Did our hearts not burn within us?

Did our hearts not burn within us?

Sunday, May 07, 2006

The Da Vinci Code: How Should Christians Respond?

My own thoughts: If the church has been preaching and teaching what it has been commended by the Apostles then we would have nothing to worry about. We would just continue to preach and teach God's word, and be able to easily refute these errors. This also gives us the opportunity to see how important church history really is. We can see how the early church handled these types of claims and distortions to the truth. We would also be able to develop the creeds and responses necessary to refute these errors. Many churches have turned their backs on "creeds" and have gone around saying "no creeds but Christ" and "no creed but the bible". However, everytime somebody comes around with a "new revelation" or a false claim like "The Da Vinci Code", then instantaneously we are wanting "statements of faith" or "slogans" to help us refute these errors. Sorry to break it to you..... but, those are the same as creeds.

A final thought... Lets not forget about the Sovereignty of God. If someone is going to be saved, then the Da Vinci Code isn't going to cause anyone to lose their salvation. Yes, they may question their salvation, the bible, church history. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. This can cause a lot of people to "dig" into scripture and to strengthen their understanding and their faith. We need to become so familiar with the truth that when a counterfiet looms on ther horizon... we can spot it instantaneously.
Romans 8:28-39 All things work together for the good of those who are called according to His purpose... 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Chris Allen

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Christians Should Use The Da Vinci Code As an Opportunity for the Gospel
Even though Dan Brown has attacked the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ, Christians should not view the revival of paganism as a threat, but rather as an opportunity for the gospel.

The Da Vinci Code—novel, movie, media sensation—enters into a post-Christian climate. Whether it’s Dan Brown, Ron Howard, Tom Hanks, proponents of the divine feminine, secularists, and neo-pagans, non-Christians are co-conspirators in a cosmic rebellion against God. Nevertheless, they are our mission field. Were it not for the wondrous grace of God, you would be among them.

As you encounter people influenced by The Da Vinci Code, remember what the Bible says about the unbelievers, and have compassion. “[T]he god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). They are “futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart [is] darkened” (Romans 1:21). They are “dead in [their] trespasses and sins”; they walk “according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience”; and they are “by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:1-3).

How should you respond? With zeal for the truth of Christ and the authority of God’s Word, you must defend the integrity, the veracity, and the authority of the Bible. Don’t worry; it’s not hard. Brown’s “extensive research” failed to produce accuracy on the simplest details of the Bible and church history. Take a little of your time to Read Albert Mohler’s commentary (http://albertmohler.com/commentary_read.php?cdate=2006-04-12) and James White’s analysis (http://www.aomin.org/tdvc.html). Prepare yourself to give an answer to those exposed to the book, the movie, or the media coverage.

Your commitment to see God honored in the culture should be manifest first of all in your testimony about Christ, “who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). In a spirit of gentleness, correct those who deny Jesus’ claims on their life (2 Timothy 2:24-26) and call them to repentance and the obedience of faith.

The current popularity of The Da Vinci Code is your opportunity to talk with friends and family, neighbors, co-workers, and even strangers about the topics Dan Brown has raised in his story. Embrace the challenge of The Da Vinci Code with compassion for hell-bound sinners, and seize this time as an evangelistic opportunity for the Kingdom of God.


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