How Important Is Archaeology to Our Faith?
Israel is called the Holy Land because it is filled with sites that are sacred to those who follow the Bible. These holy sites mark the places where the events of the Bible took place. Pilgrims travel from all over the world to worship at these places.
It doesn’t take an archaeologist to conclude that some of these sites are not the actual places the biblical stories took place but are marked only by tradition. Is it important that we have the bona fide location? After all, we are not there to worship the rocks. We are there to worship the God of those rocks. Thus the argument comes, “Why even visit Israel at all?”
Making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is one of the most important journeys a person can ever make. For the unbeliever, it will give him evidence of the authenticity of the Bible. For the believer, it will make the Bible come alive like never before. I had been in college, graduate work, and doctorate work for twenty years before I went to Israel for the first time. I have to say, I feel like I was reading the Bible for the first time after I studied in Israel. Now the Bible makes so much sense and I love spending time in God’s Word! Visiting Israel is crucial for everyone.
How important is it that we find the actual sites the biblical events took place? One of the dangers in studying archaeology is that a person can become so fascinated by the discoveries that he forgets God. Does it really matter if Abraham sacrificed “here” or “over there”? Some people argue, “So what if a person is in the wrong place? God can speak to him there too.” This is true. God can speak to a person anywhere. Thus the question comes back, “why visit the holy sites in Israel at all?
I realize that questioning the authenticity of the traditional holy sites is a treacherous thing to do. People’s emotions run high when it comes to their religious experiences at those sites. I am concerned that people become more attached to a holy site than they should be. Maybe those who so adamantly hold to the authenticity of the traditional holy sites are worshipping the rocks instead of the God of those rocks. Could it be that by ignoring the evidence of archaeology, people have become worshippers of the rocks of traditional sites?
If we are not worshipping the rocks where the biblical stories took place, then why even try to find them at all? The details of the “rocks” of the actual sites proclaim God! Our team searches the Bible, history, and archaeology to find the original holy sites. When we find the actual sites of the Bible, we know it. All of the details of that site proclaim the authenticity of the Bible and the Glory of God. I have been to many of the traditional holy sites in Israel. None of them pointed me to God like the actual sites do.
Luke records (chapter 19) that Jesus’ followers spread their clothes on the road as He rode a donkey from Bethany to Jerusalem. As Jesus rode down the descent of the Mount of Olives His followers began to praise Him. The Pharisees told them to hold their peace. Jesus told the Pharisees if His followers were silent, the stones would cry out.
Archaeology is rapidly uncovering a wealth of information related to the events recorded in the Bible. A comprehensive study of these discoveries, the Bible (in its original languages), and history is opening a new world of information related to the Bible. The stones of the original holy sites are proclaiming the glory of God. They proclaim the coming of the Messiah, the Lion of the tribe of Judah!
The aim of biblical archaeology is not to worship the rocks but to know the God of the rocks better, worship Him more intensely, and proclaim His glory more boldly.
© Dr. Steven L Smith 2016
It doesn’t take an archaeologist to conclude that some of these sites are not the actual places the biblical stories took place but are marked only by tradition. Is it important that we have the bona fide location? After all, we are not there to worship the rocks. We are there to worship the God of those rocks. Thus the argument comes, “Why even visit Israel at all?”
Making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is one of the most important journeys a person can ever make. For the unbeliever, it will give him evidence of the authenticity of the Bible. For the believer, it will make the Bible come alive like never before. I had been in college, graduate work, and doctorate work for twenty years before I went to Israel for the first time. I have to say, I feel like I was reading the Bible for the first time after I studied in Israel. Now the Bible makes so much sense and I love spending time in God’s Word! Visiting Israel is crucial for everyone.
How important is it that we find the actual sites the biblical events took place? One of the dangers in studying archaeology is that a person can become so fascinated by the discoveries that he forgets God. Does it really matter if Abraham sacrificed “here” or “over there”? Some people argue, “So what if a person is in the wrong place? God can speak to him there too.” This is true. God can speak to a person anywhere. Thus the question comes back, “why visit the holy sites in Israel at all?
I realize that questioning the authenticity of the traditional holy sites is a treacherous thing to do. People’s emotions run high when it comes to their religious experiences at those sites. I am concerned that people become more attached to a holy site than they should be. Maybe those who so adamantly hold to the authenticity of the traditional holy sites are worshipping the rocks instead of the God of those rocks. Could it be that by ignoring the evidence of archaeology, people have become worshippers of the rocks of traditional sites?
If we are not worshipping the rocks where the biblical stories took place, then why even try to find them at all? The details of the “rocks” of the actual sites proclaim God! Our team searches the Bible, history, and archaeology to find the original holy sites. When we find the actual sites of the Bible, we know it. All of the details of that site proclaim the authenticity of the Bible and the Glory of God. I have been to many of the traditional holy sites in Israel. None of them pointed me to God like the actual sites do.
Luke records (chapter 19) that Jesus’ followers spread their clothes on the road as He rode a donkey from Bethany to Jerusalem. As Jesus rode down the descent of the Mount of Olives His followers began to praise Him. The Pharisees told them to hold their peace. Jesus told the Pharisees if His followers were silent, the stones would cry out.
Archaeology is rapidly uncovering a wealth of information related to the events recorded in the Bible. A comprehensive study of these discoveries, the Bible (in its original languages), and history is opening a new world of information related to the Bible. The stones of the original holy sites are proclaiming the glory of God. They proclaim the coming of the Messiah, the Lion of the tribe of Judah!
The aim of biblical archaeology is not to worship the rocks but to know the God of the rocks better, worship Him more intensely, and proclaim His glory more boldly.
© Dr. Steven L Smith 2016