The DaVinci Delusion That Cannot Be Ignored

Olivetreeviews.org ^ | May 16, 2006 | Jan Markell

[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

[Alex Murphy]

Ping to post - David Cloud article on the DaVinci Code

A Primer on David Cloud

[ZULU]

Must have been a Muslim missionary.

[David Allen]

Amen. One should draw a distinction between something being offensive to one's preferences and something being seriously harmful.

I don't give this story any more credence than I do the one Joseph Smith told about his gold tablets and his friend, the amphibian.

It's fiction. Like Jurassic Park, or E.T.

[MEGoody]

It's a just a good excuse to wear the "I'm-an-oppressed-and-suffering-Christian-victim" sackcloth.

Maybe, but you'd be surprised how many have joined what I call the 'Brownism' cult. There are plenty of people out there who think the book is all true.

[100%FEDUP]

Watch the documentary "Beyond the Da Vinci Code" its running this month on the History Channel, its an excellent debunking of the book and its author.

[mjolnir]

I agree with what you say up to a point. But remember that Paul in Romans 1:20 says that

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse

Whether we call the miracle design or fine tuning or the strong anthropic principle, the world as we live it and observe it appears to be a miracle. Although in strictly rational terms the burden is always on those who think it is not to show why this is so, in personal terms the burden is on us to see and accept it with gratitude, as Jules does in Pulp Fiction:

Vincent: That's good, man. You're starin' to lighten up. You have been sittin', there, all serious and shit.

Jules: I just been sittin' here, thinkin’.

Vincent: About what?

Jules: About the miracle we witnessed.

Vincent: Miracle you witnessed. I witnessed a freak occurrence.

Jules: What is a miracle, Vincent?

Vincent: Act of God.

Jules: And what's an act of God?

Vincent: When, um, God makes the impossible possible. But... this morning I don't think qualifies.

Jules: Hey, Vincent. See, that shit don't matter. You're judging this shit the wrong way. It could be God stopped the bullets, changed Coke to Pepsi, found my car keys. You don't judge shit like this based on merit. Now, whether or not what we experienced was an according-to-Hoyle miracle is insignificant. But what is significant is, I felt the touch of God. God got involved. ...