Ark Encounter: A Muse-ment Park

Posted on by December 6, 2010
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The recent announcement made by Governor Beshear of Kentucky concerning the construction of a full-scale Ark in his state has set off a firestorm of media coverage.

Numerous skeptical and atheistic bloggers have lambasted the governor because the content of the proposed theme park is going to portray the biblical account of the Ark and the Flood (Genesis 6–9) as historically accurate. Many have also falsely accused the new venture as a violation of the alleged separation clause since the state of Kentucky offers tax incentives for tourist attractions, and they don’t believe a religiously themed attraction should qualify.

While there have been plenty of misrepresentations of the facts and some outlandish claims, for the most part, the media coverage has been relatively fair, including a nearly full-page spread in the New York Times today. Yet, even the balanced reports have often distorted one important detail.

The Ark Encounter is not going to be an amusement park as has been reported by many. It is a theme park based on the biblical account of Noah’s Ark and the Flood found in the early chapters of Genesis. It will also include the Tower of Babel, a walled city, a first-century village, a petting zoo, wildlife shows, and much more. One of the goals of this park is to show the world the trustworthiness of the Bible in these areas.

Essentially, the Ark Encounter is designed to be a muse-ment park. The word muse means to think deeply about something. Developers of this theme park want attendees to think deeply about what they will witness while at the park. There will certainly be some entertaining aspects to the park and visitors should enjoy their time, but this will not be the focus.

By contrast, the word amuse literally means to not think deeply about something or that one’s attention is diverted. The purpose of an amusement park is to entertain so the attendee does not have to think deeply about important issues. So to call the Ark Encounter an amusement park is to completely misrepresent the purpose of the place.

While many of the reporters have probably innocently made this mistake in their reporting, many who are vehemently opposed to its construction have deliberately misled their audience. Undoubtedly, these same folks will continue to launch their attacks and mock the biblical account of the Flood and the Ark, but this is what we can expect from a world that loves darkness rather than light.

I hope the opening of this muse-ment park, currently slated for early 2014, will be a profitable venture for the state of Kentucky and for investors in the project. But more importantly, I pray the Ark Encounter will engage the hearts and minds of all who visit and cause them to think deeply (muse) about the real message of the Ark and the Flood: God’s grace and mercy in the midst of much-deserved judgment.

Ark Encounter – Noah’s Ark Coming to Kentucky

Posted on by December 1, 2010
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Artwork for early concept of the Ark Encounter park coming to Kentucky

Earlier today it was announced that a full-size replica of Noah’s Ark is going to be built over the next few years in Kentucky. More details will be forthcoming and many can already be found on the Ark Encounter website.

This exciting project is going to be enormous. It is estimated to bring approximately 900 new jobs to the area along with 1.6 million visitors in the first year alone.

Far more important than the amount of revenue and jobs is the spiritual impact this place can have. People will be able to see firsthand that the Ark wasn’t just a cute little boat overflowing with animals, as is so often portrayed. It was enormous and had plenty of room for all of the necessary creatures, food, and Noah’s family. This place will also demonstrate the accuracy of the biblical account of the Ark and Flood.

Undoubtedly, critics and scoffers will take aim at the Ark Encounter. In fact, many of them already have, beginning with an early effort to beg Governor Beshear (KY) to refrain from publicly announcing the project this morning. I expect to see numerous lawsuits filed by skeptics wishing to stop the construction of the Ark.

It is interesting (but sad) to watch the skeptics panic. Just like when the Creation Museum was built, skeptics decried its construction by making all sorts of baseless accusations. If they are so convinced that their evolutionary beliefs (religion) are factual, then they should not fear competition from those who believe the biblical account.

The fact is that they don’t want anyone to expose their house of cards (evolution, big bang, etc.) nor do they want people to hear the truth of God’s Word. Ultimately, that’s what this comes down to. Many skeptics today have a bitter hatred toward anything biblical and they fear the possibility that people will learn the truth. Romans 1:18 says that they “suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”

Since they cannot refute the true history of world as recorded in Scripture, they resort to mockery. They use the same tired questions that have been answered for decades. And all during their mocking, they actually fulfill the words written by the Apostle Peter nearly 2,000 years ago:

3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:3—9, NIV)

Peter told his readers that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last days who would specifically mock three biblical doctrines: the Creation, the Flood, and the Second Coming. They would do this while clinging to a belief that states “everything goes on as it has since the beginning.” Is it just mere coincidence that this belief sounds just like uniformitarianism (“the present is the key to the past” or the present processes explain how it has always been), which is the underlying philosophy of every old-earth/universe view?

They mock the Second Coming because they don’t like the idea of being accountable to their Creator. They mock the Flood because it is a reminder of God’s judgment on this world. They mock the Creation because their philosophy (belief system) prevents them from believing in the supernatural Creator who sets the rules.

All the while, God remains patient in bringing the much-deserved judgment to this earth because “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

The mockers may keep on mocking, but all the while they are fulfilling the words of Scripture penned nearly 2,000 years ago. Yet some day God’s patience will run its course and Christ will return in judgment. In Noah’s day, those who refused the gracious offer to escape the Flood in the Ark perished. In a similar fashion, those who refuse to accept God’s gracious offer of salvation (through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross), will perish and they will be separated from God for eternity.

I pray these people will see their need for the Savior and repent before it is too late. May God bless the efforts of all who are involved in building the Ark. It will stand as a testimony of the true history of our world. It will also stand as a solemn reminder of the coming judgment and as a picture of Christ, who died in our place on the Cross and is the only Way to escape the coming judgment.