Page 5 - Foundations

The Foundation of Truth, Wisdom, and Knowledge

An appropriate place to begin a book titled FOUNDATIONS is to speak of the foundation of
Christian truth. Where does spiritual revelation come from? How does a man or woman arrive at the
knowledge of the truth, specifically those truths that are the focus of the Bible? Let us begin to
answer these questions by considering what passes for truth today.

At this present hour there are a myriad of books being marketed to the millions who identify
themselves as Christians. Many of these books are fantastical. Their subject matter ranges from
stargates to nephilim, ancient astronauts (aliens) to the spawn of the serpent and Eve. These writings
allure with a promise of mysteries explained. They titillate with conspiratorial theories of the
working of Satan in these last days before the return of Christ.

These books are rife with error, spurious conjecture, and unsupported speculation. Imaginative
descriptions of the ancient history of the creation, and spectacular predictions of future events, are
boldly proclaimed. A wide range of Scripture passages are cited as “proof” of an author’s theories.
Yet, a careful examination of the Scriptural interpretations and arguments presented reveals their
naked deception. Sensational doctrines are revealed to be founded upon faulty exegesis (critical
explanation or interpretation of a text, especially of Scripture). The author is revealed to have
practiced unethical eisegesis (an interpretation that expresses the interpreter's own ideas, or bias,
rather than the meaning of the text).

Nevertheless, many readers never discover the error. The vast majority of Christians today have
neglected to devote themselves to the study of the word of God. In fulfillment of the ministry
entrusted to me, I encounter these individuals frequently. I am appalled at the absence of Bible
knowledge among people who have been Christians 5, 10, 20, even 30 years or more. Many have
rarely opened the Bible outside of a church service. Few have made the apprehension of Biblical
truth a focus of their lives. They have been content to let others tell them what to believe, and to
permit strangers to interpret the Bible for them.

One of the complaints I frequently hear in letters sent to me is that the Bible is a closed book, hard
to understand, and that study of it is dry and bereft of fruit for the individual. Having found the Bible
to be an enigma, its treasures difficult to mine, its secrets shrouded as if by an impenetrable veil,
many Christians lose interest. Because the fruit of knowledge and understanding does not drop
readily into their grasp, many Christians abandon personal Bible study.

The veil over the Scriptures perceived by these individuals is not an illusion. It is quite real. In the
Bible we read: