The Bible - Foundation of Knowledge or Ignorance

The word of God is the foundation of knowledge. In 1963 any visitor to the Ambassador College campus in California could read those words inscribed on the academic hall. Instructors taught that the Bible contains spiritual knowledge, that if followed, would lead to great blessings in life. During that same year, 1963, the United States Supreme Court barred government-sponsored recitation of the Lord's Prayer and Bible reading. The court's decision assisted in bringing about a decline in Bible knowledge. One Gallup survey reported in broad terms there was first a post-World War II surge of interest in religion characterized by increased church membership and attendance, a growth in Bible reading, increased giving to churches and in extensive church building. The surge lasted until the late 1950s or early 1960s when it was replaced by a decline in the religious interest and involvement in the 1960s and 1970s. The Supreme Court decision wasn't the only factor in this decline in Bible knowledge, but it did lay the groundwork for diminishing the respect and influence of the Bible in public education. A growing number of people began viewing scripture as a foundation of ignorance. The scriptural principles were out of date and were not scientifically valid. Many were emboldened to experiment with different lifestyles contrary to biblical laws. Leaders in society followed a humanistic approach to morality based on human reason and desire. Even some theologians began dismissing much of scripture as primitive concepts in an unenlightened age.

Now over 40 years later, those who were once children back in 1963 are grown up. As mature adults they represent husbands and wives, parents, managers, business owners, educators, politicians, military leaders, religious leaders, social workers, scientists, laborers, government workers, judges and a whole host of other positions. Over 40 years later, what are the results in their lives of neglecting the Bible and its laws and principles?

An NBC news Wall Street Journal poll asked the question, "Thinking back to when you were growing up, would you say that the social and moral values of the United States were the same as today, higher than today or lower than today" The vast majority felt that today's standards were lower and that standards of unacceptable behavior have dropped. More specifically, in the past ten years, society has gotten much weaker in respect to authority, commitment to marriage, respect for the law, respect for other people, personal responsibility, good citizenship and the work ethic. A Gallup poll conducted May 5 through 7 in 2003 revealed that a majority of Americans now recognize divorce, gambling, sex between an unmarried man and woman and having a baby outside of marriage as morally acceptable. These kinds of behaviors have taken a terrible toll on the lives of people? emotionally and financially and physically and spiritually.

Kerby Anderson, a nationally syndicated columnist researched why nations collapse. He quotes an author, Carl Wilson, who identifies seven progressive stages in the breakdown of civilization. Notice the last stage. "Finally, unbelief in God became more complete. Parental authority diminished and ethical and moral principles disappeared affecting the economy and government thus by internal weaknesses and fragmentation, the societies came apart. One man, Rabbi Daniel Labin, put it this way, The story of America during the past 35 years is likewise a story of an airplane running out of fuel. What will transpire when it does is entirely natural and predictable. The good news is that for those who wish it, the fuel tanks can be replenished. But what is the fuel? What has kept America airborne for so long? I believe it is loyalty to the basic principles that God laid out in the Bible for the safe and durable operation of the machine we call human society."

As we should have known, the foundation of knowledge, the word of God, was way ahead of the researchers and historians. In Deut. 28:1-4, "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings will overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks." God also warned that all sorts of curses would come upon the nations if those commandments were not followed. What kinds of laws or commandments did God want His people to follow? In Exodus 20:1-17 God gave Ten Commandments as an underpinning of His royal law of love. These include not having any other gods before Him, not making, serving or bowing down to any graven image, not taking God's name in vain, remembering the Sabbath to keep it holy, honoring your father and mother, not murdering, not committing adultery, not stealing, not bearing false witness and not coveting. Did you realize there are other laws and principles in the Word of God? There are laws that govern and protect the marriage relationship. There are laws that identify which sexual relationships are destructive. There are laws revealing how employers ought to treat their workers. There are laws that show that obligations of employees. There are laws showing how to judge rightly and wisely. There are health laws. There are agricultural laws. There are financial laws. There are environmental laws. There are laws showing proper behavior toward foreigners. There are laws concerning how to care for the poor, the widow and the physically challenged. There are laws governing building safety. All of these laws are based on wisdom, outgoing concern and righteousness. They all lead to building up and sustaining individuals, families and nations. In I John 5:3, "For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."

Beyond the laws, God's Word gives examples, admonitions and instructions that reveal the blessings when we live God's way and the problems that come when we don't. No wonder Jesus Christ gave this commandment in Matt. 4:4, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." No, the Word of God is not the foundation of ignorance. Truly, the Word of God is the foundation of knowledge.

This is Rand Millich with commentary for the Living Church of God.