14th May 2006 ***

Da Vinci decoded
By John Fischer

Well, I’m on page 243 of The Da Vinci Code and it certainly is a page-turner. I’m reading it because I want to be able to speak intelligently to the interest that will surely be on the rise as this blockbuster novel becomes a major motion picture with a high-profile team of actors including Tom Hanks in the leading role. More than 40 million copies of the novel have been sold, and the movie will most certainly drive that number higher.

The controversial nature of its theme recalls the movie The Last Temptation of Christ taken from the book by Nikos Kazantzakis that presents a confused Christ and an offensive dream sequence from the cross involving his relationship with Mary Magdalene. The intense reaction of the religious community against that movie amounted to a call to arms. Theaters were picketed and boycotted, and a march was organized on Universal Studios. (I still wonder why Christians would expect unbelievers to get the story right in the first place.)

It is my understanding that The Da Vinci Code has similar controversial interpretations of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Christ, and the Catholic Church. Still, it would be better if cooler heads prevailed if only for the opportunity to present another more accurate version of the biblical account as over and against becoming entangled in yet another culture war.

Though the story is clearly fiction, it will raise questions in people’s minds about the validity of the sources through which the story of Christ and his disciples has come down to us. In other words: We have homework to do. I suggest we turn this cultural event into an opportunity for dialogue, not a call to battle. Here are some things I think would be appropriate.

1) Let’s not try and be experts about something we haven’t read or seen. If we’re going to have an opinion, make sure it’s an informed one.

2) Bone up on the origin of our information about the Scriptures and why we can trust them as reliable historical documents and as God’s Word. [See below for some recommended material to help you do this.]

3) Use this information to bolster our own faith, not fight a battle of wits with unbelievers we are eager to disprove.

4) Use the information gained to address the doubts of those who are genuinely seeking the truth.

5) Above all, let’s use this interest in the historicity of religion as an opportunity to get people thinking about the possibility of a real relationship with Christ – something we have found to be our own personal validation of the truth.

We don’t have to defend God or win a culture war. God is perfectly capable of taking care of himself. Dan Brown, and our culture in response, has brought up the subject of Christ and the early days of church history. By making our conversation positive and seasoned with grace, we can point people toward the truth instead of driving them away from us.

“But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” (Philippians 1:18 NIV)