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Arthur Pigdon Seeds of the Spirit (2001) |
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God intended that his covenant people would survive in the desert. He did not send the manna because of their grumbling but because of their need. He promised to provide for them and he did. But they had not had enough experience of God to learn to trust him. The Egyptian plagues and deliverance should have built up their trust but they had not learned the lesson. That generation was the grumbling generation. Although God provided the food it was supplied afresh each day and had to be gathered daily. God's provision always has an element of our active participation. God does what we cannot do but we must do what we can do to provide for our daily needs. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus promises that the physical needs of those who put God first will be met. Our first duty is to trust God and to be obedient to his commands. God will honour our faith and trust in him and will supply our needs when we pass through our desert experiences. Gathering the manna was a tedious and monotonous daily chore. We may have to do humble and boring work to survive but that may be God's provision for us. |
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The Amalekite tribe attacked the Israelites, who had to defend themselves. Moses stood on the top of the hill with the staff of God in his hands and raised his hands towards heaven in an attitude of prayer. The staff was the instrument of God's power that Moses had used in Egypt to perform miracles. His action demonstrated that although the Israelites had to actively defend themselves their victory was due to God's power and not to their fighting ability When Moses' hands grew heavy from being upraised, Aaron stood on one side of him and Hur on the other and supported his hands and the staff he held and so the Israelites were victorious. God was using the everyday experiences of life to teach his people that they could not achieve things in their own power but that he was their strength in all circumstances. Purely human success fosters human pride and the feeling that God is unnecessary. When we commit every day's events and transactions to God in prayer we honour him by our dependence and trust and we retain the very important quality of humility. |
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God has no favourites. He chose Abraham's descendants for a specific mission. They were to be a kingdom of priests. A priest's role is to be a 'go between' between God and men. He represents them before God and is God's minister to them. Israel was to be a holy nation and a model for the nations. God used the Israelites to be the recipients of his message and the channel of his self-revelation to all nations. The whole of the Bible, except Luke's writings, was written by Israelites. It has set the standard of human behaviour for the Western world for centuries. Holiness was a dominant characteristic of God's people. They were to be a holy nation reflecting the holiness of the God whom they worshipped. The prophets of Israel set a moral standard for all mankind. Because God chose them for this mission he called them his 'treasured possession'. Their most famous prophet, Jesus, has become the potential Saviour of all people. He is the only one who offers forgiveness and eternal life to all. Through him all nations will be blessed as God promised Abraham. Peter reminded the Gentile believers that they were to continue this priestly function to all nations. (1 Peter 2:9) |
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This was a most significant moment in Israel's history. For the first and only time God met with the whole company of Israel at Mount Sinai. It was here that they entered into a covenant with God and they were transformed from a rabble of refugee slaves into a nation with a detailed, written code of law and a prescribed form of worship and ritual. Thus their social relationships and obligations to each other and their relationship and obligations to God were incorporated into a binding covenant. Judaism and Christianity are both based on the belief that God has communicated with humanity. They are not man-made religions but are the result of the revelation of the divine will. Later revelations were given to individual prophets, but Sinai is unique. When Moses went and told the people all the Lord's words and laws, they responded with one voice, "Everything the Lord has said we will do." Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said . . . Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you:" (Exodus 24:3, 7, 8) Under the new covenant we must each enter into an individual covenant to serve the Lord. |
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Life has to be more than work. We all need times of relaxation and celebration. For Israel these were religious holy days. This is the origin of modern holidays for these celebrations were times of no work and joyous celebration. God commanded that one day in seven should be a Sabbath. The Hebrew word for Sabbath does not mean Saturday; it means 'to cease' or 'rest'. The three annual festivals were to be holidays. They were all occasions of joyous celebration. Passover celebrated their deliverance from Egypt, Harvest celebrated the first fruits of harvest and the giving of the law at Mt Sinai and Ingathering celebrated the end of harvest and the end of the years of the journey in the wilderness. Israel's religion was a celebration of their history and their seasonal activities. It was associated with what God had done for the nation and his continuing provision for their sustenance. Our worship of God should not be something apart from life but a joyous celebration of God's goodness and daily provision. There is an essential communal element in worship. A person's faith is open to question if they absent themselves from times of worship and celebration. |
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Our greatest need is for guidance. We have not passed this way before. We are always explorers, ever moving forward into new territory and experiences. We are constantly forced to make decisions at life's crossroads where there are no signposts. There are three notable phrases here: (1) 'The place I have prepared'--God has a plan for our lives. We are not to do our own 'thing'. We are to ft in with God's plan. (2) 'I am sending an angel.' 'The angel of the Lord' is a recurring reference in scripture. He represents God's presence and can be equated with the Holy Spirit. He is God's Spirit and he therefore is called holy. He communicates with our spirit and sows thoughts and creative ideas into our minds. God wants his people to have a guide on their daily journey into the unknown. (3) 'Ahead of you to guard you.' Not just with us but ahead of us. Before the situation arises God has anticipated it and adjusted his guidance to life's ever-changing circumstances. Our part is to learn to listen and then pay attention. God wants to direct our steps to the place he has prepared. He has a plan for our life and he has sent his Spirit to guide us on our journey. |
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The word 'sanctuary' is an interesting word. It means 'a place set apart'. It comes from the same root as 'sanctify', 'sanctification' and 'holy'. This is clearer in the Hebrew language where the words are qadesh, qodosh and miqdash. These words represent a key biblical concept of separation. Israel was to be different from all other nations. As God's people they were to be holy, that is, they were to be set apart to co-operate with God for the fulfilling of his purpose for all nations. God had set them apart for himself by his call to Abraham and his covenant with them. To maintain and foster this unique relationship God commanded them to set apart a special place, a sanctuary, where he could meet with them. While they were moving during the wilderness years they used a tabernacle (tent). When they settled in Canaan they built the temple. Christians are also God's special people. They have set themselves apart to do God's will in response to God's invitation through Christ. They also need a sanctuary where they can hear the word of the Lord. Worship is not only to help the worshippers maintain their faith. In fact, it is primarily to offer God the homage and praise he properly deserves. |
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God impressed on the Israelites the supreme importance of maintaining a right relationship and constant communication with himself. To facilitate this he ordained a priestly class that would be perpetuated by heredity. This ensured their unquestioned authority and their continuity. They were not subject to dismissal. Their role was to represent the people before God. To do this they offered daily and annual sacrifices for the sins of the people. In Exodus 19:6 we noted that God had declared the whole nation to be a kingdom of priests for all the nations. In 1 Peter 2:9 we are told that Christians are also called to this priestly role to minister to all who do not know the living God. Peter says, 'You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.' Jesus never intended that only professional ordained persons should be his priests. The Bible emphasises the priesthood of all believers. Under the new covenant we do not need a priest to represent us before God. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man--he has replaced the Aaronic priesthood. |
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God instructed Moses to institute a system of animal sacrifices as an atonement for their sins. It is important to understand the significance of atonement. The word itself is not a translation but is a coined Anglo-Saxon word that expresses the idea behind the Hebrew word kaphar, which means 'covered'. Through the sacrifice of a substitute animal the people's sins were considered covered and, as it were, no longer seen by God--they were expiated. The sinner was no longer regarded as guilty and in this ritually acquired righteousness could be reconciled to a holy God. The life was in the blood so the offering of the blood of the sacrifice was an act of atonement and reconciliation. By this ritual sins were treated seriously and God's merciful nature revealed. It is only by understanding the Old Testament system of sacrifice that we can appreciate the full significance of Jesus' death. He said, 'This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.' (Matthew 26:28. See also 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Hebrews 9:11-14.) The blood of Christ covers our sins and makes atonement for us. Through Christ we are reconciled to God. |
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In pagan religions there was no connection between religion and morality. God taught Israel that he required a certain standard of social behaviour, summed up in the term 'holy' or 'righteous'. We first noted this word three days ago in the notes for 7 February. The essential nature of the religion of the Israelites was based on the character of the God they worshipped. God was holy, therefore his people must be holy also. The character of God is gradually revealed in scripture and is expressed in the commandments he gave Israel to observe. His essential nature is love, and his character is goodness. The first commandment was to love God and this implied loving goodness and acting in a loving way towards all people. Another feature of God's dealing was justice, therefore the people must always be just, fair and impartial in their dealings with each other. God was also merciful and forgiving. These qualities are expressed in the laws that God gave the nation through Moses. They were commanded to consecrate themselves, that is, to set themselves apart by an act of will and commitment to be like the God they worshipped. As we worship God we grow to be like him. |
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This command does not deal with action or behaviour but with feelings and attitude, which are the sources from which action springs. Holiness went beyond behaviour and included feelings and attitudes. Hatred, grudges and vengeance were forbidden. Those were the negative aspects. The more important feature is the positive command, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' Love has been defined as 'an earnest and anxious desire for, and an active and beneficent interest in, the wellbeing of the one loved'. It does not always have an emotional content. If we truly observe this command to love others the negative forbidden aspects will look after themselves. Many people see Christianity as a restrictive way of life defined by prohibitions. These restrictions are only God's danger signs on the journey of life. The essence of Judaism and Christianity is to love God and our fellow men and women. When we find it hard to love a particular person we need to remind ourselves that God still loves them. If we ask him to love them through us and pray for God to bless them we will overcome the forbidden negative attitudes. |
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God specifies what he means by being holy in the detailed instructions found in the Bible. God is the only spirit who should guide and direct his people. He acknowledges the reality of other spirits that are false or evil. In Deuteronomy 18:9-14 more details are given and Isaiah 8:19 sees guidance from mediums as a rejection of God's guidance. God forbade human sacrifice, divination (tarot cards), sorcery, omens, witchcraft, casting of spells, and mediums who profess to communicate with the dead. Some of these practices have been revived recently by the New Age movement. God has spoken very strongly against these practices and we place ourselves at great risk if we dabble in them. God's people should turn to him in prayer and seek his guidance. Seeking to communicate with other spirits and the spirits of the dead is an abomination to God. Holiness means separating ourselves from these pagan practices, which can lead to a person being possessed by evil spirits. We should seek guidance only from the Spirit of God. Our highly civilised Western society has ceased to believe in evil spirits but more primitive societies are very much aware of their reality and power. |
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The sexual force in men is so strong that it has led to many perversions. One of these is today called homosexuality. The practice was common in Moses' day. The men of Sodom were notorious for it and hence the practice is often called sodomy. A sodomite was also commonly called 'a dog'. Deuteronomy 23:17-18 says that the earnings of both female and male prostitutes were unacceptable as an offering to God. The Hebrew word used to designate a male prostitute in this passage is 'dog'. In Revelation 22:15 we are told that dogs are excluded from the holy city. Why exclude one specific animal? The reference is to homosexuals. Copulation between males is a perversion. The celebration of a homosexual lifestyle is more than a perversion. It is an attitude of defiance against God and his commands. In Romans 1:26-27 Paul calls lesbians and homosexuals 'shameless'. To celebrate such practices in public celebrations is to celebrate shameless perversion. Nevertheless Christians should act with due understanding and concern towards those who became involved before they knew the Biblical teaching on homosexuality. |
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The whole chapter needs to be read to get the full force of these three alternatives. In this chapter, and even more so in Deuteronomy 28, God sets out the consequences of obedience, of disobedience and of repentance. Obedience would bring blessings and prosperity, disobedience would result in adversity and hardship and repentance would restore the blessings. Obedience would result in fertility, prosperity and peace or victory over enemies. Disobedience would have far-reaching consequences of sickness, poor harvest, defeat in battle, destruction of cities and deportation. We often learn only by experience. Despite the warning of this chapter Israel did reject God's way and suffered the predicted consequences. But a wonderful promise gave hope for restoration. 'When they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them, I am the Lord their God' (Leviticus 26:44) God has so ordered the world that it pays to be good and those who ignore or disobey God's commands suffer the consequences. God blesses, protects and provides for those who enter into a covenant with him. |
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This is the famous Aaronic benediction still used at the close of synagogue worship, where it can only be pronounced by a descendant of Aaron. God said, 'So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.' (Numbers 6:27) Note the threefold blessing, 'The Lord bless . . . the Lord make . . . the Lord turn . . .' It is the Lord God who produces the blessing. It is not enough merely to observe the commandments and live a good life. We need to link our lives with God, the source of all goodness and blessing. When Moses was sent by God to free the Israelite slaves in Egypt the only resources he had were God's rod and God's promise that he would go with him. We need God's presence and blessing to enable us to overcome the evil within us and around us and to free us from its power. There is power in God's name. In some pagan religions great importance is placed on the power of a curse--in Judaism and Christianity the blessing of God has power to impart good to those on whom it is conferred. But as we saw yesterday, God's blessing is only effective to those who are wise and heed God's word. |
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God provided food for the Israelites in the barren wilderness. Every morning they gathered the manna but they missed the savoury vegetables of Egypt. When they came to the borders of Canaan they sent spies to report on the conditions there. Ten of the twelve spies gave an adverse report. The people were frightened and discouraged and they forgot God's promises and his past blessings. They wanted to go back to Egypt. When we are confronted with difficulties we are all tempted to give up our vision and go back to the life we knew before we became Christians. When we start grumbling we are expressing our lack of faith in God's promise. God never permits us to avoid the normal hardships and struggles of our human existence but he does promise to be with us at all times. Paul refers to this period in Israel's history in 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, and Hebrews 11 reminds us that we must not look back or be discouraged by adverse circumstances but hold firmly to the call of God and our own commitment. Internal disunity is the greatest danger the church has to face. Don't be one of the 'knockers' but one of those who have vision and faith. |
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Here the writer of the book of Numbers is quoting from the previous book called 'The Book of the Wars of the Lord'. This is an interesting sidelight on how the Bible was written. Some is history, some hymns or poetry, some philosophy, some laws, some biography. It was written by men and the writers were sometimes recording what they had experienced (2 Peter 1:16), sometimes recording prophecies received from the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21) and sometimes recording their findings based on thorough research of their subject (Luke 1:1-4). In this passage in Numbers we have a quotation from another historical source. The Jewish Bible (the Old Testament) was mainly written by the prophets and the New Testament by the apostles. Thus the spiritual leaders' words became the authority for subsequent generations. Peter said that no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men were moved by the Holy Spirit. The Greek word 'moved' (pheromenoi) is a word that depicts a sailing ship being driven before a strong wind. The biblical writers were inspired and carried along by the strong leading of the Holy Spirit in their choice of material. The Bible is our only authority in scriptural matters. It is God's word to us. |
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Zelophehad had no sons but five daughters. These daughters asked to be given land that would have come to their family if there had been a son. It appears to be the first case of women seeking equal rights with men. God upheld their claim and instructed Moses to allot them the right of inheritance to their father's property. This establishing of a woman's right of inheritance was probably a pioneering decision far ahead of the customs of the time. In most pagan societies women have been, and often still are, considered inferior and the property of their husbands. Women are never treated as inferior in the Bible. In the Old Testament some women became national leaders. In the New Testament Paul tells us that in Christ there is neither male nor female but all are one in him. God made us male and female and both are of equal status and importance in his eyes. Women should always be treated with respect and their dignity and rights preserved. Husbands are to love their wives and men are to treat all women as sisters. Christian men must always champion the rights of women. |
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In these twelve verses the boundaries of the land Israel was to occupy and possess were very specifically stated. They were not to engage in conquest of other lands and nations. The towns, mountains, lakes, rivers and ocean were specified so that we know exactly the area designated the Promised Land. Today it is considered an immoral act to invade, conquer and occupy another nation's territory. How do we justify Israel's conquest of Canaan? It was an act of divine judgment. They were idol worshippers. (Numbers 33:51-53) They followed wicked practices. (Deuteronomy 9:4) They offered their children as burnt sacrifices to their gods. (Deuteronomy 12:31) Israel's God was holy--he drove out the Canaanites so that he could create a caring society committed to justice and righteousness. (See Numbers 33:55-56.) Since the state of Israel was founded in 1948 there has been frequent internal controversy about the state's boundaries. Some Orthodox Jews believe that those ancient borders should still apply today while others take a more pragmatic view. But whatever the borders there is no doubt that the land between the Jordan River and the sea is Israel's homeland. |
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The title 'Deuteronomy' literally means 'second law'. It was forty years since Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt. The generation of slaves had grown old and died in the wilderness. Their children had grown to maturity and they were hardened and fit from their life in the desert. They were ready to begin the conquest of Canaan. Moses had grown too old to lead them into Canaan so before he handed the leadership over to Joshua he addressed the nation and taught them again the commandments God had given him. This book is the voice of experience. Moses shows his concern that the people should love, serve and obey the Lord and he speaks prophetically in chapter 28 and warns them of the future that will befall them if they turn away from God. He tells them that man does not live by bread alone and warns them that when they become prosperous they must not forget and forsake God who is the one who gives power to acquire wealth (Deuteronomy 8:11-18). He predicted that they would lend to many nations. (Deuteronomy 15:6) They were never to forget that they were God's people and must behave accordingly. (Deuteronomy 14:1-2) |
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The Jewish people consider this verse to be the most important verse in scripture. It is called The Shema (Hebrew for 'hear'). It is the affirmation of monotheism and proclaims the uniqueness of the God of Israel and also his unity or oneness. It also declares our proper response to this supreme being. We are to love him above all else with our whole being. He is to have priority over all our other interests and loyalties. Jesus called it the greatest commandment and added the words 'with all your mind' (Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27). The only way we can prove our love to God is to do what he asks us to do. Obedience is the test of our love to him. In everything we do there is always a right way to do it. In human skills we learn this by experience. There are countless wrong ways. We have only one life to live and our heavenly Father does not want us to waste it by wrong and harmful actions. He says, Love Me, Trust Me, Obey Me, for this is the way of life. To love God in this way, giving him first place in our lives, is extremely important because when we allow our own selfish desires to dominate us we destroy ourselves and the harmony of society. |
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The divine instructions that God gave Moses for the people were not the fruit of human invention or experience but were divinely revealed truths. Because of this the following generations would not know this wisdom unless they were taught. This was the responsibility of parents, not priests. Nor were they to be forgotten by the adults. They were instructed to talk about them in their homes, on their journeys, on going to bed and on rising. They were to be written on the doorposts of their houses and bound to their hands and between their eyes. This command gave rise to the Jewish practice of wearing tephillin (two leather boxes containing scripture texts) during prayer, and attaching a mezuzah (box containing scripture) at their front doors. God was concerned that the words of his revelation should be remembered and passed on to each succeeding generation. They were committed to writing and the Torah (the books of Moses) is the most treasured possession of the Jewish people. We should likewise treasure the words of Jesus and speak together of them often and teach them to our children by both precept and example. |
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If we forget God we attribute any prosperity we may achieve to our own efforts and we become proud. We also regard our wealth as ours to spend however we wish--but since we must answer to God for all our actions we are really only stewards of our possessions and are accountable for the use we make of all that we 'own'. God clearly teaches that all society is interconnected and that we each have a responsibility for the welfare of all. God instructed Moses to provide for the poor: God's people were to lend to each other without charging interest, they were to leave some corn and fruit for the poor and they were to be generous to the needy with special care for orphans and widows. God's instructions acknowledged the right of private ownership, but also provided for the needy, not so much by law as by an obligatory generosity. If today's wealthy individuals were to live by God's standard the shocking inequalities of our society would be eliminated. Our greatest need is a caring society. Many of today's caring organisations have been founded by (and are often supported by) people who have been influenced by biblical ethics. |
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In life we must choose between good and evil. Blessing signifies good and curse signifies evil. God respects the freedom he has given us. He does not pronounce a blessing or a curse on us, he simply sets them before us. The choice is ours. Living God's way results in blessing (good). Ignoring God's commands results in evil (curse). Obedience is the determining factor. In Deuteronomy 30:15, 19 blessing is equated with life and curse with death. When Moses made his last address to the people, he urged them to choose obedience and life. It would be a misunderstanding of scripture to say that God puts a curse on those who disobey him. Jesus also spoke of blessings and curses in a way that showed the essential connection between right behaviour and happiness and wrong behaviour and misery. (Matthew 25:34, 41) To choose to obey God and follow the teaching of Jesus requires an act of faith and a conscious decision to choose God's way. It is the proof that we love and trust God. We are confronted with these two alternatives throughout our lives. Our human freedom is a wonderful thing but it is also frightening. We choose our own destiny. |
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God, as the Heavenly Father of all people, always shows a concern for the welfare of all. He did not formalise and legalise welfare as we have done in the modern welfare state. He used a more effective method. He laid down the principle that it was everybody's responsibility to see that nobody's basic needs were not met. 'Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted towards your poor brother . . . freely lend him whatever he needs.' (chapter 15:7-8) Sometimes we withhold help because people's poverty is due to their own folly, but God's love does not impose any such restrictions. Not only was each one obliged to give but they were not to begrudge giving help. (verse 10) Jesus pointed out that giving to others had a beneficial reciprocal effect. 'Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use, it will be measured to you.' (Luke 6:38) We do not always get it back from the person to whom we give, but the principle is true. True followers of Christ are generous, caring people. |
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Worshipping, serving and obeying God should never deteriorate to a duty and a burden. God wants us to serve him with joyfulness and gladness of heart. People quite properly turn away from religion if it stifles the spirit and becomes a kill-joy. God has given us good reason to praise him with joy and to go about our daily responsibilities with 'gladness of heart'. Moses here gives the reason for joyful worship as 'the abundance of all things'. God has given us life itself and beautiful fruits, grains and vegetables and meat to sustain life. We have the faculties of sight, hearing and taste plus the beauties of nature with mountains, valleys, oceans and beaches. We live in a paradise richly endowed by our Creator. We have every reason to lift our vision beyond purse and pleasure and serve the Lord with joy and gladness of heart. If worshipping and serving God deteriorates to a tiresome duty the death of our faith is not far away. When we serve the gods of pleasure, profit and fame, our selfishness becomes our downfall. Those who worship God with joy and gladness enrich their lives. |
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The Israelites were a warlike people and it may come as a surprise that God placed their army under his own personal command. We cannot read the ethics of Jesus back into Old Testament history. It is hard to find support for a war of conquest in Jesus' teaching, but it is clearly approved by God in the conquest of Canaan. The 'man' Joshua saw was an angel from the Lord. He commanded Joshua to remove his shoes for he was in God's presence and on holy ground. He carried a sword, the instrument of war, death and conquest. He appeared to show Joshua that it was God who would give Israel victory, not their own military might. Joshua was to look to God for his strategy. The strategy for the conquest of the first city, Jericho, would be laughed to scorn by any military leader. It gave no credit to Israel's army, but instead showed the power of God. (See Joshua 6.) Note that when Joshua challenged the angel to declare whose side he was on he replied, 'Neither.' God does not take sides in any war but he punishes evil wherever it flourishes. God is impartial in his dealings with us. |
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The whole history of Israel inseparably connects their lives with the purpose, provision and protection of the Lord. They had a part to play, but there was no basis for pride; whatever they had was due to the goodness, wisdom and greatness of God. This is a lesson we are slow to learn. There is a proper pride in our own achievements and in a job well done, but we must never forget to thank and praise God for the faculties of body and mind that enable us to do these things. Joshua 24:13 again confronts us with the morality of the conquest of Canaan. This is the same question of the morality of God's judgment on the people of Noah's day and the use of the Babylonian nation to overthrow the later idol worship and pagan practices of Israel. God is judge as well as Lord and both Old and New Testaments show that God will judge evil and wickedness not only at a final day of judgment but as he deems necessary. There is an inbuilt inevitability about life. As we sow, so we reap. |
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You may wonder what value a passage like this has for our generation. It actually contains a very relevant and important message for Christians today. It tells us that the Israelite's conquest of Canaan was far from complete. They conquered most of the Canaanite tribes but they made slaves of them instead of driving them out. The result was that they continued to live in close proximity to the pagan Canaanites; their cultures intermingled, they intermarried and they were influenced by the pagan Canaanite religious rites. It was this compromise with the surrounding culture that ultimately led to Israel's downfall and exile. (Numbers 33:55-56) Every Christian is confronted by this same situation. How can we maintain the purity of our faith when we are surrounded by a culture whose values are not Christian? The best solution is the one adopted by the Jews during their long exile. Like them, we must establish a counterculture in our churches and homes where we set the Christian example before our children so that they will grow up accepting Christian values. If our young people do not have a superior, alternative lifestyle set before them in this way they will inevitably drift into the godless lifestyle of our modern pagan culture. |
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Arthur Pigdon Seeds of the Spirit (2001) |
| Copyright © 1997, 2001 by Arthur Pigdon |