Infuse: The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code

Synopsis:

Esteemed American symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) and French cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) dodge an international manhunt in order to clear Langdon’s name of murder, racing through history and art in the quest to uncover a secret that could destroy the Christian faith.

Gospel Filter:

The Da Vinci Code will undoubtedly start conversations—albeit ones you might rather avoid. First off, you must immediately tackle the numerous outright lies about Jesus and the Christian faith that the film promotes. Author Dan Brown flat out claims on the first page of his book that “All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.” This is an insidious, bold faced, easily disproved lie for anyone who takes two minutes to investigate. (Unfortunately, very few take those precious two minutes, choosing instead to completely ingest the Jesus fabrications.) Christ IS the divine Son of God. He DID die on the cross for our sins. Jesus DID NOT get married. He DID NOT institute goddess worship or set up Mary Magdalene as head of the church. Christianity (at least that preached by Jesus) DOES NOT oppress women and minorities. And on and on and on. There are literally dozens of books currently on the market as well as countless Web sites refuting Brown’s ludicrous claims about Christianity and Christ, so there’s not much sense in me going to detail here since the ground has already been adequately plowed. If you don’t already have a Da Vinci-busting resource at hand, go to www.jesusanddavinci.com for an excellent overview as well as links to in-depth information.

It’s amazing to me that a fictional beach read could cast such serious doubts in the minds of millions concerning the historical accuracy of the Bible, the most studied and dissected text in history. God’s inspired Word has remained unimpeachable despite numerous attempts by vehement critics to disprove and disparage its historical veracity. (The irony comes from the fact that Dan Brown’s entire premise of the Priory of Sion being founded 1099 AD in Jerusalem by Jesus’ blood relatives to protect their secret is based on fraudulent documents proven to be written in 1956.) Over 5,000 partial or complete copies of the New Testament exist, dating to as early as the third century. (In academia, that’s as close as you get to actually sitting by the author while he writes when it comes to ancient texts.)

The Gospels especially stand above reproach. Written while eyewitnesses still lived to corroborate or correct the account, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John have always been central to Christian faith and understanding. Their authenticity or accuracy was never debated, even when the apostles—actual participants in the events—were alive. To assert, as the film does, that these four books were chosen by Emperor Constantine in order to paint Jesus as supernatural and oppress women stands as patently false. Simply point out to your young people that two thousand years of academic scholarship have failed to debunk the Bible (and Gospels in particular). What makes them think a mediocre writer could do so with a single piece of pulp fiction?

The Catholic Church bears the brunt of this disgusting film’s slander. That our brothers in Christ (who gave Protestants their Christian heritage, don’t forget) could be so incredibly maligned stretches the imagination. Painted as murderous, deceitful, power hungry, and bent on the oppression of women, the Catholic Church suffers one of the most slanderous attacks in recent memory. Is there any proof to these allegations? Better yet, has any institution besides the Church done more good throughout history? Sure, there are some missteps and black marks, but we’re only fallible humans. In the balance, God’s instrument for change has done far more to make life on planet Earth better, bringing his kingdom closer to fruition, than any combination of manmade organizations. We must stand beside our fellow brother and sisters in Christ by pointing out these distortions and inaccuracies, challenging anyone who would impugn the church’s reputation.

Think About It:

What statements about Jesus or the church did the film make that you believe are false? Which ones do you believe to be true?
Why might a person believe the movie’s claims of truth over 2,000 years of history and scholarship concerning the Bible? How might the film’s lies challenge a person’s faith? prevent a seeker from investigating the claims of Christ?
How can you engage someone in a productive conversation about the film?
What did the film claim about the New Testament and the Gospels? What evidence is there to support such claims? What evidence supports the Gospels to be true?
How much historical evidence exists concerning the writing and assembling of the Bible? Does this give you comfort? Why or why not?
How have you experienced the teachings of Jesus to be true in your own life? What support do you have personally that he is the Son of God? How can you be assured Jesus truly is who the Bible claims him to be?