ABR Ministry Update - Spring 2025

Spring 2025

Dear ABR Family,

These are exciting days in the world of biblical archaeology and at the ministry of Associates for Biblical Research. While there are many subjects that Christians can debate when interpretations of archaeological and historical research are presented and discussed, it is most gratifying to see the engagement of evangelicals at the table of ideas in the academy and in popular culture. These discussions and debates have served as a catalyst for helping ministries of Spirit-led apologists who guard the Gospel and defend the Faith—which was once for all delivered unto the saints.

Unfortunately, nagging and unscriptural attitudes persist in the minds of some evangelicals, that such engagement actually detracts from the Gospel. This charge is simply false, since we have explicit mandates from Jesus and the Apostles to defend the faith and to “take captive” every thought that is raised up against the knowledge of God. We are to expose deceit and falsehood appropriately—with tact and in grace and truth—as we should never pretend that engagement with an erring culture and erring Christians is not our responsibility. It is the Holy Spirit’s work to bring conviction, but it is our job to shine God’s light into every arena of thought, activity, and conversation under God’s heaven. We must stop being afraid to speak the truth in love, while showing sensitivity, empathy, and compassion for all. Let us boldly take the saving message of Jesus to the world!

Of course, we have all read and heard conspiratorial theories and ideas announced with spectacular and ungrounded dogmatism by those purporting to be “apologists.” What are we to do when within the church we have fleshly-minded individuals who claim God-ordained authority in making various pronouncements? We have all met the self-appointed experts who are really gnostic operators within the walls of the church—those with “special” insights and who claim that God has “spoken” to them, but whose revelations are actually rooted in their own minds and imaginations.

It is due to such aberrations, and for the sake of those legitimately called apologists and servants, that we must exercise extraordinary spiritual discernment and appropriate judgment. In these matters we are to pursue godly wisdom and knowledge, as we have indeed been given a Deposit from God that must be defended. Sadly, there are a myriad of deceivers, detractors, and faith-destroyers that would seek to shipwreck “the faith of some.”

Thus, evangelicals must live their lives with their minds utterly grounded in the Word of God and be ready to declare and defend the hope that we have in Christ. And this is where our work at ABR is so important, and why your support is so necessary at this time.

ABR has been led of the Lord to make important discoveries and to provide carefully reasoned research, based on evidence, that engages the modern mind. And it is this research that so often captures the attention and fascination of generations of young people. Through social media, print and digital resources, and presentations, conferences, and events, we continue to present with honesty and sincerity evidence from archaeology that upholds the veracity of the Bible. The guidance of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of God’s people continue to lead us on in these important days of outreach and ministry.

If you haven’t done so recently, would you please consider a generous gift for the ministry of ABR so that we may continue to conduct original research in Israel, and in the academy as well.

We cannot do this work without the support of God’s people.

Thank you for your prayers and financial help as we continue to engage our world with powerful evidence from biblical archaeology, and as we make the Bible unavoidable before the watching world.

Scott Lanser E Sig