Newsletter: Vol. 9. Iss. 2
15 December 2009
On the Cutting Edge of
a New Reformation
The Rev. Dr. Charles Lippse
On the return flight from my most recent fact finding mission to the Holy Lands, I read They Came and They Saw: Western Experiences of the Holy Land, by Michael Prior. The written testimonies of others resonated within me—others who like myself, have been profoundly changed by engagement with the people and real life situations of the people of that region. We have moved beyond tourism, seeing biblical sites and reflecting upon them with our preconceptions of ancient times, to consider what the present day Holy Land experience reveals about God, truth, justice and the hope for peace.
I was made aware of the oppression of the Palestinian people in 1954 when my parents returned from their “once in a lifetime” trip to the Holy Lands. I anticipated my preacher dad’s description of the empty tomb, or the Sea of Galilee, but the first thing he wanted to talk about was the barb wired refugee camps they saw in the new State of Israel. As Bible Land tours grew popular those refugee camps became less visible. Unduly influenced by the State of Israel, Holy Land tourists did not see the refugees. As a young ministerial student I vowed I would never go to the Holy Lands until there was a Palestinian State where I could experience the larger picture.
I broke that vow six years ago. Time was running out for me, but I found a ministry that allowed me to experience the lands of the Bible with integrity. I met the Rev. Peter J. Miano, the Founder and Director of The Society for Biblical Studies, who had a vision for contextual study of the Bible that would transform Bible Land tours into pilgrimages. The integrity with which The Society For Biblical Studies seeks to fulfill its mission has been beyond my expectations. Through pilgrimages and fact finding programs I have seen sacred sites and met Zionists, Palestinian refugees, Jewish settlers, Muslim clerics, Rabbis, Christian and Jewish peace makers, political leaders and indigenous Palestinian Christians, who are ignored by almost the entire world.
In addition to Holy Land pilgrimages and fact finding missions, I have found it necessary to reform my study of the Bible. It was no longer sufficient for me to disagree with fundamentalist views of the Bible. I found it necessary to reconsider biblical theology and discovered that there have been significant new developments since my seminary days in archeology. These discoveries enlighten pre-biblical times, the evolution of Hebrew culture and religion, and the composition of the Old Testament. I also found inspiration and motivation to reform my views of scripture through a “moral critique of The Bible” as outlined in Michael Prior’s classic book, The Bible and Colonialism, A Moral Critique.
I am honored to currently serve as the President of the Board of Directors of The Society for Biblical Studies, because S.B.S. seeks to transform Holy Land tours into pilgrimages, and until larger group pilgrimages can resume, offers smaller groups of mature travelers opportunities to visit and meet with the people of Jordan, and Israel-Palestine. S.B.S. advocates the highest standards of biblical scholarship and, through publications and conferences, provides an invaluable source of information and inspiration to counter the almost overwhelming misinformation that saturates the Christian community and the media.
Upon completion of my in flight reading I said to my fellow passenger, Peter Miano, “The Society for Biblical Studies is on the cutting edge of a reformation of Bible study.” I sincerely believe that. Not only has my understanding of the Bible been transformed, but I have witnessed other SBS participants—young clergy, seasoned church leaders, and laity—invigorated and reassessing their views of biblically based faith issues. S.B.S. is in the forefront for people to experience the real world of the Bible and introducing the public to the highest standards of modern Bible study. The reformation is small, just beginning, but the reformation has begun.
In addition to providing contextual study of the Bible and authentic pilgrimages to the Holy Lands, S.B.S. has hosted four national conferences for developing understanding on Middle East issues in Indianapolis, Washington D.C., and Boston. These have attracted international scholars such as the Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek, Lynda Brayer, Prof. Yvonne Haddad, Bishop Samir Kafitti, Elias Jabbour, Rabbi Jeremy Milgrom, the Rev. Dr. Michael Prior, along with Jewish American scholars, Prof. Norton Mezvinsky and Prof. Norman Finklestein and others. These have provided unparalleled opportunities for reflection on the issues and advice on how one may contribute to the cause of peace and justice. S.B.S. plans to provide similar conferences in other regions of the United States, including my own region, the Bible-belt South.
