Dealing with The Da Vinci Code
The interest level in The Da Vinci code seems to be at a high peak. In preparation for the May 19 release of the movie, there is a tsunami of books, articles, videos, and other forms of media both for and against the theory underlying the book. The purpose of this post is to make a couple of unique (I hope) points concerning this event.
First, the hope of all believers in Jesus Christ should not be only to defend our faith and the Word of God, but also to see Dan Brown come to Christ. I am afraid that we sometimes allow our anger to be the driving fuel as we lash out against error. And yes, Dan Brown has made major historical errors, attempting to pass them off as fact. This clear disregard for truth does get under our skin, certainly it gets under mine, especially when unthinking people buy into his theory. Quite frankly, it feels like stepping on a nail and feeling the metal slowly creep up into the flesh, muscle, and bone of the foot.
Nonetheless, our driving conviction should not be to prove Dan Brown wrong or anybody who follows him. We should rather be praying that Brown be saved. Perhaps his encounters with the Word of God (though his motivation is to attack) would be used of the Spirit to reveal the living Christ to Him. Perhaps the Lord Jesus will show Brown that "it is hard for you to kick against the goads" (Acts 26:14).
Second, I want to simply point out the weak nature of the attacks against the Bible and historic Christianity in The Da Vinci Code. To some, it may seem that Brown's attacks are so sophisticated and complex that the average Christian cannot deal with them. This is not so. You do not have to be a trained historian to know that you need evidence before you make an assertion. If, for example, you say that Jesus was married, then you need to have something to back that up. Brown has nothing. He might say, "Oh, but what about The Last Supper." Sorry, Mr. Brown, reading hidden codes out of a centuries old work of art doesn't count - it is too ambiguous. He might say, "What about the Gospel of Philip?" Sorry, Mr. Brown, it was written nearly a century after Jesus' life. Whoever wrote that work was part of a twisted cult group and was using the person of Jesus to support his own religious claims.
You might be asking, "What should I say if I get into a conversation with someone about The Da Vinci Code?" It is simple really. Just make it abundantly clear that there is not a shred of historical evidence for this fantasy-land theory. The factual claims that Brown makes are just as fictional as the fiction itself.
First, the hope of all believers in Jesus Christ should not be only to defend our faith and the Word of God, but also to see Dan Brown come to Christ. I am afraid that we sometimes allow our anger to be the driving fuel as we lash out against error. And yes, Dan Brown has made major historical errors, attempting to pass them off as fact. This clear disregard for truth does get under our skin, certainly it gets under mine, especially when unthinking people buy into his theory. Quite frankly, it feels like stepping on a nail and feeling the metal slowly creep up into the flesh, muscle, and bone of the foot.
Nonetheless, our driving conviction should not be to prove Dan Brown wrong or anybody who follows him. We should rather be praying that Brown be saved. Perhaps his encounters with the Word of God (though his motivation is to attack) would be used of the Spirit to reveal the living Christ to Him. Perhaps the Lord Jesus will show Brown that "it is hard for you to kick against the goads" (Acts 26:14).
Second, I want to simply point out the weak nature of the attacks against the Bible and historic Christianity in The Da Vinci Code. To some, it may seem that Brown's attacks are so sophisticated and complex that the average Christian cannot deal with them. This is not so. You do not have to be a trained historian to know that you need evidence before you make an assertion. If, for example, you say that Jesus was married, then you need to have something to back that up. Brown has nothing. He might say, "Oh, but what about The Last Supper." Sorry, Mr. Brown, reading hidden codes out of a centuries old work of art doesn't count - it is too ambiguous. He might say, "What about the Gospel of Philip?" Sorry, Mr. Brown, it was written nearly a century after Jesus' life. Whoever wrote that work was part of a twisted cult group and was using the person of Jesus to support his own religious claims.
You might be asking, "What should I say if I get into a conversation with someone about The Da Vinci Code?" It is simple really. Just make it abundantly clear that there is not a shred of historical evidence for this fantasy-land theory. The factual claims that Brown makes are just as fictional as the fiction itself.
4 Comments:
I think in discerning any new religious teaching, Jude is an amazing help. He urges us to contend earnestly for the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints. I've got a post on Jude right now on my site and it is such an eye-opening book. Salvation and faith and their principles have been delivered already and any attempt to change them will lead us into heresy.
-Jonah
It almost seems like this new movie and the book are more contraversial than The Passion of the Christ.I guess because it gives historians and and sceptics another chance to disprove Jesus.They couldn't do that with the Passion of Christ.And who really cares who that feminine looking person was next to Jesus in the Last Supper painting?It is just a painting.Why has this "code" thing never been brought up before?I do hope that Dan Brown comes to the Lord.He can find all the answers he needs from God,not his own theories.God is not a theory,He's TRUTH.I guess I am still kinda in that angry stage with all this da vinci code stuff.It is upsetting.But I know it doesn't have any power to change my beliefs.Sorry to rant to you all.
Just last month I finished a four year Bachelor's of Fine Art Degree and I can tell you that there is even some debate in the art community as to whether or not Da Vinci even painted the Last Supper. What kind of doubt does that throw on the Code?
-Jonah
That just goes back to what we want Dan Brown to present us with.Substantial evidence.He doesn't have anything to back what he says.And someone like that is obviously not a happy person,they're always looking for answers and proof.I've read peoples comments in this site,and they are so unhappy and so out to prove-what I don't know.But it is nice to read believers comments,for a change.All I know and believe is that God is not about codes,and that is so refreshing.
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