Newsletter: Vol. 9. Iss. 2
15 December 2009
On the Cutting Edge of a
New Reformation cont'd.
The Rev. Dr. Charles Lippse
But more must be done. Providing quality continuing education through contextual study of the Bible and authentic pilgrimages is not enough. Theological seminaries must be challenged to re-evaluate their departments of Biblical Studies. We must no longer accept academic study of the Bible isolated from the ongoing crisis in the Lands of the Bible, which consciously or unconsciously, gives little attention to the tribal concept of God that creeps into the text or revisionist history that justifies violence and disregards human dignity, justice and the pursuit of peace. As long as clergy are being taught to exegete the Bible without struggling with moral implications that counter tradition and popular cultural values, our seminaries are failing to teach the whole truth. What a difference it would make if revolutionary Bible scholars were appointed to seminaries or contracted as visiting professors of Biblical Studies!
The revolution of Bible study must impact the Church. We may deplore the bias of the media, which is usually controlled or censured by suppressive forces in our culture. We may deplore the political pressure in our nation that makes members of Congress afraid to speak out, yet privately acknowledge the injustice inflicted upon the Palestinians. But the silence or timidity of the Church must be overcome before there is any significant impact upon the media or the political arena. Dominated by cultural religion, fundamentalist misconceptions and political rhetoric, North American Christians must be awakened, motivated, and enlightened. Church school materials that emphasize personal piety yet disregard moral imperative and social responsibility need to be revised. Christian discipleship must embrace effective means of witness that will challenge the “principalities and powers” of the world.
The Society for Biblical Studies is poised to provide a unique
means toward this reformation. We pray for an opportunity to provide authentic
pilgrimages to seminarians, regional Middle East Understanding Conferences,
Professorships for Seminaries, alternative curricula for churches. Many of
the larger foundations and endowment resources in our nation are politically
conservative, or otherwise direct their interest toward programs that appear
to be “spiritual,” void of controversy or conflict. Therefore, we need the
support, encouragement and participation of everyone who shares our vision
and is willing to join us on the “cutting edge” of a new reformation of the
study of the Bible.
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