Thursday, August 11, 2005
The DaVinci Code
A friend, Tony Snipes has a great elist called Art Lessons from God. He writes a lot of articles meant to challenge artists to use their talents to live out their faith. Tony recently posted this to the A.M.O.K. list to challenge the list. His writing made me think of an example from my own life right now. You see I am reading the DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. It's a real page turner, well crafted but they way he portrays Christ and the church is AGONIZING.
Here's what Tony had to say and my response.
Satan wants access to your talent.
His desire is to destroy God's greatest creation, mankind. Satan
recognizes the power of influence in the Arts. Since he has no
creative ability himself, he seeks to influence artists, musicians,
dancers, film makers, actors, etc. to use their God given talents
for his purpose. He pursues access to our talents in order to use
as a "weapon" that influences the thoughts, moods, feelings and
ultimately, the choices and actions of people.
Yes If you don't believe Tony's statement, read the DaVinci Code. I really hate to tell you to read this book, but it is going to be a major motion picture in May directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks and it will cause the world to have major questions and major doubts about the church and about Jesus. We need to be ready to answer those questions when they come. If you are shaky in your faith, do not read the book, it is a prime example of exactly what Tony is talking about. Remember your enemy the devil goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom he might devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Read Tony's article ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/artlessonsfromGod/message/111 ) then read it again and then recommit yourself to reading the HOLY scriptures and living them out through the gifts God has given you.Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)
One more word on the DaVinci Code, How will we react when the movie comes out? Will we march on the theaters in protest? Will we have book burnings? I sincerely hope not, because if we do we will only further the image Brown paints of the church, an image of a corrupt body that will go to unmentionable measures to hide the fact that our faith is full of holes. Instead I pray that we would follow Jesus' admonition to be salt and light and show a faith that is real no matter what Dan Brown believes, no matter what Hollywood says. Listen to the words of Peter. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (1 Peter 3:15) Our actions in this matter will say a lot about us and our Lord. Hopefully we will soon learn that protesting Hollywood does no good. To quote the words of the OC Supertones, The problem's not in Hollywood, the problem's not in Washington, the problem's a weak divided church of schizmed Christians. Brothers and sisters we need to unite behind our Lord and take these words from Peter as our example. It is time to stop spending so much time showing the world what we're against and start showing them WHO we are for. I know there is a brother or sister out there somewhere that can create a better book than the DaVinci Code. Let's fire up those gifts and use them to point people to the truth.
A friend, Tony Snipes has a great elist called Art Lessons from God. He writes a lot of articles meant to challenge artists to use their talents to live out their faith. Tony recently posted this to the A.M.O.K. list to challenge the list. His writing made me think of an example from my own life right now. You see I am reading the DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. It's a real page turner, well crafted but they way he portrays Christ and the church is AGONIZING.
Here's what Tony had to say and my response.
Satan wants access to your talent.
His desire is to destroy God's greatest creation, mankind. Satan
recognizes the power of influence in the Arts. Since he has no
creative ability himself, he seeks to influence artists, musicians,
dancers, film makers, actors, etc. to use their God given talents
for his purpose. He pursues access to our talents in order to use
as a "weapon" that influences the thoughts, moods, feelings and
ultimately, the choices and actions of people.
Yes If you don't believe Tony's statement, read the DaVinci Code. I really hate to tell you to read this book, but it is going to be a major motion picture in May directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks and it will cause the world to have major questions and major doubts about the church and about Jesus. We need to be ready to answer those questions when they come. If you are shaky in your faith, do not read the book, it is a prime example of exactly what Tony is talking about. Remember your enemy the devil goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom he might devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Read Tony's article ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/artlessonsfromGod/message/111 ) then read it again and then recommit yourself to reading the HOLY scriptures and living them out through the gifts God has given you.Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)
One more word on the DaVinci Code, How will we react when the movie comes out? Will we march on the theaters in protest? Will we have book burnings? I sincerely hope not, because if we do we will only further the image Brown paints of the church, an image of a corrupt body that will go to unmentionable measures to hide the fact that our faith is full of holes. Instead I pray that we would follow Jesus' admonition to be salt and light and show a faith that is real no matter what Dan Brown believes, no matter what Hollywood says. Listen to the words of Peter. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (1 Peter 3:15) Our actions in this matter will say a lot about us and our Lord. Hopefully we will soon learn that protesting Hollywood does no good. To quote the words of the OC Supertones, The problem's not in Hollywood, the problem's not in Washington, the problem's a weak divided church of schizmed Christians. Brothers and sisters we need to unite behind our Lord and take these words from Peter as our example. It is time to stop spending so much time showing the world what we're against and start showing them WHO we are for. I know there is a brother or sister out there somewhere that can create a better book than the DaVinci Code. Let's fire up those gifts and use them to point people to the truth.
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