by Delly Waigeno – EMTV Port Moresby
The Bible Society of Papua New Guinea is deeply concerned and saddened by the recent incident of the public burning of the Holy Bible in Mount Hagen.
Chairman, Loani Henao, said the Bible Society is involved in the translation into different languages, publication and distribution of the holy scriptures. The Bible Society does not comment on the doctrines of the holy scriptures. That is a matter for the churches.
The Bible contains the holy and sacred word of the Lord. It “speaks” every day to mankind on every facet of life. It is no ordinary book where a story in a book comes to an end or unlike the Constitution of Papua New Guinea where its application does not extend beyond the boundaries of the country. The relevance of the holy bible cuts through religions, cultures, tribes, societies, and countries.
Mr Henao said that in Papua New Guinea, the law protects and forbids the unauthorized use of the national pledge or the desecration of the national flag and the national emblem.
Unauthorized use of the national pledge, desecration or burning of the national emblem or the national flag is an offence under the law.
There is no specific law to forbid the desecration of the bible. Instead, it always has been the power of the holy spirit through love and respect for the word of God that has provided the protection to the bible.
The burning of the bible is an attack on the core of our spiritual being – the very essence of our faith. It is an insult to Christians and to non-Christians if I may add, who believe in love, peace and respect for one another. The Bible Society therefore asks that the two persons responsible for burning the bible to respect the Holy Bible.
