Decoding the Da Vinci Code
While many churches are boycotting the Da Vinci Code many are embracing it as an evangelical opportunity. So how should be respond to this challenge to faith? What should we do as Christians faced with this phenomenally popular industry that has grown up around attacking the church and Christianity?
Firstly, we should acknowledge that even though this challenges Christianity it will never mar it. Long after the Da Vinci Code is completely forgotten people will continue to heed the Jesus found in the Bible. Why? Because it is Truth and the Da Vinci Code is today’s false fad.
Secondly, we have to see the Da Vinci Code and Dan Brown for what they truly are. The book and the film are both works of fantasy that have deliberately positioned themselves as quasi-historical. They have picked up some general historical truths and have used that as a platform to fool a biblically-illiterate population into believing breathtakingly false conclusions. What is more is at no point in either work has the author come out and truthfully told his audience that the work is fiction, but has intentionally allowed readers to be left in the dark about the historical or ahistorical nature of his claims. In the Da Vinci Code there is no line between the truthful and untruthful claims – all are treated the same and are interwoven to a point where the average person can not pull them apart.
But why just point out the Da Vinci Code when the author is as deliberately vague and untruthful about himself? Even though Dan Brown persists to profess Christianity with his mouth, he does not have faith in Jesus or in God above. A little known fact about Dan Brown is his attempt to break in as a pop singer in the mid-nineties. In his second CD called Angels and Demons released in 1995 was a track called “All I Believe”. The softly sung lyrics go:
There’s no God above; there’s no fire below.
There’s no perfect truth; no place we all go.
There is no angels in heaven, and no guarantees.
Dan Brown has never renounced these heretical words which clearly leave no doubt about his unbelief. John Lennon made similar claims in the popular songs he sung, but then again he never professed Christ with his lips.
So once we see the Da Vinci Code and Dan Brown for what they are, we can start to engage searching souls with the real Truth of Jesus Christ, as it is recorded in the trustworthy history of the Bible.
A number of church leaders in Australia has suggested that Christians attend the film with their friends and talk openly about Jesus after the film over coffee or a meal.
I would encourage all those who are in a position to do so to heed that advise. We cannot turn away, hide and boycott while the lies and historical falsehoods about some of the most cherished and fundamental aspects of Christianity are circulated far and wide. We must engage culture – lest the myths become the accepted paradigms.
We should also rejoice in this opportunity. Isn’t it great to have Jesus back as a hot topic? People are talking and the popularity of the Da Vinci Code demonstrates that people have not written off Jesus Christ, but to the contrary continue to search for him. They believe on some level that he continues to be relevant today.
In challenging the Da Vinci Code culture you will probably need some extra information at your fingertips. To dispel the untruths that you hear go to www.challengingdavinci.com where you can find the additional historical information you will need.
GORDON MOYES
