Thought and Culture

Christian Museums

Christian museums preserve and present the Bible, sacred art, and the history of the church, from purpose-built biblical museums to confessional attractions to the vast art collections of the Vatican. Some carry real controversy, over the provenance of their artifacts or the particular view of history they present, and an honest guide names that rather than hiding it. At their best these places let a visitor touch the long, physical story of the faith.

What Christian museums do

They collect, preserve, study, and display the material heritage of the faith: manuscripts and printed Bibles, relics and artifacts, paintings and sculpture, and the objects of church history. Some are broadly scholarly; some argue a particular view; some are chiefly collections of sacred art.

Real places, and their honest complications

The organizations below are named for information, not endorsement. The Living Bread is not affiliated with them, does not vouch for every view they hold, and encourages you to verify anything that matters directly with the source.

• The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., founded with backing from the Green family of Hobby Lobby. It should be named with its history: the museum has faced controversy over the provenance of some of its artifacts, several of which were found to have been improperly acquired or forged and were removed or returned. It has since strengthened its provenance standards.
• The Creation Museum and Ark Encounter, operated by Answers in Genesis, which present a young-earth creationist view explicitly; visitors should understand that view is a specific, and within the church contested, position rather than a scientific consensus.
• The Billy Graham Library, which tells the story of the evangelist and his era.
• The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, which hold much of the Christian West's greatest sacred art within the Catholic tradition.

These are different kinds of institutions with different aims, and a couple of them carry genuine controversy. Naming it is part of telling the truth about them.

How this connects to Christ

Long ago God filled a craftsman with his Spirit to work in gold and stone and wood for worship. The Christian faith has never despised the material world; it confesses a God who took on flesh. These museums, at their best, honor that, letting beauty and history point beyond themselves to the God who gave the skill and entered the story.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Christian museum?

A museum or cultural site that preserves and displays the material heritage of the faith, biblical manuscripts, sacred art, relics, and church history, so that visitors can encounter the long, physical story of Christianity.

Is the Museum of the Bible controversial?

It has faced real controversy. The Museum of the Bible, founded with backing from the Green family of Hobby Lobby, was found to hold some artifacts that had been improperly acquired or forged, several of which were removed or returned. It has since strengthened its provenance standards. This is stated here honestly, not to dismiss the museum.

What is the Creation Museum?

The Creation Museum, with the nearby Ark Encounter, is operated by Answers in Genesis and presents a young-earth creationist view explicitly. Visitors should understand that this is a specific, and within the church contested, position rather than a scientific consensus.