Posted on 05/21/2006 11:07:18 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Roman Catholics and Evangelicals have challenged The Da Vinci Code for proposing that Christianity is a hoax perpetrated on the world for nearly 2000 years. The liberal National Council of Churches (NCC) is also concerned about the new movie, because it overlooks Jesus' supposed endorsement of its left-leaning political themes.
"Real-life scenarios are present daily that contradict the Gospel of Jesus Christ," the NCC announced in a special Da Vinci news release. "Too often it is those issues that have far-reaching affects on people's lives, and their faith, but they go without any word of protest or rebuttal -- issues like war, poverty, racial and economic injustice, the devastation experienced after hurricanes and tsunamis and the negative impact of global climate change, to name a few."
The real Jesus "cared for creation and called us to stand up for peace and justice in the world," just like the NCC, according to the NCC. Its latest causes include opposing the U.S. military presence in Iraq, demanding an increased minimum wage, opposing U.S. "torture" of war on terror detainees, and demanding U.S. compliance with the Kyoto accord. Apparently Da Vinci fails because it neglects to include Jesus' stance on these issues.
Of course, most Christian objections to The Da Vinci Code focus on its central thesis that the early church, coerced by the Emperor Constantine, took Jesus the man and turned him into Jesus the God. At the same time, according to Da Vinci, the church imposed the canon of Scripture, suppressing all the Gnostic gospels in favor of Matthew-Mark-Luke and John. The real Jesus, we are told, married and had children with Mary Magdalene. But the male-led church denied the existence of Mrs. Jesus, not wanting to acknowledge her mystical feminine powers and dilute its own preferred patriarchal emphasis.
According to Da Vinci, the church has kept all of this under wraps for centuries through coercion, blackmail, and murder, until Da Vinci's hero unravels it all.
Da Vinci denies Christianity's understanding of the deity of Christ, salvation, the church, and the Bible. But none of that apparently distresses the NCC all that much, or at least to enough to merit specific mention in its special Da Vinci news release. "In the midst of the media frenzy, let us not forget that The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction that does not accurately depict the life and ministry of Jesus or the traditions of the Church," the NCC notes. But the distortions that concern to distress the NCC are that Da Vinci leaves out Jesus' supposed social justice advocacy.
"We pray that those who see this movie will want to know more about Jesus Christ," the NCC declares. "And, we call on our Christian brothers and sisters to uncover distortions of biblical truths not only in entertainment but in policies and actions perpetuated in our society every day. Neither The Da Vinci Code, nor any other work of fiction, will alter the beliefs, mission or work of individual churches or the National Council of Churches. We will not be diverted from the gospel imperative to care for creation, do justice and work for peace regardless of what the distractions of current culture may offer."
For the NCC, that is the real work of Jesus: lobbying, protesting, and organizing on behalf of the NCC's political agenda of the Left. Proclaiming the Lordship of Christ as the Son of God is not a major agenda item for the NCC. Indeed, it goes unmentioned in the NCC's Da Vinci news release. The NCC does note with hope that Da Vinci will provide "an opportunity for all Christians to share their faith when friends ask what they think about the movie." But one suspects that "sharing their faith," from the NCC perspective, entails talking about Global Warming and complaining about the Bush Administration's failures in post-Katrina New Orleans.
"The story of Jesus as told throughout the centuries is compelling," the NCC concludes, with all of the enthusiasm typically found in a perfunctory Christmas message from a member of the British royal family. The NCC cites "true biblical teachings," but does not explain them as anything more than the latest crusade to expand the welfare and regulatory state.
It is hard fully to understand what exactly the NC really finds so objectionable about Da Vinci. Deconstructing core Christian theology would not distress the NCC all that much. The NCC is lead by old-line Protestant churches whose seminaries and prelates led the way a century ago in denying Christ's literal deity, virgin birth, bodily resurrection and miracles, not to mention the authority of the Scriptures. The resulting "Social Gospel," which focused on political and economic justice from an exclusively left-of-center perspective, became the rallying cry of the NCC, which was founded after World War II by liberal Protestants who had discarded the old "fundamentalism."
Unfortunately for the NCC, the Social Gospel ran out of steam after the 1960s, and the NCC's pillar denominations have been losing members continuously for 40 years. Meanwhile, the old "fundamentalism" morphed into a new evangelical movement that has displaced and surpassed the old Protestant establishment.
A typical American Protestant today is more likely to be sitting in a mega-church auditorium than an old Episcopal gothic sanctuary. And that mega-church Protestant is far likelier to hear a critique of Da Vinci that is more theologically substantive than the NCC's regret that Da Vinci's version of Jesus is not sufficiently politically outspoken.
Mark Tooley directs the United Methodist committee at the Institute on Religion and Democracy in Washington, D.C.
...what do you think would happen if they released a film about how Mohammed was a fraud? Do you think people worldwide would flock to see it?
CINOs - Christians In Name Only!
These idiots think the dems are somehow going to win the Christian vote next time around? They are so clueless about Christianity, and they think we are as well.
Yes. No question the NCC is left-leaning and self-serving. But do you think Jesus did not "call for us to stand up for peace and justice in the world?"
NCC - National Communist Club.
I only pray I'll get to watch how those Socialists will be dealt with on judgement day. I'm sure God will deal with them accordingly!
>>The NCC cites "true biblical teachings,"
Hang on I'm looking it up in my Bible....
Kyoto....?
GLobal Warming....?
No war in Iraq...?
Uhhh.. Hmmm.. this might take a while... I'll have to get back to you.
You just know that cryto-socialist organisations like the NCC mean something rather different when they say "peace and justice". Centralised control, world government and persecution of thoughtcrime: these are the Left's gifts to humanity.
As for Jesus: He calls us to protect the widow and orphan, to love our neighhbour as ourselves - and to eat His Body and Drink His Blood. Some of his message fits more easily into left wing-tropes than others :0)
Of course Satan's best lies are not outright but more subtle. What better way to promote his agenda than by calling it something good?
Jesus is not a sandal wearing Hippie Communist. He is strong Patriarch and a Peacemaker.
The Peace Jesus Speaks of is preaching the Gospel not Socialism.
Matt. 10: 34 34 Think not that I am come to send peace• on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Luke 12: 51 51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
Col. 2: 8 8 Beware lest any man spoil• you through philosophy• and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Rom. 10: 15 15 And how shall they apreach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet• of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
But do you think Jesus did not "call for us to stand up for peace and justice in the world?" Yes. I think Jesus was apolitical. A lot of those standuppers just drive by the ghetto schools on the way to the whole foods stores.
• African Methodist Episcopal Church
• The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
• Alliance of Baptists
• American Baptist Churches in the USA
• Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
• Church of the Brethren
• The Coptic Orthodox Church in North America
• The Episcopal Church
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• Friends United Meeting
• Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
• Hungarian Reformed Church in America
• International Council of Community Churches
• Korean Presbyterian Church in America
• Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
• Mar Thoma Church
• Moravian Church in America Northern Province and Southern Province
• National Baptist Convention of America
• National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.
• National Missionary Baptist Convention of America • Orthodox Church in America
• Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA
• Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
• Polish National Catholic Church of America
• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
• Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
• Reformed Church in America
• Serbian Orthodox Church in the U.S.A. and Canada
• The Swedenborgian Church
• Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch
• Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America
• United Church of Christ
• The United Methodist Church
I don't recall the "Da Vinci Code" discussing what Jesus' thoughts and opinions were. This is just more false info. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I don't know that the NCC will survive much longer as they lose their membership churches. I read a long time ago that the Vietnam War made a huge difference in the makeup of professional clergy. While some war protesters ran for Canada, and some finagled deferrals like Clinton, others hid out in divinity schools. When the draft threat was over, the divinity graduates discovered that the churches could be a power base for their brand of activism and so they stayed on, corrupting religion to fit their agenda.
Whether that will be a temporary condition as the 60s generation retires or dies is still a question because it could have become a self-perpetuating brotherhood and sisterhood. Yet, those drawn to religion as a power base might move on to other organizations like "socially conscious corporations, trusts and foundations" and leave religion to get back to its roots. One can only hope.
I also don't recall it saying anything about "Jesus the God" (son of God is a different issue, but "Jesus the God", it was hard to keep reading after that statement).
Where did you get the info for your assertion?
The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one if not THE fastest growing church in the world. Nearly 400k new members last year.
I don't recall that either. I read the book assuming it was fictional, so perhaps I missed something.
Interesting!! I have an old, old leaflet titled "How Red is the National/Federal Council of Churches?" that I got in the '60's, and it also has a list which is similar to yours. Do you have a source for your list? I'd love to have an update if it's available.
(Mine is copyrighted in 1949 and 1959 by the American Council of Christian Laymen and lists all manner of socialistic organizations of which "church" leaders belonged.)
Luke 6:29: If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.
Matthew 5:42-44: Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies. You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies...
Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
To me, we, as fallen mortals, need to fight the wars we fight, and cause the suffering we cause, in spite of the Gospels, not because of them.
In context, this is a call to be slow to anger and to not be attached to your possessions. Because in John 2...
14And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
...Jesus does not exactly behave like a pacifist, nor does he refuse to discourage people from stealing. I don't think Jesus meant anyone to encourage others to violate "Thou shalt not steal." I suspect there is some degree of classic Middle Eastern exaggeration to illustrate a point going on in Luke 6:29, like when he said you do not love me unless you hate your family. He doesn't mean you should actually hate your family because he doesn't want us to hate anyone -- just that our love for him should make the love of family seem almost like "hate" by comparison.
As for love your enemies, he didn't mean that we as a society or as a nation should avoid punishing those who have it coming, because though he does love his enemies, he has no plans to avoid punishing them (see Old Testament, Revelation) and thus sets the example. Or that we should never ever protect ourselves from violence. Loving your enemies has been often used interchangeably with pacifism but it isn't so -- parents love their children but that doesn't mean they should not punish them when appropriate. That parents punish their children doesn't mean they don't love them.
This is the general rule, but the disclaimer must be given there is no telling what God may call on us to do or not do in any given situation: God may call on us at any moment in individual cases to withhold punishment in the unlikeliest times for the unlikeliest people, as in the case of Paul. Or as when David refused to kill Saul when he had the opportunity because he knew Saul was "God's anointed". He may well order Bush or whoever is president to not resist the terrorists -- you just never know because his means and purposes are mysterious -- but unless and until that happens, we have a right to defend ourselves as a country, at least as long as God thinks the USA is worth keeping around. (With the culture going the way it is, we may not be for much longer...)
On Luke 4:18-19... The Spirit of the Lord was never on Jesus to tout Marxism or socialism that erodes character by turning the safety net into a hammock. He intended for us to help each other face-to-face, not vote to increase somebody else's taxes to pay for inept bureaucracies without us ever having to get personally involved, and then have the nerve to say we did something and we care. As Mother Theresa said, "Governments can't love."
As for fighting wars, sometimes you really do have to fight. (See Armageddon.) Strange is the parent who would refuse to fight a man sodomizing his kids. And keeping in mind the disclaimer above, the same goes for nations under attack.
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