The Da Vinci Delusion
Matthew 16:13 / 2 Corinthians 11:1-4
Josh McDowell makes a great case when he describes the insidious nature of the Da Vinci Code. He states, "It’s not that the majority of our churched young people aren’t interested in spiritual things and don’t want a relationship with God. They do. But they hold distorted views about God, truth, the Bible, and what it actually means to be a true follower of Christ. Consider, for example, what our churched kids do and do not believe:
*63% don’t believe Jesus is the Son of the one true God;
*81% believe all truth is relative to the individual and his/her circumstances;
*51% don’t believe Jesus rose from the dead;
*65% don’t believe Satan is a real entity.
And when they are exposed to the distortions about Christ and the Bible from The Da Vinci Code movie, their already distorted views will go from bad to worse."
As we examine dan Brown’s book, let’s not fear the book or movie...let’s use it as an opportunity to reach others through marketplace evangelism...reaching the people where they are.
IT IS AN ASSAULT ON THE DEITY OF CHRIST
“My dear,” Teabing declared, “until that moment in history, Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet…a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A mortal.” Chapter 55
The greatest and most insidious nature of Brown’s book is the attack on the nature of Christ. Jesus’ resurrection is dismissed. His character is slandered. Had Brown written about Mohammed as he did Jesus his very life would be in jeopardy!
EXAMINE HIS WITNESS At the baptism of Jesus we have both the witness of the Father and the Spirit as he established his ministry. Two witnesses are more than enough to establish ones credibility.
EXAMINE HIS WORKS The miracles Jesus performed during His journey here gave proof that THIS was no mere man! He raised the dead, cleansed the unclean, and healed the infirmed. His works are exemplary!
EXAMINE HIS WAYS Jesus was man BUT He was without sin! He was perfect, holy, and righteous! No one found any fault in Him. At the trials Jesus was herded through, not even Pilate could find fault with Him.
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father” John 14:9
“I and My Father are one.” John 10:30
ILLUSTRATION – Council of Nicea 325 AD & "homoousios" When Constantine defeated Emperor Licinius in 323 AD he ended the persecutions against the Christian church. Shortly afterwards Christians faced a trouble from within: the Arian controversy began and threatened to divide the church. The problem began in Alexandria, it started as a debate between the bishop Alexander and the presbyter (pastor, or priest) Arius. Arius proposed that if the Father begat the Son, the latter must have had a beginning, that there was a time when he was not, and that his substance was from nothing like the rest of creation. The Council of Nicea, a gathering similar to the one described in Acts 15:4-22, condemned the beliefs of Arius and wrote the first version of the now famous creed proclaiming that the Son was "one in being with the Father" by use of the Greek word "homoousius."
APPLICATION Lost people want so desperately the claims of Jesus to be false! They desire to live anyway they may without any earthly or eternal consequences! "If one can’t argue the facts then attack their character."
IT IS AN ASSAULT ON THE VERACITY OF SCRIPTURE
“The Bible is a product of man, my dear. Not of God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book.” Chapter 55
THE BIBLES CREDIBILTY IS UNDER FIRE It is not uncommon for people to attack God by attacking His Word. Genesis 1-11 has been constantly attacked for years. Some simply do not want to believe God’s Word and if they attack the first book then it loses it’s credibility.
THE BIBLES BELIEVEABILITY IS UNDER FIRE Is this really God’s Word or is Dan Brown right? American’s love conspiracies! The Da Vinci Code is a subtle attack on not just the Catholic Church but all Christendom.
THE BIBLES RELIABILITY IS UNDER FIRE The wages of sin is STILL death. God’s Word does not change. Everyone will give an account of their lives at the Judgement!
“Has God indeed said…” Genesis 3:1
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…” 2 Timothy 3:16
“For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:21
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LLUSTRATION - Credibility (Real & True)
If you ever testify in court, you might wish you could have been as sharp as this policeman.
He was being cross-examined by a defense attorney during a felony trial. The lawyer was
trying to undermine the policeman’s credibility....
Q: "Officer -- did you see my client fleeing the scene?"
A: "No sir. But I subsequently observed a person matching the description of the offender, running several blocks away."
Q: "Officer -- who provided this description?"
A: "The officer who responded to the scene."
Q: "A fellow officer provided the description of this so-called offender. Do you trust your fellow officers?"
A: "Yes, sir. With my life."
Q: "With your life? Let me ask you this then officer. Do you have a room where you change your clothes in preparation for your daily duties?"
A: "Yes sir, we do!"
Q: "And do you have a locker in the room?"
A: "Yes sir, I do."
Q: "And do you have a lock on your locker?"
A: "Yes sir."
Q: "Now why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life, you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with these same officers?"
A: "You see, sir -- we share the building with the court complex, and sometimes lawyers have been known to walk through that room."
The courtroom erupted in laughter, and a prompt recess was called.
APPLICATION - The truthfulness of God’s Word is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. The Word must be proclaimed and Christians must stand for Truth!
IT IS AN ASSAULT ON THE HISTORICITY OF THE CHURCH
“According to these unaltered gospels, it was not Peter to whom Christ gave directions with which to establish the Christian Church. It was Mary Magdalene.” Chapter 58
The Council of Nicea is not the only group assaulted in Brown’s book. The universal church is also cast under a suspicious cloud of conspiracy.
THE CHURCHES PURPOSE Believers are to be the salt and light in this decayed and dying world. Too long we have sat on our constitutions refusing to become active in this world and making a difference. Jesus didn’t die just so you could "go to heaven.’ He died so you could enjoy life with Him in the now and now!
THE CHURCHES PLACE Believers are to be "in" the world and not "of" the world. We are to permeate outside of "church" street. It is getting outside the four walls and sharing the love of Christ where we are.
THE CHURCHES PRIORITY Our focus as Christians is Christ. It is not buildings or numbers or prestige! It is to worship and glorify God through Jesus Christ.
“…the foundation of God stands… 2 Timothy 2:19
“The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
ILLUSTRATION – Tom Hanks statement on “TDVC”
Tom Hank Says Da Vinci Code Movie Will Help Church
Tom Hank says that the movie version of Dan Brown’s best selling book The Da Vinci Code will have people flocking to the church.
“I think the movie may end up helping churches do their job,” says Tom Hanks telling US magazine Entertainment Weekly.
“If they put up a sign saying” ‘This Wednesday we’re discussing the gospel’ 12 people show up. But if a sign says: ‘This Wednesday we’re discussing The Da Vinci Code,’ 800 people show up,” he added
It is not the church’s place to focus on The Da Vinci Code but the redeeming work of Jesus. It is a sad day that more people are interested in a fictional GRAIL than the true Creator!
IT IS AN ASSAULT ON THE MORALITY OF THE PEOPLE
“Early Jews believed that the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s Temple housed not only God but also His powerful female equal, Shekinah…The Jewish tetragrammaton YHWH—the sacred name of God—in fact derived from Jehovah, an androgynous physical union between the masculine Jah and the pre-Hebraic name for Eve, Havah.” Chapter 73
All through the book there is a thread of the occult woven in the plot. Most of what Dan Brown wrote concerning his views are laughable. But the bottom line is they are heretical!
THERE IS A DEMAND FOR FIDELITY God expects and demands faithfulness to Him. We need not fear what this book or movie will do to the church. We should fear what God will do if we don’t stay true to Him and His Word.
THERE IS A DEMAND FOR PURITY We are to be set apart and holy before God. It is the Greek word ’hagios’ which means set apart or separated to someone or something. Just as a bride walks down the aisle in her white wedding gown, we too should long to see Christ in our white garments prepared for us through His sacrificial atonement.
THERE IS A DEMAND FOR HUMILTY The scripture encourages us to be "Wise as serpents, harmless as doves." As we approach the opening of this movie on May 19, let us address the questions and accusations not arrogantly but with a spirit of humility. Share the truth so others may come to know Him!
“Be holy for I am holy” Lev 19:2
“…for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God.” Joshua 24:19
APPLICATION - God is not One to be messed with. He is a jealous God. All true believers belong to Him. Act like it!
