Museum of the Bible visitors top half a million in first six months

While overall I’m not a fan of the museum, I was impressed that the museum’s gift shop sold commentaries by men like Douglas Moo. It made me wonder where their book-buyer goes to church.

[John E.]

While overall I’m not a fan of the museum, I was impressed that the museum’s gift shop sold commentaries by men like Douglas Moo. It made me wonder where their book-buyer goes to church.

I’m curious as to what about the museum would inspire you to say that you are “not a fan”. I haven’t been yet, but have planned on going.

I’ve read and heard great things about the Museum of the Bible.

I’m grateful the Museum is run by those who actually believe the Bible.

David R. Brumbelow

For starters, no one should allow my opinions about the museum to dissuade them from going. It is free, after all. In fact, the first thing I thought when I saw the link was, “Oh, I still need to take my kids.”

For me, the museum lacks any transcendence. It feels like the Bible had been reduced to little more than a pop-cultural artifact to be pawed over. The worst part was the Bible in Popular Culture section. In case you were wondering, Elvis’ personal Bible looked like it had never been opened. There’s even an exhibit for the Bible and high fashion (why?). And the exhibit playing snippets of pop songs that mention the Bible was head-scratchingly inappropriate. Even the sections about the history of the Bible felt a little *icky* to me. Not to mention that the vast majority of the “artifacts” are nothing more than facsimiles.

The worst part about it, though, was the noticeable absence of Jesus. Prior to the opening, there was a minor controversy about the absence of Jesus, and I wrote an article defending the museum. So, I wasn’t prepared for how bothered I was by the absence of Jesus. It’s a shame that all of these millions of visitors aren’t being presented with the gospel of Jesus Christ. They do get a Jewish Rabbi’s perspective on the Old Testament, though, which turned out to be quite a depressing exhibit - zero hope offered.Although, that exhibit (the OT) felt like you were walking through a Stanley Kubrick movie.

Look, it’s really well done. Half a billion dollars can buy a lot of technology. But the longer I was there, the dirtier I felt. My senior pastor and I were part of a group of area pastors that got to tour the museum a few days before it officially opened. While walking back to the car, we both commented on how many churches could’ve been planted and how many missionaries funded with half a billion dollars. I know that it’s a bad practice to spend other people’s money, but the whole thing is a wasted opportunity, I believe.

(For what it’s worth, I’ve discovered that my opinions about the museum are not unique. Most of the people I know who’ve gone say similar things.)

One last thing - the food is way better than the food at the Smithsonian’s.

Thanks for that. It was quite helpful. I have a very critical eye and struggle with any commercialization of the things of God. I thought I’d have an aneurysm at “The Ark”. Yet…I have a profound love of history and seeing how God has unfolded the Gospel through creation and time, so I’ll definitely go to see it. I feel better prepared now.