Should I Continue Listening to a Podcast Claiming to Have Secret Knowledge about the Bible?

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Question from a reader:

Randy, I have been following you for a long time and have read many of your books. Your descriptions of Heaven really make me think. I have a question: I recently found a podcast that focuses on “Bible mysteries.” It's quite interesting and disturbing. It seems to be biblically based, but I’d like your input.

Answer from Stephanie Anderson, EPM staff:

I help Randy with his messages. I’m so glad to hear you’ve read and enjoyed his writings on Heaven.

To be honest, I hadn’t heard of this podcast before your question, and I’ve not heard Randy mention it either. I looked for a review from someone we know and trust and could not find one. However, here are a few thoughts from looking through their website and podcast episode descriptions.

The website seems to emphasize “secret knowledge,” which is a red flag to me: “What if God wrote the Bible in such a way as to hide a deep secret from Satan and his angels? Are you ready to learn the secrets in the Bible the world doesn't want you to know?” They claim that after years of study, the podcast host has found the key to unlocking the Bible’s secrets.

There are mysteries that belong to our all-wise God (Deuteronomy 29:29), but also “the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever.” And “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).  Paul encouraged Timothy to carefully study his words, because “the Lord will give you insight into all this” (2 Timothy 2:7). God wants us to know and understand what He has revealed to us. While deep study of God’s Word is important, profitable, and certainly necessary, God has told us the things we need to know in Scripture through what He has communicated to us. No secret knowledge or insights from a certain teacher “who has the insights” or “unlocked the secret” is needed.

There also appears to be a (perhaps unhealthy?) obsession with the demonic. I get suspicious when a podcast/teacher is far more interested in theories on UFOs or unseen spiritual battles than they seem to be interested in studying and knowing Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

Are you familiar with Randy’s novel Lord Foulgrin’s Letters? It’s inspired by C. S. Lewis’s book The Screwtape Letters. It’s not that Randy believes it’s wrong to carefully study what Scripture teaches—and doesn’t teach—about Satan and his angels. (See this article.) And we are told to be aware of Satan’s schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11). But it’s also possible to have an unhealthy preoccupation or fascination with the kingdom of darkness.

I like this quote from Kevin DeYoung, an author and teacher Randy recommends: “Sound teaching should make biblical sense for those who have read through the Bible every year, go to church every Sunday, and have gone to Sunday school for decades. As an initial question, the longtime Christian should wonder ‘Why have I never heard anything like this before?’”

This whole article from Kevin, with questions to ask about someone’s teaching, is helpful.

Here are some questions to ask:

- Does this podcast lead me to have a deeper love for God and His Word?

- Does this podcast point me to Christ and help me to know and love Him more?

- Does this podcast help me obey Philippians 4:8 (thinking about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable)?

- Could my time be better spent studying/listening to other resources?

If you’d like some recommendations from Randy on other resources to help you grow in your faith, check out this page.

God calls us to be like the Bereans, who checked the Apostle Paul’s teachings against Scripture (Acts 17:11). So I commend you for asking questions and seeking input. God bless you, as you continue seeking Him!

Stephanie Anderson is the communications and graphics specialist at Eternal Perspective Ministries. 

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