Christians Must Prepare for The Da Vinci Code
A commentary by Larry J. Walker
United Church of pastor, Bend, Medford and Roseburg, Oregon
Two
years ago Mel Gibson's record-breaking movie, The Passion of the
Christ created a major impact on viewers around the world. On May
19 The Da Vinci Code opened in theaters around the world, grossing
$224 million in ticket sales, the second largest global movie debut in
history. Total ticket sales were anticipated to ultimately reach 30 million
people, based on $300 million box office sales, which will obviously
soar much higher.
What impact will this movie, and the book on which it is based, have
on viewers? What should be our response to The Da Vinci Code as
Christians?
Many, including actor Tom Hanks who plays a leading role in the movie,
see interest in the book and movie as an opportunity to reach more people
with the truth of the Bible. Gibson's movie was met with the same expectation,
but for very different reasons.
The Passion of the Christ was carefully researched and produced
to uphold the teachings of the Bible and the facts of history regarding
Jesus Christ. Some details may have been incorrect, and others speculative
and possibly not accurate. However, most people considered the movie
as a largely accurate portrayal of the facts of the suffering and death
of Jesus the Christ.
By contrast, The Da Vinci Code poses as a historical novel
but offers a blasphemous plot contradictory to the scriptural record.
Most disturbing is the claim that Jesus married Mary Magdalene, fathered
a child and planned for Mary to lead the Church after His death.
While the story is presented as a novel, the author claims that the
historical backdrop is accurate. However, many historians have taken
issue with this assertion and have written to set the record straight.
The whole movie is so fictional that some have complained that a disclaimer
should have been included at the beginning of the movie or flashed on
the screen in theaters prior to the showings. Of course that is not going
to happen.
The Barna Group estimates that some 45 million U.S. adults (20% of
the population) have read the book. The book and movie are certain to
raise questions in the minds of many readers and viewers. So you are
likely to encounter a discussion of the book and/or movie and related
topics. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to, "…sanctify the Lord God
in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who
asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…." The Friberg
lexicon defines the word defense as, "defense of the gospel
message from false teaching."
The Barna poll also found that about 25% of those who read the book
considered it helpful spiritually. Some 5% said that reading the book
resulted in changing some of their religious beliefs. Although the percentage
is small, this amounts to some 2 million people.
Barna estimates about two thirds of those expected to see the movie
will have already read the book. That means that the total number of
adults who go to the movie will include at least 10 million who have
not read it. This would result in an additional half million people changing
their beliefs as result of seeing the movie, based on the 5% of book
readers cited above.
However, the percentage could run even higher for these moviegoers,
because the combined audio-visual effect usually has more impact than
simply reading written words. So even some who have read the book will
likely be more affected by the movie, resulting in a skewed perspective
of the Bible.
Add to this total the impact of DVD sales after the movie is no longer
showing in theaters. People who buy movies in this format often view
them numerous times, thus compounding the effect.
Young people, whose beliefs and values are still being formed, are
especially vulnerable. Thus it behooves parents to follow even more diligently
the admonition to, "bring them up in the training and instruction
of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4, NIV).
This movie is not the first challenge to the Christian faith, nor will
it be the last. So it is important to be well-grounded in the truth of
the Bible for our own protection as well as for our children and to be
able to defend the truth of the Bible.
  I
encourage you to request or download from our web site (www.ucg.org)
our free booklets, Jesus Christ, the Real Story and Is the
Bible True? You can also request your free subscription to the Good
News magazine. The May issue includes the article, "The
Da Vinci Code,
Christianity and the Bible."
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