"If Foundations are Destroyed, What Can the Righteous Do?" - Psa 11:3

by Jonathan Perz

When I played baseball growing up, and we had a bad game, it was inevitable that our coach would tell us at the beginning of the very next practice that we had to go back to the basics ... the foundations of baseball - throwing, catching, hitting. The same holds true spiritually. The Hebrew writer had some meatier topics to address with them, but was not able. They needed milk. They needed to go back to the basics. They needed foundational doctrines. Read Hebrews 5:12-6:2 and see for yourself.

I believe we are in a very comparable situation today. The foundations are being destroyed. Many have lost sight of the basics - grace, faith, obedience. We need "to lay again the foundation repentance from dead works and faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment" (Heb. 6:1-2). That is not only what the righteous CAN do, it is what the righteous MUST do!

Unfortunately, it would appear that some have strayed so far in their thinking that the foundations are indeed destroyed to them and they have built "new" foundations. When we can't even interpret Scripture by the same standard, we will never reach agreement, let alone walk together (Amos 3:3) - even on the foundational doctrines. The righteous can do nothing in such cases. When we, as God's people, reject the foundational precepts and teachings of the apostle's doctrine ... the knowledge the Holy Spirit has revealed to us ... we will invariably be destroyed for a lack of knowledge (Hos. 4:6)!

Thus, with such doctrinal chaos prevailing, let us be careful to test EVERY doctrine in the light of God's word and hold fast to only those things we know to be true (1 Thess. 5:21). Let us ALL examine our faith and be sure we are indeed grounded in the basics (2 Cor. 13:5). Let us be sure our faith is "built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone..." (Eph. 2:20) and avoid being "tossed to and fro and carried about with every winds of doctrine" (Eph. 4:14).

Brethren, not to sound alarmist, but the alarm must be sounded. There are some gale force "winds of doctrine" are blowing. It is time to batten down the hatches and sure up our spiritual houses! As Paul wrote, "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all" (1 Thess. 5:14).

 

Other Articles by Jonathan Perz
Are Grace and Law Mutually Exclusive?
Coming to the Defense of Sin and Error
Christian Independence
Fellowship With God is Conditional