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that what comes down from above is “pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning (uncontentious), unfeigned.” (chapter 3:17). What we have in the Scriptures is, being indited by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, wholesome and not, to quote James again, “death-bringing poison” (chapter 3:8). If we are being influenced by public opinion and what comes to us via the media we may find that we are being led in the wrong direction, that is, away from God. A verse which my father was very fond of quoting was: “Thou shalt not follow the multitude for evil” (Exodus 23:2). Christ speaks of the many that are on the broad way and the few that are on the straitened way (Matthew 7:13/14). If we find ourselves following the trends in the world we need to consider our spiritual whereabouts. John speaks of the whole world as lying in the wicked one (or wickedness) (1 John 5:19). Apart from the Scriptures and other wholesome literature the company of God’s people should provide a sphere in which the Christian can breathe the atmosphere of heaven.
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