from The Lebanon Democrat::Oct. 31, 2008
Something to Think About
Our Readers Say
By Stephen Wheeley

That so many people seem not to understand why secularizing the Holy Bible, as the Bible Park wants to do, is fundamentally wrong surprises me.  That even some pastors seem unconcerned that the Bible Park will not in any way state that Christ rose from the tomb as is the Messiah, the Son of God, the only way of salvation, shocks me.

Perhaps if we imagine another kind of theme park portrayed in the same manner as the Bible Park will portray the Bible it will become more obvious.

Suppose an out of town developer came to Lebanon and proposed building a park based on World War II.  They tell everybody they will present it as history with dioramas depicting famous battles, such as Pearl Harbor, D-Day, Iwo Jima and so on.  They will have a museum with WWII artifacts and a 3-D show where you seem to soar over the field of battle in a plane.

At first people might think this was a good thing, as it might appear they were honoring our veterans by trying to keep the story of their bravery and sacrifice alive.  Suppose then when all the details come out the developers say they are not trying to honor anyone, they are just going to present the factors, and not all of them at that.  In fact, they say they intend not to draw or present any conclusions bout which side was right or wrong.

After all, they would say, if we told the truth we might offend German, Italian and Japanese tourists and that would cost us money.  They tell you that if you want to draw any conclusions, you should bring a historian with you (Just as the Bible Park says to bring your minister to gain insight).

What do you think the reaction would be to this kind of park proposal?  Don’t you think every veteran, relative of a vet and veteran’s organization would be up in arms?  Wouldn’t every politician in America by on TV condemning this type of park?  Wouldn’t every citizen who cherishes their freedom be offended by this type of “non-message” park?

Now why would this be offensive (and properly so) to all Americans, particularly veterans and their families?  It would be offensive because by not saying who was wrong and who was right (America), it would trivialize and disrespect the sacrifice of all those who served, especially those who died for their country and its ideal of freedom for all men.

Any morally correct struggle, whether civil or religious, that motivates one man to give his life for his fellow man is not something to be treated as mere entertainment with no inherent moral value or purpose.

This however is exactly what the Bible Park does by being “non-religious and non-message”.  By presenting the Bible just as dead history and entertainment and by leaving out the resurrection of Christ, His message of salvation and His divinity, do they not trivialize and disrespect both Father and Son?

After all, Christ died for all mankind, the ultimate sacrifice of the divine for lowly man, that makes all we can do for Him in return seem puny in comparison.  All He asks in return is for us to believe and be faithful.  Now how can we be considered faithful if we turn a blind eye to those who would trivialize and disrespect our Master just to make money, or worse yet, support such a misuse of God’s Holy Word and Son?

Do we not owe our Saviour, who saves our souls and gives eternal life, more love and respect than mortals who can only save our bodies, even though they may be our parents, children or siblings?  (see Matthew 10:37-8 for Christ’s answer.)

Therefore we should as Christians no more support a “non-religious, Non-Message Bible Park” than as Americans we would support a WWII park that denied the rightness of our soldiers cause and sacrifice.  Tell your elected officials (and your pastors) that you do not support a park that denies Christ and his sacrifice.