Pacific Waves
P.O. Box 1759
Pearl City, HI
96782

Phone: 808-456-1031
Email: ssimpson@rainbows.net

Address Correction Requested

Ebb Tide by Sandy Simpson

of the Pharisees and Sadducees" (Matthew 16:6, RSV) "and the leaven of Herod (Mark 8:15 , RSV). Leaven symbolizes human imperfection (see Exodus 12:15-20, 13:3-8; Leviticus 2:11; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8). Jesus was warning against mixing imperfect human ideas with God's truth. The Pharisees had mixed their own religious traditions with the teaching of the Scriptures; the Sadducees were the philosophers of Jewish society; and Herod represented the world system. These three influences--tradition, philosophy, and society--seem inevitably to work their way into and become part of the value system of any Christian community to such an extent that it is possible to be a Christian, but live almost entirely within a pagan value system, and not even perceive it. This possibility began

to dawn on me when we moved to Brazil and changed cultures. Culture is hardly perceived as long as we do not leave the only one we really know. A fish doesn't perceive the water in which it swims, and neither are we aware of our culture, or the influence it exerts on our thoughts and actions. Often we must step outside of it to understand it--and to understand ourselves!"

May we be the kind of "salt and light" to our cultures as the first century Christians were in their day. They refused to attend the dances and rituals dedicated to the worship of false gods and the Caesars, and were persecuted and killed for it. But because of their stand for the Gospel many believed and were saved!

Missionary Sandy Simpson is an evangelist and editor of Pacific Waves Newsletter.

This issue focuses on the need to bring all our cultures into line with the Bible. Jim Peterson said in his book "Living Proof": "

Jesus was speaking about this danger (of the influence of culture) in His comments on leaven (yeast). He warned His disciples to "beware of the leaven

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