The DaVinci Code: An Opportunity for the Gospel – Are You Ready?
By: Thomas S. Fortson, Jr
These are exciting days for people of the Christian faith! It seems that at every turn, there is a new assault on the historic, orthodox Gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course, this latest challenge has “blockbuster” written all over it. Dan Brown’s mega-seller The DaVinci Code is coming to the big screen, and with it, we’re anticipating that many questions about the faith will be raised.
In the marketplace of ideas, are we ready to present and explain the facts of Christianity to those who wonder about the faith? The Apostle Peter, an eyewitness to the ministry, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, urged us to always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in us (I Peter 3:15).
Promise Keepers has been asked to prepare some notes especially for you on ways to address the book and movie at this time, while they are the “hot topics.” Take the following quiz to determine your readiness to do three things:
a) confront error,
b) coach your children or other youth in discerning truth,
c) avoid being taken in by a preposterous, and spiritually subversive, conspiracy theory.
Check any of the statements below.
1. I couldn’t care less about The DaVinci Code.
2. The movie sounds like a good “brush up” on ancient history.
3. Martin Luther was really against spiritual hoaxes and shams.
4. The film should be another great Tom Hanks movie!
5. If fiction is really just like factually documented historical writing (except with a more exciting story line), maybe this novel is better than the Bible because it’s a more interesting read.
6. My kids already believe in God, so they will know what’s true.
7. When movies or current events are discussed at work, I don’t know what to say.
8. If Jesus Christ did not die for the sins of humankind, would it really make a difference?
9. Do you believe that your children really value what you say?
If you checked any of statements 1-3, wake up! Many people are responding to the novel by actually believing the fictional account. Furthermore, the controversy and the questions raised make for a great opportunity to share the truths of the Gospel!
If you checked any of statements 4-6, study up! For better or worse, cinema offers the most compelling and widely consumed storytelling in the modern world. It’s impact is deep and long-lasting. Especially for youth, we must be prepared to point out where the book and movie do not line up with the Bible, a time-tested volume with solid historical credibility.
If you checked any of statements 7-9, speak up! Christians in the workplace are constantly under observation, and people listen to what we say. These “media events” are the perfect time to speak on the authority of the Scriptures. Yes!! We all need a Savior, and Jesus is his name. May the Lord help us all listen carefully to the questions people are asking and speak clearly in response.
We have pulled together a few resources that will help you further on this topic. Read on, and PREPARE TO ENGAGE the world around you. It’s a spiritually hungry world.
FACT OR FICTION?
Although it is classified as a novel, The Da Vinci Code spins itself as if it is factual.
• Maturity in Christ will protect us from false doctrine, cunning and craftiness of men and deceitful scheming. (See Ephesians 4:13-16)
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. KJV
• Do you think the time described in II Timothy 4:3-5 is now?
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. KJV
• In this century, a major cultural language is cinema. To see drama in film can make an unbelievable tale seem somewhat credible.
How will you evaluate truth? Is The Da Vinci Code a work of propaganda or just a fictional story?
THE BIBLE AND HISTORY
• Because most people are not historians, they don't have the facts to challenge a false statement.
• What was the attitude of Rome towards Christians who didn't hail the Caesar as a deity?
• The Roman Empire, much like the United States, was quite pluralistic. They didn't mind “extra” gods which were just more in the collection. The exclusive claim of Jesus being “The Way,” and not just another way, was and is offensive to many. Is John 14:6 supported or denied by The Da Vinci Code?
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV)
THE BIBLE, OR THE OTHER BIBLE?
• The Gnostic version (perversion) of Christianity is largely based on writings from about 150AD up into the 4th or 5th Century. These “gospels” were named after credible people such as Peter, Philip, Mary and Thomas, but most scholars believe they were ghost written by others to spin their agenda.
• Which authority will you believe, those who were there, (eye witnesses) or people removed by centuries and writing anonymously? Review II Timothy 3:16 and II Peter 1:20.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…
2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation.
2 Peter 1:20
JESUS - MARRIED OR SINGLE? JESUS, THE FATHER OF A CHILD?
• Is it credible that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene?
• The revelation of The Da Vinci Code was allegedly made public by the feminine characteristics of the person painted next to Jesus in the historic picture of the Last Supper. The assumption is made that it was so because Da Vinci knew of the “code” and that Mary Magdalene was Jesus' wife. How is she described in the real New Testament?
• Who was Mary Magdalene? Review Matthew 27:56, 61 and 28:1
Matthew 27 (KJV)
(verse 56) Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
(verse 61) And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
Matthew 28:1 (KJV)
In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.
Note Luke 8:2 (early history and deliverance.) She, along with other women, were unquestionably very loyal to Jesus. Does it seem credible that she was to be the leader of the church?
And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Luke 8:2 (KJV)
• Dan Brown contends that from Jesus' marriage to Mary Magdalene a human linkage was established - the Holy Grail. Although without support, this raises a question. Would there be any salvation because of a human linkage from Jesus?
JESUS CHRIST: SON OF GOD, OR JUST A GOOD GUY?
• St Augustine said “If you believe what you like in the gospels and reject what you don't like, it's not the gospels you believe, but yourself.”
• The Gospel (Good News) is about saving men from their sins. The real New Testament claims Jesus was God's sinless Son, who gave His life as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of human kind, and was resurrected from the dead. The Da Vinci Code misses this central truth.
DO ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME?
• This question comes from the history of the Roman Empire. The First Century was a time of mobility. Slave labor built roads throughout the empire. But foot traffic and “soul traffic” are very different. This expression now is often used to signify that “all paths lead to God.” Does sincerity constitute saving faith?
• Note two scripture quotations.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Proverbs 14:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
• A verse on being sons of God:
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Galatians 4:4-7
• Note “Spirit” in Galatians 4:6 (in bold). The Gnostic gospel does not acknowledge the Holy Spirit as described in our New Testament.
WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A CHRISTIAN MAN?
Accountability
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17
Live a worthy life
For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
I Thessalonians 2:11-12
Stand boldly for the Gospel
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
Romans 1:16 (KJV)
Train your Children
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Walk in the Spirit
If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:15-17 (KJV)
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Galatians 5:16
Be ready to answer
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
I Peter 3:15 | 
OK, we all know that this is a Christian web site, and that I, of course, am a Christian. And for sure, according to men like Robert Langdon, I have no ability to remain unbiased about my view of this movie. Let the reader beware.
In spite of the talents of one of our nation's premiere actors (Tom Hanks) and directors (Ron Howard), this movie is choppy and rushed, yet still too long (with awkward dialogue reminicsent of The Omega Code and Left Behind). I had a similar feeling reading the book, which was 100 pages too long. So I don’t really think that the problem was completely with Howard or Hanks. There simply wasn’t enough legitimate storyline in the book to make it a go. Hanks' and Howard's biggest faux pas is the fact that they took the gig in the first place.
I did feel, however, that Ian McKellen was convincing as Leigh Teabing. (I guess when you hate the Church as much as he does, it’s easy to play a guy that hates the Church?) What I don’t get is how the famed Roger Ebert can say, "The movie works; it's involving, intriguing and constantly seems on the edge of startling revelations." What "startling revelations" did he see? Was he high? This movie is severely enslaved to the obvious. The alleged "startling revelations" have long been drawn out in books like Holy Blood, Holy Grail, The Tomb of God and The Jesus Mysteries. There are no new startling revelations—just old revelations made far more concrete and unengaging. The only thing startling is the fact that this movie will gross millions.
I was disappointed the most because I actually expected Howard and Hanks to make this movie better than the book, and had heard that there were some plot twists that would "blow my mind." Well, they did clean up a few inaccuracies—like, Silas the homicidal, albino monk has blue eyes instead of red like in the book. We can thank NOAH (National Organization of Albinism and Hypo-pigmentation) for that, and Howard even made Langdon a spokesman for some of the counter arguments of Teabing's rant in regard to Christianity being a fabrication based on pagan religions.
Instead of continuing my rant, I will attempt to make two observations that underlie this movie. The first of these is a positive look at Sophie's rise from skepticism to belief. The book conveys the impression that it's more important that Sophie find her family than that she find the Holy Grail. But in the movie, family issues are wholly secondary (her brother is even written out of the script), and it is revealed that Sophie is indeed the last remaining descendent of Jesus Christ. In a scene at the end of the movie, Langdon (Hanks) asks Sophie (Audrey Tatou) if knowing that she was from the line of Jesus would change her view in regards to faith and her place on earth. You got a sense that she has been struggling with her identity, and what to do with it. In spite of Hanks' New Age lines “It only matters what you believe,” and “What's divine? Maybe the divine is in all of us,” we do feel that maybe her struggle is similar to the universal struggle of coming to terms with an identity in Christ.
We all struggle with or against faith (one way or another) and what we should do as a result—and Sophie, at least, matures into her role as a descendent of Jesus Christ. She is a stark contrast to Silas, who seeks redemption through self-flagellation, while never coming to a knowledge of the truth. But Sophie comes to saving knowledge, of a sort, by realizing her identity is in Him and not herself.
Whether the biblical story is true or not is certainly up for debate, as the movie weakly demonstrates. But it is still the greatest story ever told. There is no greater story than love conquering hate through sacrifice. And this is ultimately the movie’s greatest flaw. Though the ending of Dan Brown's book was equally non-redemptive, it was at least open-ended and embraced a sense of mystery. But the movie changes the ending and reveals the physical hiding place of the Holy Grail.
