Read The Da Vinci Code!

Hang on a moment--did I really say that? Dan Brown's bestseller is an entertaining thriller packed with all kinds of historical information about the early church. "All kinds," in this case, includes quite a bit of the kind that isn't true. The historical inaccuracies of the book are well documented.

I haven't read it yet myself, but with the movie coming out soon, and based on some excellent advice, I plan to do so soon.

The advice I'm referring to comes from Josh McDowell, as reported in The Orlando Sentinel (HT: Nihil Fit).

My first encounter with Josh was in 1974 when I read Evidence that Demands a Verdict (the link is to an updated version of the book). Since then I've had opportunity to travel with him and to work closely with members of his team at their home office in Texas, in Russia and surrounding countries, and in Cuba. Josh and his team have an unshakable commitment to Jesus Christ and to the truth of God's Word. So why would Josh recommend reading such a book?

As huge a phenomenon as The Da Vinci Code has been, it's going to be even bigger when the movie comes out. Josh is releasing a book combined with a strategy for Christians to follow in addressing questions and misconceptions surrounding the story. He is not (nor am I) recommending anyone read The Da Vinci Code without also studying the real historical facts about Christ and the early church. The Sentinel quotes him:

"For his part, McDowell can't wait for May 19.

"'I look at the book and the movie as a platform for evangelism,' he says. 'A little controversy can be a marvelous tool.'"

It's not a matter of being pugnacious over a book or movie, though, but about meeting people at their points of interest and questioning. Campus Crusade for Christ's U.S. Campus Ministry Director, Mark Gauthier, says in the same article,

"It's about engaging with people on their spiritual journey. A picture such as The Da Vinci Code and the book raises questions about spirituality. This obviously presents a great opportunity to engage with people as they explore the very spiritual issues that [surface] in the book and movie."

The point is not that the book contains great answers; rather, that it brings great questions to the surface. The opportunity is ripe for truth to be spoken in love.

Follow up: More on Sunday

Posted: Sat - February 11, 2006 at 07:08 PM |

Thinking Christian by Tom Gilson getCategoryName("<$CategoryUUID$>");

Read The Da Vinci Code!

Thinking Christian by Tom Gilson