Joshua was told to build an altar when he crossed the Jordan

Deuteronomy 27:6 Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:

There were additional conditions placed upon Joshua's altar of stones.

Deuteronomy 27:2 And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister:

The stones were to be plastered white which is a metaphor like clothed in white linen.

Deuteronomy 27:3 And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.

They were also to have the law written upon them before they passed over the Jordan. Does anyone really imagine that the God of the universe cares whether you cover stones with plaster or write words on them.

God makes it clear that he wishes to make a covenant with men where he writes his laws upon their hearts and minds and not only on dead stone. These stones and altars were an external form that shadowed the things to come and in some ways were better understood in the practical necessities of the day than they are understood in the hollowed halls of learned seminarians or the people today.

The altars of sacrifice were instruments of sacrifice and trust used to exercise and practice the system and character of God the Father on earth. The Hebrew word for offer is korban [Nbrq qorban]. Some scholars say that the word korban does not have the idea of gift at the center of its meaning. Their conclusion is based on the fact that korban is from the word qarab [brq] which is also translated offer but means come or draw near. True giving in charity does draws us near the character of God. More than anything else charity includes in its operation both love and faith with the byproduct of hope.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.

It is not the shape or color of the altar or the etching upon it but the act of giving and giving away that consecrates the dead stones of man's altars. God's stone altars are made of living flesh, made of men who have his law written upon their hearts and upon their minds.

1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

If you are to build an altar of living stone it should be built in the fashion laid down from the beginning, precept upon precept. The stones should not be hewn by the regulations and iron controls of men but left free to give and be given to by faith, hope and charity. Choosing daily under the law of liberty to consume our bread or cast it upon the waters of humanity.

Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

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