WARNING….SOAP BOX ALERT!! Actually, I am going to do my very best to avoid getting up on the ol’ soap box. I am going to try to stay true to keeping my posts short and to the point. So here it is…one word….DISCERNMENT. If you want my one word answer to the book/movie, “The DaVinci Code”, there it is…Discernment.Now, with that out of the way, I will give you the longer version. This is going to sound funny, but I recently put the reading of “Just Like Jesus” by Max Lucado on hold so I could read “The DaVinci Code” by Dan Brown. Now before you go thinking I need revival, it is not because I believe, or even think Dan Brown’s book has an ounce of truth. Truth is that I will not waiver in my faith in Jesus Christ and the Bible that I read. It is truth. Period. However, as believers, I think we should follow 1 Peter 3:15 and “always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (NIV)
My biggest issue with the DaVinci code was financially supporting the book by purchasing it. We will have the same delimma in a few weeks when the movie hits. Not to justify, but I did get the book for the simple reason that I want to know what others are reading and prepare myself for the dialog it will present. Churches are doing the same thing. I think each should do what they feel is necessary, but for me, this was the choice I made. When discussing the book I would rather say “yes, I have read it” than “No….but from what I have heard…”
I have read 2 chapters so far, so it’s tough to give an accurate decision. However, it is important to remember that this book is a fictional novel. Is it totally off base? Yes. Should we believe what we are reading? No! Saying that what it says is true and accurate, would mean that you have to say everything else that happens in the book (murder, characters) are true as well. It is fiction. Period. I liked Mission Impossible, but I don’t believe that Tom Cruise is actually a spy agent. National Treasure was a great movie, but I don’t really believe that there is a secret map on the back of the Declaration of Independence. You get the idea.
While the book will open questions and will lead many people in the wrong direction, I know that I need to stand firm in the faith that I believe. I need to be prepared for answers when questioned. I need to know God’s word and reference it accordingly. Most of all, I need to pray. I need to pray that the Lord can use whatever means necessary for the truth to stand firm in the end. Books, movies, theories and ideals will come and go, but the truth will endure until the end.
For more information on Christian response to “The DaVinci Code” see http://cbn.com/special/DaVinciCode/
