mind he will put the city of Port Orange on the map as a mecca for mission! Peace my brother.
Hey I think one of the above comments talks about Jesus going to people “outside the gate” and it is undoubtedly true that Jesus does that and He does join “the plight of the oppressed.” But he really does call us all to come to him and he really does save our souls. In other words, I think it’s never “either this or that” with Jesus but always both or maybe some third way that combines what otherwise would not be found together. Jesus is the Lion and the Lamb not the lion or the lamb. In a similar way He offers both solidarity with the oppressed and salvation for the sinful. We need both.
He says “come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and you will find rest for your souls”. That’s recorded by Matthew. John says; Whoever is thirsty let him come and drink… isaiah said the same thing. That’s not a sales pitch its a free offer and it’s gospel. 1 Peter 1:9 talks about receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. So the salvation of our souls shouldn’t be shrugged off or minimized but like I said, it’s not either or, it’s both it’s about solidarity and salvation! As Hebrews says (13:12-14) Jesus suffered outside the city gate for this purpose: “to make the people holy through his own blood”. Wow!
I look forward to following this blog.
Whether God calls all people or only some, I know that He has called me. He has made Himself irresistable to me! I am so greatful that He did not harden my heart.
Please write more about living “outside the gate.” I am very interested in your thoughts on this. Are we as a christian community too comfortable with life inside the gate (ie: too many church functions that limit the time we spend among the lost)?
I will definetely spend some time in the future talking about how the Christ-follower lives for Jesus. To answer your question…Yes…we do spend too much time inside the gate.
Thanks Anthony, enjoy the rich imagery of rejection, acceptance, sacrifice, and ultimately redemption evoked by your blog title. So what does a church willing to go outside the gates both to identify with the oppressed and to demonstrate salvation look like?
Good question Jerry. I can give you the long or short answer for this. To save time, I’ll give you the short answer. A church that goes outside the gate is committed to living the life of Jesus Christ in everything that is said and done. It is a church that stands for the truth of the Gospel in both word and deed. It is a church that seeks to make a difference in the lives of the people she comes in contact with. To go outside the gate, is to allow Jesus to live vicariously through the people he has called to be ambassadors of redemption…us.