This coming month a new movie is coming out and Hollywood is pulling out all the stops in its promotion machine. So what else is new? It isn’t surprising that Hollywood would do a movie that isn’t favorable to Christianity. It seems that every so often there is a movie that comes out that takes a swipe at our cherished beliefs. Why should we bother even saying anything or doing anything about it? Isn’t this just a tempest in a teapot? Isn’t this just much ado about nothing?
Honestly, I would like to say yes but unfortunately I can’t. It was well over two years ago that a friend gave me a copy of the book, The Da Vinci Code, and asked me to read and comment about it. At the time the book was just gaining popularity and become an international bestseller. My reaction was mixed. Mass market fiction books come out by the hundreds each week, what would make this one any different? But I was wrong about my assessment. This book has become a runaway bestseller and an international hit. Additionally Hollywood is making a big-budget movie based on the book with A-list actors such as Tom Hanks.
Here’s my honest take on the book: the history, church history, art history, theology and philosophy are so amazingly inaccurate that it is laughable. His facts are unbelievably wrong whether he is citing church history or secular history. His claims about famous people and places are spectacularly off. It comes across to anyone who knows these topics as a poorly researched fiction novel. Anyway, it IS just a fiction novel so let's not get bent out of shape!
However, there are two issues that lead me to speak up. First, in the preface to the book the author Dan Brown states, “All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.” (Da Vinci Code page 1) Brown argues in this book and on his website that what he is saying is absolute fact! The second issue is related to this. We could just ignore all of this if the people reading this book were biblically and historically literate but many people are not! Many will read this book and wonder or perhaps believe that what he is saying is in fact true.
Brown recklessly redefines Christianity based on his inaccurate view of history and his reading of second and third century heretical documents. He goes so far as to assert that these documents actually predate the New Testament and are a more reliable presentation of “true” Christianity! Why must we as Christians respond to this? Let me give you three reasons:
1. God’s glory is at stake. If we are to be faithful to God and give Him the honor He deserves then we must not shrink away from addressing the pressing questions of the day. We are only faithful if we are willing to fight where the battle is raging. If we leave the questions of the day unanswered we allow the confusion to remain in people’s minds and the knowledge of the glory of God becomes obscured.
2. We have a mandate to reach the lost. 1 Peter 3:15 states, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” We can turn people’s questions around and use those questions to lead people to the cross. But we can only do this if we are prepared.
3. We have a responsibility to protect the Church. God has given the church pastors and teachers to build us up in our faith and answer the questions we may have. God wants there to be a stability and confidence in our faith. “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.” (Ephesians 4:14) Many believers may be confused by the assertions of this book or the questions it raises. As a church we have a responsibility to address these issues so other believers do not stumble.
In the final analysis I am not concerned about this book or the coming movie. Although it may put doubts in some people’s minds it will also raise questions that we can answer with the truth. One encouraging note is that this book gets it so wrong that none of his assertions are able to stand under close scrutiny. It will enable the church to point people to the Jesus of history and the cross of grace.
