Posted on 05/16/2006 8:12:33 AM PDT by Esther Ruth
The DaVinci Delusion That Cannot Be Ignored--May 16 --> Posted to Jans_eUpdates for May, 2006
May 16 - The DaVinci Delusion That Cannot Be Ignored
I had hoped I could ignore this social and spiritual tsunami but I cannot. When "The DaVinci Code" has sold 45 million copies and millions more are eagerly going to enter theatres this summer for the film, cautions must be sounded as many are doing.
There is no name on earth that evokes such instant and blinding hatred than does the Name of Jesus Christ to all enemies of the gospel. And though the book has done its damage, in the coming days, one of the biggest hate crimes against true Christianity is about to open on film with tens of millions more eagerly standing in line.
Author Dan Brown says, "My sincere hope is that 'The DaVinci Code', in addition to entertaining people, will serve as an open door to begin their own exploration." Exploration of what?? The total debunking of all that the Bible has to say, including the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. As Erwin Lutzer of Moody Memorial Church says, "Dan Brown's agenda is not thinly veiled: This book is a direct attack against Christ, the church, and those of us who are followers and call Him Savior."
Hear my radio interview/discussion on this with discernment Pastor Gary Gilley from last weekend here: http://www.olivetreeviews.org/radio/mp3/ It is an hour full of pertinent information.
Brown has the audacity to state right up front that all facts in the book are TRUE when, in fact, they are irrational lies. He has introduced to the unsuspecting an alternative form of Christianity debunking the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. While dozens of films and books have done this over the years, none have been quite this salacious, filled with lies and distortions, about the One who took our sins upon Him. One should only waste money on the Hollywood Christian haters if you have a genuinely seeking friend or relative who wants the facts to be unraveled so they can hopefully embrace truth. And no previous Bible/Jesus-bashing book has sold 45 million copies so this has reached the state where the culture must be engaged in a reasonable way.
Brown tries to wipe away doubt in the opening segments of the film. What he's done is exercise his imagination, strung together rumor, myth, and legend. He has introduced to the unsuspecting an alternative form of Christianity. Any doubt these are the "last days" of deception predicted by Jesus Himself in Matthew 24?
The plot includes Jesus NOT dying on the cross, marrying Mary Magdalene, and having a child whose descendents are still alive. A secret society guards this "truth." Yet not a single credible, ancient source substantiates this.
Skeptics, seekers, new Christians, and unstable Christians could end up believing that the Christian faith is founded on a myth, for Brown cleverly mixes some truth with a lot of fiction, something that always confuses and leads people away from truth. And most today do not have the time or will not take the time to really study and find the real truth.
Campus Crusade for Christ says they have gotten notes saying some of the following:
"I read 'The DaVinci Code' and no longer know what I believe." (A missionary in Europe)
"Two close friends of mine in the church lost their faith over 'The DaVinci Code.' "
"I lost my son to 'The DaVinci Code.' "
This apostasy has gotten some fuel from Emergent Church leader Brian McClaren. In an interview in "Sojourner's Magazine," very much to the left but calling itself evangelical, McLaren suggests it is popular because "it is an experience in shared frustration with status-quo, male-dominated, power-oriented, cover-up-prone, organized religion (which is why he created a new, more trendy one called "Emergent.") McLaren suggests that the standard vision of Jesus is not sufficient to most. "I don't think 'DaVinci Code' has more harmful ideas in it than the 'Left Behind' novels, as they twist Scripture toward a theological and political bend." This leaves me speechless and in more serious doubt and concern for those filtering into McLaren's movement called the Emergent Church.
On the positive side, the book and movie open up a tremendous opportunity to talk about Jesus while He's on the minds of millions. It's an opportunity to engage the culture.
For more on the topic beyond last weekend's radio program, visit the link "Spiritual Deception" at my Web site, http://www.olivetreeviews.org/topics/spiritual_deception.shtml This CBN link also has a good analysis, also under "Spiritual Deception" on my site: http://www.cbn.com/special/DaVinciCode/
So rescue the perishing while there is still time, won't you?
Awaiting His return, Jan Markell
Just an outsider's impression. Why not pray directly to God versus this saint or that saint?
Just remember that the potential for unbelief must always exist. This is why the demand for 'proof' is self-defeating for one who requires it both in natural logic and supernatural reality.
It is self-defeating in natural logic because the demand for 'proof' inevitably requires a *natural* proof for a *supernatural* reality. This is impossible logically, but those who demand such are unable to understand the implications with their minds in a darkened state.
The supernatural reality says "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)
Ultimately, this means that there *cannot* be 'proof'. The ability to choose to reject Jesus Christ *must* be present in order to please God.
Most fools can't understand that concept and think themselves quite clever for requiring that which cannot (natural proof) or will not (supernatural reality) be provided.
In reality, "the fool says in his heart, there is no God" (Psa 14:1) and "they are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts" (Eph 4:18).
I do both. Why would we ask for prayers of ANYONE else besides our own? We do it all the time though. Intercessory prayer is a wonderful thing.
So...other than beating up on all Mexcians, Arabs, and Catholics, what do you do around here? :)
Nice!
Danny Brown just got pwn3d!
You ought to scan post 6. It's a pretty good description how seriously this work if fiction is taken by its author.
I duck a lot....
There are a lot of flying bits here.
marking.
Well ok, Dan Brown takes it seriously. But even if he believes it, doesn't make it non-fiction.
I just don't understand how believers, backed up by 20 centuries of philosophy, culture, art, and tradition, can feel threatened by a hack author with a crummy book.
People who don't believe in the Devine Jesus find Christianity total bunk and a contemptable fraud. They are correct. Remove the Devine Jesus and that's what it is. Insert Devine Jesus and it is the path to eternal life.
My own impression is that the book isn't really threatening at all. It's a just a good excuse to wear the "I'm-an-oppressed-and-suffering-Christian-victim" sackcloth.
When you are an overwhelming majority that regularly throws its weight around in the cultural and political arenas, it's hard to find much of anything that let's you play that all-important "victim card."
This is really bad. It grieves my soul.
I saw a History Channel or Discovery Channel special last night on this. Even though the program was careful to point out the things that were not true in the book, the re-enactments were a glamorization of it.
This book is a work of Satan, IMO.
Of course it is. It is something that's been building this way a long time, with a number of earlier trial balloons, and foundation stones laid.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense - Tom Clancy
An elderly widow was always witnessing to her atheist neighbor.
"You're poor, destitute, alone in the world," he said to her, "and yet foolishly you go on praying to and praising this God you say is taking such good care of you! You are a fool!"
Whenever he said such things she would smile sweetly and go about her business. One day the neighbor thought he would get the upper hand with her. He thought up a scheme and stopped by her house after he had implemented it. He thought for sure he had her this time and she would have to admit there was no God in Heaven looking out for her!
"Did you get those groceries I left on your doorstep last night?" he asked the widow.
"Why yes I did!" she replied. "I found them first thing this morning!"
"Well you can see now very clearly that it was *I* who provided them for you and not your God!" He was grinning from ear to ear.
"It's funny you should say that," said the widow, smiling her usual gentle smile. "Because I was up all night asking my God for food - the cupboards were empty and I did not know where my next meal was coming from. Hallelujah! I see now that even atheists serve my Master and my God - He sent you with the groceries!"
Right, much better to give it more and more and more and more publicity. That will show them.
Hell, I read the piece of crap and I'm ignoring it.
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