We are here on sabbatical in Orlando, Florida, USA, which means that we are right next door to Walt Disney World, the top tourist attraction in the world, and it also means that we are surrounded by both Disney lovers and Disney haters.
Several years ago, a certain conservative evangelical church denomination in the USA tried to boycott Disney, claiming that the company was anti-Christian in the values it was promoting in its movies.
The boycott failed.
Even today, there are certain pastors and church leaders who consider the Walt Disney Company to be "anti-Christian."
I don't agree.
As we travel around the vast expanses of Walt Disney World (which is about as big as the entire city of San Francisco, California, USA), we have noticed three clear-cut examples of what we would consider to be "pro-Christian" values exhibited at Disney. To wit:
1) Disney sponsors a 2-day concert featuring top contemporary Christian artists every September at the Magic Kingdom or at one of its other Orlando parks. The annual two-day event draws hundreds of thousands of fans, and offers believers a great opportunity to invite non-believers to an exciting and energetic event, and to enjoy music and lyrics that clearly promote the good news of Jesus Christ.
2) At the "Hall of Presidents" exhibit in the Magic Kingdom, which honors the 44 Presidents of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln clearly and unequivocally speaks about his faith in God and about God's control over events as he leads the divided United States through its bloody Civil War.
3) On Sundays at the House of Blues at Downtown Disney, there is a gospel brunch. The food is tremendous and the joint is jumpin', and the gospel singers and musicians, normally from local Florida churches, clearly present the gospel of Jesus Christ to the crowd that is there.
Those are three straightforward examples of Disney allowing pro-Christian values and beliefs to be promoted at its parks in Orlando.
Remember, too, that Disney is a secular company. It has never held itself out to be a church or ministry. In that regard, Disney should be measured no different than one would measure Microsoft or Google or IBM or Coca-Cola as to whether any such companies are "pro" or "anti" Christianity. A secular company such as Disney, which offers three clear examples of the promotion of pro-Christian values and beliefs in its otherwise secular parks, should be commended for such actions.
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