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Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4:2 - |
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UNLOCKING THE DA
VINCI CODE (INTRODUCTION) Pastor I. INTRODUCTION A. Ours is
an intellectually schizophrenic age of great skepticism matched only by its
gullibility. Fastidiously skeptical when it comes to almost anything
traditional and orthodox, yet indiscriminately gullible regarding almost
anything new or novel, sensationalistic or iconoclastic. Hence, in the realm
of religious faith, many people are fascinated with anything extra-biblical
and esoteric, especially if it is tied to something salacious or
conspiratorial. (Jefrey Breshears,
Deciphering The Da Vinci Code) B. “What’s at stake in The Da Vinci Code is
nothing less than traditional Christianity itself… The founder of
Christianity had a daughter, Sarah, by Mary Magdalene. If true, this theory
would overturn some of the central beliefs of Christians.” (David Klinghoffer, National Review, Dec. 8, 2003) C. The introductory question that must be
answered is, “Is the Da Vinci Code a novel or a well-crafted attack on
Christianity?” II. IS IT A NOVEL? A. On the front cover of the
Da Vinci Code are the words, “A Novel.” If it is merely a novel, than many
people are being riled over nothing. B. What is a novel? The Webster’s Collegiate
Dictionary defines a novel this way, A novel is an invented prose
narrative that is usually long and complex and deals especially with human
experience through a usually connected sequence of events. C. A novel is fiction. Fiction is something
invented by the imagination or feigned; an invented story; a Novel.
(Webster's Collegiate Dictionary). D. As far as the plot goes, the book sounds
like a novel. 1. While in
Paris on business, a Harvard professor by the name of Robert Langdon receives
an urgent call. The curator of the Louvre art museum has been found murdered.
Langdon follows the trail of this mystery, which leads to clues left in the
works of Leonardo Da Vinci. He joins efforts with cryptologist Sophie Neveu,
and together they discover that the dead curator was part of a secret
society, the Priory of Sion. Behind the scenes, Opus Dei, a Catholic lay
organization, is plotting to prevent the discovery of an ancient secret, the
Holy Grail, kept hidden by the Priory of Sion for centuries. If discovered,
it would shake the foundations of the church and the faith it has proclaimed
for millennia. E. The problem is that Dan
Brown begins his novel with a FACT page. Are we to assume that the fact page
is a gimmick in the fictitious plot or does the Da Vinci Code have an agenda
to pervert Christianity? FACT: The Priory of Sion
- European secret society founded in
1099 - is a real organization. In 1975 The All descriptions of
artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are
accurate. F. If you were to visit the
Da Vinci Code website you would find the same dilemma. 1. How much
of this novel is true? The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of
fiction. While the book's characters and their actions are obviously not
real, the artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals depicted in
this novel all exist (for example, Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings, the Gnostic
Gospels, Hieros Gamos, etc.). 2. But doesn't the novel's "fact"
page claim that every single word in this novel is historical fact? If you read the "FACT" page, you will
see it clearly states that the documents, rituals, organization, artwork, and
architecture in the novel all exist. The "FACT" page makes no
statement whatsoever about any of the ancient theories discussed by fictional
characters. Interpreting those ideas is left to the reader. a) Note that
the FACT page is misquoted. According to the website, the fact page states,
that the documents, rituals, organization, artwork, and architecture in the
novel all exist. b) What the FACT page really states is that, All
descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this
novel are accurate. 3. Is this
book anti-Christian? No. This book is not anti-anything. It's a novel. I
wrote this story in an effort to explore certain aspects of Christian history
that interest me. The vast majority of devout Christians understand this fact
and consider The Da Vinci Code an entertaining story that promotes spiritual
discussion and debate. G. Do other sources take the
Da Vinci Code as fact or fiction?; 1. “historic
fact with a contemporary storyline.”
( 2. “His research is impeccable” (The New York Daily News) 3. “fact-based thriller” (popmatters.com) 4. “a fast-paced romp through 2000 years of
Christianity's darker secrets.”
(Charles Taylor, salon.com) 5. “The most amazing thing about this novel
is that it's based on fact.”
(ibid.) 6. Note what Dan Brown himself said on the
Today Show on June 9th, 2003: Matt Lauer: How much
of this is based on reality in terms of things that actually occurred? Dan Brown: Absolutely
all of it. Obviously, Robert Langdom is fictional, but all of the art,
architecture, secret rituals, secret societies – all of that is historical
fact. H. Therefore, it would appear
that the Da Vinci Code is not a novel in the truest definition of the word.
If it is not really a novel, then we must ask several pertinent and fair
questions. These questions will be answered in the course of this series: 1. Does the
Da Vinci Code correctly present historical events? 2. Does the Da Vinci Code properly interpret
classic works of art? 3. Does the Da Vinci Code accurately
represent the religious belief systems upon which so much of its plot is
based namely, Christianity and Gnosticism? 4. Is the Da Vinci Code consistent with the
inspired infallible Word of God? III. WHO IS DAN BROWN? A. Here is what excerpts from
“DanBrown.com” have to say: 1. Dan
Brown is the author of numerous bestselling novels, including Digital
Fortress, Deception Point, and #1 New York Times bestseller, The Da Vinci
Code -- one of the best selling novels of all time. (danbrown.com) 2. Recently named one of the World's 100
Most Influential People by TIME Magazine, Dan Brown has made appearances on
CNN, The Today Show, National Public Radio, Voice of America, as well as in
the pages of Newsweek, Forbes, People, GQ, The New Yorker, and others. (ibid.) 3. Dan is a graduate of Amherst College and
Phillips Exeter Academy, where he spent time as an English teacher before turning
his efforts fully to writing.
(ibid.) 4. Dan’s wife Blythe—an art historian and
painter—collaborates on his research and accompanies him on his frequent
research trips, their latest to Paris, where they spent time in the Louvre
for his thriller, The Da Vinci Code.
(ibid.) B. Could Dan Brown be
considered a Christian? 1. Are you
a Christian? Yes. Interestingly, if you ask three people what it means to be
Christian, you will get three different answers. Some feel being baptized is
sufficient. Others feel you must accept the Bible as absolute historical
fact. Still others require a belief that all those who do not accept Christ
as their personal savior are doomed to hell. Faith is a continuum, and we
each fall on that line where we may. By attempting to rigidly classify
ethereal concepts like faith, we end up debating semantics to the point where
we entirely miss the obvious--that is, that we are all trying to decipher
life's big mysteries, and we're each following our own paths of
enlightenment. I consider myself a student of many religions. The more I
learn, the more questions I have. For me, the spiritual quest will be a
life-long work in progress. (danbrown.com)
2. Dan Brown would hardly be classified as a
Christian in the classical orthodox sense. IV. IS THE BOOK AN ATTACK ON
CHRISTIANITY? A. The book claims that there
is a shocking historical secret concerning Christianity. 1. A
prankster and genius, Leonardo da Vinci is widely believed to have hidden
secret messages within much of his artwork. Most scholars agree that even Da
Vinci's most famous pieces—works like The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and
Madonna of the Rocks—contain startling anomalies that all seem to be whispering
the same cryptic message…a message that hints at a shocking historical secret
which allegedly has been guarded since 1099 by a European secret society
known as the Priory of Sion.
(danbrown.com) 2. According to The Da Vinci Code, true
Christianity was started by a Jesus Christ whom others viewed as just another
prophet. He made no claims of divinity. Moreover, he was married, and his
wife was none other than the well-known Mary Magdalene. She was supposedly
handpicked by Christ to lead his church. After the crucifixion, however, Mary
was forced to flee B. The book claims that Jesus
Christ was not the Son of God but merely a prophet. 1. "Christ
as Messiah was critical to the functioning of Church and state. Many scholars
claim that the early Church literally stole Jesus from His original
followers, hijacking His human message, shrouding it in an impenetrable cloak
of divinity, and using it to expand their own power. I've written several
books on the topic." (TDC, pg.
233) 2. “What I mean,” Teabing continued, “is
that almost everything our fathers have taught us about Christ is false.” (TDC, pg. 234) C. The book claims that Jesus
married Mary Magdalene and chose her to lead his followers after his
crucifixion. 1. "As
I said earlier, the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene is part of the
historical record." He began pawing through his book collection.
"Moreover, Jesus as a married man makes infinitely more sense than our
standard biblical view of Jesus as a bachelor.” (TDC, pg. 245) 2. “At this point in the gospels [Gospel of
Mary Magdalene], Jesus suspects He will soon be captured and crucified. So He
gives Mary Magdalene instructions on how to carry on His Church after He is
gone. As a result, Peter expresses his discontent over playing second fiddle
to a woman.” (TDC, pg. 247-8) D. The book claims that the
outraged apostles pursued Mary and concocted pagan stories about Jesus’ deity
and their status (i.e. the Bible). 1. "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.” (TDC, pg. 231) 2. “Meaning that history is always written
by the winners. When two cultures clash, the loser is obliterated, and the
winner writes the history books---books which glorify their own cause and
disparage the conquered foe. As Napoleon once said, 'What is history, but a
fable agreed upon?' " He smiled. "By its very nature, history is
always a one-sided account.” (TDC,
pg. 256) E. The book claims that Mary
gave birth to Jesus’ daughter and remained hidden in 1. "Mary
Magdalene was pregnant at the time of the crucifixion. For the safety of
Christ's unborn child, she had no choice but to flee the F. The book claims that
Jesus’ bloodline (Holy Grail) was protected and kept secret by a secret
society of which Leonardo da Vinci was a member. 1. Not only
was Jesus Christ married, but He was a father. My dear, Mary Magdalene was
the Holy Vessel. She was the chalice that bore the royal bloodline of Jesus
Christ. She was the womb that bore the lineage, and the vine from which the
sacred fruit sprang forth!"
(TDC, pg. 249) 2. The Priory of Sion, a European secret
society founded in 1099, is a real organization. In 1975 V. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY A. The Bible unequivocally
declares the humanity and deity of Jesus Christ 1. The
Humanity of Christ a) Rom 1:3
concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the
flesh, 2. The
Deity of Christ a) Rom 1:4
who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead,
according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, B. The Bible is an
authoritative historical document of eye-witnesses 1. 2Pe 1:16
For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His
majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an
utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My
beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased "-- 2. Mat 17:4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord,
it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles
here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he
was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out
of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased;
listen to Him!" C. The Bible warns of men who
use 90% truth with 10% falsehoods (or visa versa) 1. 2Co
11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising
themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises
himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his
servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end
will be according to their deeds. D. The Bible admonishes
believers to be on the alert for false teaching 1. Eph 4:14
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves
and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by
craftiness in deceitful scheming; UNLOCKING THE DA
VINCI CODE (HISTORICAL
RELIABILITY - PART 1) Pastor I. DOES IT CORRECTLY PRESENT
HISTORICAL EVENTS? A. Historical Viewpoint 1. Historical
Fact is in one sense equivalent to the truth about history. 2. The Greek word for truth is alētheia
and means the real state of affairs, reality, certainty, validity, and truth.
History (historeō - to inquire) inquires of the real state of
affairs (or truth) of past events. 3. Believers are concerned about the real
state of affairs regarding historical fact because … a) God is a
God of truth (Joh 14:6; Joh 17:17; Num 23:19; Ps 86:15). b) God’s eternal purpose decrees human
events. (1) The
decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his
will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to
pass....God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and
providence....God's works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful
preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions. (Westminster Short Confession Q7,8, and11) c) Christianity
is based upon historical fact of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
(1Co 15:1-9). 4. To
tarnish the facts of history, especially in regard to Christianity, is to
tarnish Christianity itself and remove man’s only hope for salvation (1Co
15:14-19). B. Brown’s Historical
Viewpoint 1. “Meaning
that history is always written by the winners. When two cultures clash, the
loser is obliterated, and the winner writes the history books---books which
glorify their own cause and disparage the conquered foe. As Napoleon once
said, ‘What is history, but a fable agreed upon?’ “ He smiled. “By its very
nature, history is always a one-sided account.” (TDC, pg. 256) 2. Response by Dr. Paul Maier, Professor of
Ancient History at a) Without
question, Dan Brown has played “The Jesus Game” as a winner. (Hanegraaff & Maier, The Da Vinci
Code: Fact or Fiction?, pg. 35) b) [Characteristics of Jesus Game players
are]….. (1) The
flight from hard evidence—solid historical, literary, and archaeological
source material—to the flimsies of sensationalistic reconstruction. (ibid. pg.
35) (2) The substitution of opinion for fact and
hypothesis for history, leading to the most arbitrary conclusions possible. (ibid., pg. 35) (3) In the case of fiction, exaggerating at
will, removing data out of context, and masking outright falsehoods under the
claim that the literary vehicle is fiction. (ibid., pg. 36) II. BROWN’S HISTORICAL
REVISIONISM A. Founding Priory of Sion 1. TDC
Fiction a) The
Priory of Sion, a European secret society founded in 1099, is a real
organization. (TDC, pg. 1) 2. Historical
Fact a) The
Priory of Sion was originally founded in 1956 by Pierre Plantard and Andre
Bonhomme - all organizations in France are legally required to register with
the local authorities to comply with the French 1901 Law of Associations, and
the original 1956 Registration Documents and 1956 Statutes of the Priory of
Sion were submitted on 7 May 1956 at the Sub Prefecture of St
Julien-en-Genevois. (Wikipedia.com,
cp. Abanes, Bock, Garlow, Meisel) B. Guardianship of Priory of
Sion 1. TDC
Fiction a) The
modern Priory of Sion has a momentous duty…. they must nurture and protect
the bloodline of Christ, those few members of the royal Merovingian bloodline
who have survived into modern times.”
(TDC, pg. 258) b) …Only two direct lines of Merovingians
remain. Their family names are Plantard and Saint-Clair. Both families live
in hiding, probably protected by the Priory. (TDC, pg. 260) 2. Historical
Fact a) The popular version of the Priory of Sion that involved Godfrey
de Bouillon, the Knights Templars, the Merovingians, etc was contrived by
Pierre Plantard during the early 1960s when he first met Gerard de Sede and
started writing articles and books with him about the Gisors story that was
first begun by Roger Lhomoy (Lhomoy was De Sede's pig-farmer at the time).
This account was pure historical fiction with the intention of creating money (Wikipedia.com; cp. Meisel) C. Opus Dei 1. TDC
Fiction a) The 2. Historical
Fact a) In fact,
there are no monks in Opus Dei, which has primarily lay membership and whose
celibate lay members are called numeraries. Moreover, Opus Dei encourages its
lay members to avoid practices that are seen as overly "monkish."
…However, members of Opus Dei do practice voluntary mortification of the
flesh, as has been a Christian tradition since at least St Anthony in the
third century AD. (Wikipedia.com) D. 1. TDC
Fiction a) “ 2. Historical
Fact a) This
assertion is also totally false. While Constantine was undeniably a flawed
individual, historians agree that he certainly abjured paganism, became a
genuine Christian convert, repaid the church for its terrible losses during
the persecutions, favored the clergy, built many churches throughout his
empire, convened the first ecumenical council at Nicea—underwriting the
expenses of clergy to attend it—and desired baptism near death. As for the
last, he was merely following the custom at the time…(Maier, pg. 14) 1. TDC
Fiction a) “The
fundamental irony of Christianity! The Bible, as we know it today, was
collated by the pagan Roman emperor Constantine the Great.” (TDC, pg. 231) b) …. “Constantine commissioned and financed
a new Bible, which omitted those gospels that spoke of Christ’s human traits
and embellished those gospels that made Him godlike. The earlier gospels were
outlawed, gathered up, and burned.”
(TDC, pg. 234) 2.
Historical Fact a) False!
Most of the canon was well known and in use nearly two centuries before III. BIBLE’S HISTORICAL
RELIABILITY A. Multitude of Witnesses 1. 1Co 15:5
and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared
to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until
now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all
the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me
also. B. First-Hand Accounts 1. 1Jo 1:1
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our
eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word
of Life-- C. Eyewitnesses 1. 2Pe 1:16
For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His
majesty. a) - The
apostles were not duped followers (exakoloutheō - imitate or
copy) of false religions. b) - The apostles were not crafty inventors
of mythology (muthos – fables; c) - The apostles were first-hand
historically reliable eyewitnesses (epoptes – spectators,
privileged observers) and historically
reliable writers. 2. 2Pe 1:17
For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance
as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son
with whom I am well-pleased "-- 3. 2Pe 1:18 and we ourselves heard this
utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. D. Testimony of Scripture 1. 2Pe 1:19
So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay
attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the
morning star arises in your hearts. a) This
translation could indicate that the eyewitness account of Christ’s majesty at
the Transfiguration confirmed the Scriptures. b) However, the Gr. word order is crucial in
that it does not say that. It says, “And we have more sure the prophetic
word.” That original arrangement of the sentence supports the interpretation
that Peter is ranking Scripture over experience. The prophetic word
(Scripture) is more complete, more permanent, and more authoritative than the
experience of anyone. More specifically, the Word of God is a more reliable
verification of the teachings about the person, atonement, and second coming
of Christ than even the genuine first hand experiences of the apostles
themselves. (MacArthur Study Bible) c) The second view is supported by Wuest,
Vincent, and Wycliffe Bible commentary. 2. 2Pe 1:20
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of
one's own interpretation, 3. 2Pe 1:21 for no prophecy was ever made by
an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. E. The Scriptures, A
Remarkable Historical Document 1. Sir
William Ramsay, a biblical skeptic who was trained as an archaeologist, set
out to disprove the historical reliability of this portion of the New
Testament. But through his painstaking archaeological trips throughout the
Mediterranean region, he became converted as, one after another, the
historical allusions of Luke were proved accurate. (Hanegraaff & Maier, The Da Vinci Code:
Fact or Fiction?, pg. 46) 2. Truly, with every turn of the
archaeologist’s spade, we continue to see evidence for the trustworthiness of
Scripture. (ibid., pg. 48) 3. …secular historians—including Josephus
(before AD 100), the Roman Tacitus (c. AD120), the Roman Suetonius (c. AD
110), and the Roman governor Pliny the Younger (c. AD 110)—confirm many of
the events, people, places, and customs chronicled in the New Testament.
Early church leaders such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, Julius Africanus, and
Clement of UNLOCKING THE DA
VINCI CODE (ATTACK ON THE
SCRIPTURES - PART 2) Pastor A. "The
Bible did not arrive by fax from heaven….""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.“ (TDC pg. 231) B. "The fundamental irony of
Christianity! The Bible, as we know it today, was collated by the pagan Roman
emperor Constantine the Great."
(TDC pg. 231) 1. Biblical
Response a) 2Pe 1:19
So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay
attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the
morning star arises in your hearts. b) 2Pe 1:20 But know this first of all, that
no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, c) 2Pe 1:21 for no prophecy was ever made by
an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. d) Rom 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ
Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He
promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, e) 2Pe 3:16 as also in all [Paul’s] letters,
speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to
understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest
of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. C. The Bible
represents a fundamental guidepost for millions of people on the planet, in
much the same way the Koran, Torah, and Pali Canon offer guidance to people
of other religions. (TDC pg. 242) 1. Biblical
Response a) 2Ti 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, for training in righteousness; (1) -
“Inspired by God” is the Greek word,
qeo,pneustoj (theopneustos) which literally means God-breathed (theos
– God & pneustos – breathed). (2) - It emphasizes the exhalation of God,
hence, spiration would be more accurate since it emphasizes that Scripture is
the product of the breath of God. The Scriptures are not something breathed
into by God, rather, the Scriptures have been breathed out by God.
(Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology) (3) - Inspiration means that the Scriptures
originate from and are a product of God. (4) - God, who used men with their
personalities and circumstances to write the Scriptures, moved and
overshadowed them so that every word in the original writings was inerrant,
completely infallible in all its parts, and the exact Word of God; and
therefore, is the sole authority for belief and behavior. II. DA VINCI CODE’S ATTACK ON
CANONIZATION A. " 1. Response a) Canonization
(kanon kanon – rod, rule, standard) is the standard by which the
Church recognizes and regards books of the Bible as authoritative and divine.
b) Criteria Questions on Canonization - Is
the book?..... (1) 1) Authoritative
- Did it come with the authority of God, i.e. “thus saith the Lord”? (2) 2) Prophetic - Was it written
by a man of God, i.e. God’s mouthpiece? (3) 3) Authentic - Did it teach
the truth about God, i.e. His character and will? (4) 4) Dynamic - Did it have
life-changing power, i.e. “living and active”? (5) 5) Received - Was it accepted
by God’s people, i.e. true believers? c) Most of
the canon was well known and in use nearly two centuries before d) At least as early as A.D. 140 the
heretical Marcion accepted only limited sections of the full New Testament
canon. Marcion’s heretical canon, consisting of only Luke’s gospel and ten of
Paul’s epistles, pointed up clearly the need to collect a complete canon of
New Testament Scriptures. (Geisler & Nix, General Intro to the Bible;
pg. 278) e) …some [early church] Fathers and canons
recognized almost all of the books before the end of the second century, and
the church universal was in agreement before the end of the fourth century.
(Geisler & Nix, General Intro to the Bible; pg. 291). f) Irenaeus (c. a.d. 170), [was] the first
early [church] Father who himself quoted almost every book of the New
Testament. (ibid. pg. 292). g) Clement of B. "More
than eighty gospels were considered for the New Testament, and yet only a
relative few were chosen for
inclusion - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John among them. (TDC pg. 231) 1. Response a) [There
are ]four categories of Sacred writings: (1) (a) Homologoumena,
books accepted by virtually everyone as canonical; (2) (b) Antilegomena, books
disputed by some; (3) (c) Pseudepigrapha, books
rejected by virtually everyone as unauthentic; (4) (d) Apocrypha, books accepted
by some as canonical or semicanonical. (Geisler & Nix, pg. 297) b) Pseudepigrapha, books rejected by virtually everyone as
unauthentic include those that Dan Brown quotes: (1) - The
Gospel of Thomas (2) - The Gospel of Philip (TDC) (3) - The Gospel According to Mary of Magdala
(TDC) (4) - The Gospel of Marcion UNLOCKING THE DA
VINCI CODE (ATTACK ON
CHRIST’S DEITY - PART 3) Pastor A. Attack the apostles who
wrote the Scriptures and thereby prove that the Scriptures are false. B. Attack the Scriptures and thereby prove
the Scriptural view of Christ’s deity is false. C. Attack the deity of Christ and thereby
prove that Christianity is false. II. DA VINCI CODE’S DENIAL OF
THE DEITY OF CHRIST A. "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." "Not the Son of God?" B. Many scholars claim that the early Church
literally stole Jesus from His original followers, hijacking His human
message, shrouding it in an impenetrable cloak of divinity, and using it to
expand their own power. I've written several books on the topic. “ (TDC, pg. 233) C. Biblical Response 1. John’s
view on the deity of Christ: a) Joh 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. b) Joh 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Truly,
truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, *I am." c) Exo 3:14 God said to Moses, “*I AM WHO
I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of 2. Paul’s
view on the deity of Christ: a) b) c) Rom 1:4 who was declared the Son of God
with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of
holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 3. Peter’s
view on the deity of Christ: a) Levi
(Matthew) writes of the account of Peter’s Great Confession and of Christ
acknowledgement of Peter. b) Mat 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus said to him,
"Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal
this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "I also say to you that
you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of
Hades will not overpower it. c) 2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and
apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind
as ours, by the righteousness of our *God and Savior, Jesus Christ: (1) * “God”
and “Savior” share the same Greek article because Peter is ascribing both to
Jesus Christ. (2) The Gospel of Mary Magdalene called Jesus,
“Savior.” He could not be Savior is he was also God. d) 2Pe 3:18
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To
Him be the *glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. e) Isa 42:8 "I am the LORD, that is My
name; I will not give My *glory to another, Nor My praise to graven
images. 4. Peter’s
humility a) Jerome
saith that he was crucified his head being down and his feet upward, himself
so requiring, because he was (he said) unworthy to be crucified after the
same form and manner as the Lord was.
(Foxe's Book Of Martyrs, pg. 19) III. DA VINCI CODE’S
EXPLANATION OF THE DEITY OF CHRIST A. "Right,"
Teabing said. "Jesus' establishment as 'the Son of God' was officially
proposed and voted on by the Council of B. Because Constantine upgraded Jesus' status
almost four centuries after Jesus' death, *thousands of documents
already existed chronicling His life as a mortal man. (TDC pg. 234) 1. Brown’s
phrase, “thousands of documents” is a gross embellishment of not only his
“eighty gospels” but also of historical fact. 2. Church
Father’s Response a) … the
Father of the universe has a Son; who also, being the first-begotten Word of
God, is even God. (Justin Martyr, First Apology, sect.63; written around 150
AD) b) But that He is Himself in His own right,
beyond all men who ever lived, God,
(Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3.19.2; written around 180 AD) c) The powers of the Spirit proved Him to be
God, His sufferings attested the flesh of man. (Tertullian, The Flesh of Christ, 5.6; written
around 215 AD) d) Because of the Arian controversy, the
Council of Nicea met in a.d. 325 to deal with the problem. Three hundred
bishops attended. The council rejected Arianism and any concessions to Arius
and, with the approval of the emperor, adopted the following creed. “A
relatively close vote”: The “two” dissenting bishops were Secundus of
Ptolemais Theonas of Marmarica, both Libyan bishops associated Arius. All
three went into exile after the Council of Nicea. (Timothy D. Barnes, e) We believe in one God, the Father
Almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible, and in one Lord, Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten of the Father, that is, of the
substance [ousias] of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God
from true God, begotten, not made, of one substance [homoousion] with the
Father, through whom all things came to be, those things that are in heaven
and those things that are on earth, who for us men and for our salvation came
down and was made flesh, and was made man, suffered, rose the third day,
ascended into the heavens, and will come to judge the living and the dead. (Council of Nicea) UNLOCKING THE DA
VINCI CODE (ATTACK ON THE
WORSHIP OF CHRIST - PART 4) Pastor I. MARY MAGDALENE:
INTRODUCTION A. How does an important but
insignificant character in the Bible such as Mary Magdalene, gain so much
attention in Dan Brown’s book? B. How does she go from an insignificant
character to the leader of the church, to the wife of Jesus, to the mother of
Jesus’ offspring, and eventually to a status of a goddess? C. If Mary is who the Da Vinci Code says she
is, and if Jesus is who the Da Vinci Code says he is, then Christianity is
not what the Bible says it is. D. Otherwise, the Da Vinci Code is a
well-crafted attack against Christianity and the worship of Christ. II. MARY MAGDALENE: THE
LEADER OF THE CHURCH A. Mary Magdalene was given
charge over the church (Da Vinci Code) 1. "The
woman they are speaking of," Teabing explained, "is Mary Magdalene.
Peter is jealous of her." "Because Jesus preferred Mary?"
"Not only that. The stakes were far greater than mere affection. At this
point in the gospels, Jesus suspects He will soon be captured and crucified.
So He gives Mary Magdalene instructions on how to carry on His Church after
He is gone. (TDC pg. 247) 2. Facts:
Six Marys in the Bible a) The Greek
name for Mary appears as Maria or Mariam in the NT. Both are
Graecized forms of the Heb. name Miriam, which appears in LXX as
Mariam (used of the sister of Moses). b) The Marys of the Bible (1) Mary the
mother of the Lord (Luk 1:30-31). (2) Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha (Joh
11:1) (3) Mary the mother of James (Mat 27:56; quite
possibly, "Mary the wife
of Clopas," Joh 19:25). (4) Mary the mother of Mark (Acts 12:12). (5) Mary greeted by (6) Mary of Magdala (Luk 8:2) (a) She
became a follower of Christ early in Christ's ministry (Luk 8:1-2). (b) She was at the crucifixion of Christ (Mat
27:56; Mar 15:40; Joh 19:25). (c) She helped with Christ's burial (Mar
15:47). (d) She was the first to witness the
resurrection of Christ (Mar 16:1, 9; Joh 20:1). (e) She announced Christ's resurrection to the
disciples (Luk 24:10; Joh 20:18). B. Was Mary the Prostitute
with the alabaster jar? 1. "That,
my dear," Teabing replied, "is Mary Magdalene." Sophie turned.
"The prostitute?" Teabing drew a short breath, as if the word had
injured him personally. "Magdalene was no such thing. That unfortunate
misconception is the legacy of a smear campaign launched by the early Church.
The Church needed to defame Mary Magdalene in order to cover up her dangerous
secret - her role as the Holy Grail.”
(TDC pg. 243-44) 2. She was probably not the sinful woman who
came to Jesus with the alabaster jar in Luke 7:36-50. 3. If Luke had known that the Mary of Ch. 8
was the same person as the sinner of ch. 7, would he not probably have made
the connection explicit? (New Bible
Dictionary) 4. In the anointing at Bethany (Joh 12:1-8),
it was Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, who anointed Jesus. [Luke’s]
incident takes place in III. MARY MAGDALENE: THE WIFE
OF JESUS A. Mary Magdalene was married
to Jesus (Da Vinci Code) 1. Unfortunately
for the early editors, one particularly troubling earthly theme kept
recurring in the gospels. Mary Magdalene." He paused. "More
specifically, her marriage to Jesus Christ." "As I said earlier,
the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene is part of the historical
record." He began pawing through his book collection. "Moreover,
Jesus as a married man makes infinitely more sense than our standard biblical
view of Jesus as a bachelor." "Why?" Sophie asked. (TDC, pg. 245) 2. "Because Jesus was a Jew,"
Langdon said, taking over while Teabing searched for his book, "and the
social decorum during that time virtually forbid a Jewish man to be
unmarried. According to Jewish custom, celibacy was condemned, and the
obligation for a Jewish father was to find a suitable wife for his son. If
Jesus were not married, at least one of the Bible's gospels would have
mentioned it and offered some explanation for His unnatural state of
bachelorhood.“ (TDC, pg. 245) 3. Facts: a) It is
true that during OT times men were expected to marry. However, by Jesus’ day,
the view was more flexible. b) John the Baptist was a celibate. c) Paul encourages those with the gift of
celibacy (1Co 7:7), and he himself was a celibate (1Co 7:8). d) Jesus taught about celibacy (Mat 19:12). e) Nowhere do the Scriptures mention Jesus’
marriage. f) There are about four thousand men that
live in this way [Essenes at Qumran], and neither marry wives, nor are
desirous to keep servants; as thinking the latter tempts men to be unjust,
and the former gives the handle to domestic quarrels; but as they live by
themselves, they minister one to another. (Antiquities of the Jews
18:20-21 ) g) One of the few things on which a vast
majority of liberal and conservative Jesus scholars agree is that Jesus was
single. Crossan in his Beliefnet.com piece did not feel the need to defend
the case that Jesus was single.
(Darrell Bock, Breaking the Da Vinci Code, pg. 33) B. Mary Magdalene was loved
and kissed by Jesus (Da Vinci Code) 1. "The
Gospel of Philip is always a good place to start." Sophie read the
passage: And the companion of the Saviour is Mary Magdalene. Christ loved her
more than all the disciples and used to kiss her often on her mouth. The rest
of the disciples were offended by it and expressed disapproval. They said to
him, “Why do you love her more than all of us?” (TDC) 2. Facts: a) …the key
part of the text [concerning Jesus kissing Mary] is broken at 63:33-36 and
reads, “And the companion of the {…} Mary Magdalene, {… loved} her more
than {all} the disciples {and used to} kiss her {often} on her …}.”
(Darrell Bock, Breaking the Da Vinci Code; pg. 21) b) The kiss could have been on the cheek or
forehead. Quite possibly it would have been a kiss of fellowship (nine ref.
cp. Rom 16:16; 1Co 16:20; 1Pe 5:14). But even a kiss on the mouth is a far
cry from an assumption of marriage. c) (Heb: nashaq; Grk: phileo, Grk:
kataphilo, Grk: philema): The kiss is common in eastern lands in salutation,
etc., on the cheek, the forehead, the beard, the hands, the feet, but not (in
Pal) the lips (Cheyne, E B, under the word "Salutations"). (ISBE) C. Mary Magdalene was the
companion of Jesus (Da Vinci Code) 1. The
words surprised Sophie, and yet they hardly seemed conclusive. "It says
nothing of marriage." "Au contraire." Teabing smiled, pointing
to the first line. "As any Aramaic scholar will tell you, the word
companion, in those days, literally meant spouse." Langdon concurred
with a nod. Sophie read the first line again. And the companion of the
Saviour is Mary Magdalene. Teabing flipped through the book and pointed out
several other passages that, to Sophie's surprise, clearly suggested
Magdalene and Jesus had a romantic relationship. (TDC) 2. Facts a) The
Gospel of Philip was not written in Aramaic.
It was written in Coptic – a late form of Egyptian. b) No Aramaic or Hebrew words for “companion”
normally means spouse. (Craig
Blomberg) c) The word for “companion” is the Greek
loan word, koinonos, which typically means a partner, associate, or
comrade. The common Greek word for “wife” is gunę. IV. MARY MAGDALENE: THE MOTHER
OF JESUS’ OFFSPRING A. Mary Magdalene carried
Jesus’ royal lineage (Da Vinci Code) 1. "That
Jesus was a father." Sophie was still uncertain. "Yes,"
Teabing said. "And that Mary Magdalene … carried His royal lineage. (TDC) 2. "According to the Priory,"
Teabing continued, "Mary Magdalene was pregnant at the time of the
crucifixion. For the safety of Christ's unborn child, she had no choice but
to flee the 3. … Christ's line grew quietly under cover
in France until making a bold move in the fifth century, when it intermarried
with French royal blood and created a lineage known as the Merovingian
bloodline. … the Merovingians founded a) Merovingian
A Frankish ruling dynasty (c. A.D.450-751) founded by Merovech (fl. fifth
century). b) 4. Facts: a) It is
true that Mary Magdalene was present at Christ’s crucifixion, but so was his
Mother as well as others (Joh 19:25). b) Jesus speaks seven sayings from the cross.
One is familial, yet it is not to Mary Magdalene, but to his Mother and John
(Joh 19:26-27). c) Jesus stated earlier in his ministry that
his true spiritual family was those who obey His Word (Luk 8:19-21; Rom
8:29). V. MARY MAGDALENE: THE
WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH A. Mary Magdalene is elevated
to goddess status (Da Vinci Code) 1. The Holy
Grail is Mary Magdalene... the mother of the royal bloodline of Jesus Christ.
… (TDC) 2. "The Grail is literally the ancient
symbol for womanhood, and the Holy Grail represents the sacred feminine and
the goddess, which of course has now been lost, virtually eliminated by the
Church. (TDC) 3. The Priory of Sion, to this day, still
worships Mary Magdalene as the Goddess, the Holy Grail, the Rose, and the
Divine Mother." (TDC) 4. The ancients envisioned their world in
two halves - masculine and feminine. Their gods and goddesses worked to keep
a balance of power. Yin and yang. When male and female were balanced, there
was harmony in the world. When they were unbalanced, there was chaos." (TDC) 5. The Priory believes that Constantine and
his male successors successfully converted the world from matriarchal
paganism to patriarchal Christianity by waging a campaign of propaganda that
demonized the sacred feminine, obliterating the goddess from modern religion
forever." (TDC) B. Facts: 1. The
Scriptures teach that Yahweh alone created the heavens and the earth and
rules the universe (Gen 1:1; 2:4; Isa 45:18). There are no other gods or
goddesses. 2. The Godhead subsists as three Persons,
but one God in essence (Gen 1:26-27; “God” Elohim is plural). 3. God the Son and God the Holy Spirit were
also part of the creation process (Joh 1:3; Col 1:16-17; Gen 1:2). 4. God revealed himself in the masculine
(Gen 1:27; Isa 64:8; Mat 6:9) and created Adam first with headship, even
though male and female share equally God’s image (1Ti 2:13-14). 5. Not only does Dan Brown humanize Christ,
but he elevates Mary Magdalene to deity as a sacred feminine goddess. 6. This can only be concluded as a blatant
attack on the person and worship of Christ. 7. Note the concluding paragraph of the book
……. a) Like the
murmurs of spirits in the darkness, forgotten words echoed. The quest for the
Holy Grail is the quest to kneel before the bones of Mary Magdalene. A
journey to pray at the feet of the outcast one. With a sudden upwelling of
reverence, Robert Langdon fell to his knees. For a moment, he thought he
heard a woman's voice... the wisdom of the ages... whispering up from the
chasms of the earth. (TDC) UNLOCKING THE DA VINCI CODE (ATTACK ON THE IMAGE OF CHRIST
- PART 5) Pastor I.
LEONARDO DA VINCI A. TDC 1.
[Leonardo] kept mysterious journals in
illegible reverse handwriting; 2.
… he believed he possessed the alchemic power
to turn lead into gold 3.
… and even cheat God by creating an elixir
to postpone death; 4.
… and his inventions included horrific,
never-before-imagined weapons of war and torture. (TDC, pg. 45) B. Fact 1. Leonardo da Vinci was a genius –
brilliant, talented, and contemplative. He was also enigmatic, concealing his
true self in cryptic notebook messages and subtle images in his art. Much has
been written about Leonardo, yet only now are scholars beginning to
understand the more puzzling aspects of his life. Sadly, some people who
understand little about the man and his art have taken advantage of the mystique
surrounding him. They recreate him into what they think he should have been
-- namely, one who shares their take on life. But as the artist himself said,
“Truth at last cannot be hidden.” (Abanes, The Truth Behind the DaVinci Code;
pg. 63) 2. Special references in Leonardo’s
notebooks to *alchemy and alchemists
are quite mocking. He loathed superstition, a category into which he heartily
lumped *necromancy (a practice believed by “small wits”) and alchemy (the “sister”
of necromancy). (Abanes, The Truth Behind the DaVinci Code; pg.
64) a) *Alchemy is
the mixing of metals to produce a panacea. b) *Necromancy
is the practice attempting to communicate with dead spirits. II.
LEONARDO DA VINCI AND THE
PRIORY OF SION? A.
TDC 1. Da Vinci presided over the Priory between
1510 and 1519 as the brotherhood's Grand Master (TDC, pg.
113) B.
Fact 1. The Priory of Sion was originally
founded in 1956 by Pierre Plantard and Andre Bonhomme - all organizations in
France are legally required to register with the local authorities to comply
with the French 1901 Law of Associations, and the original 1956 Registration
Documents and 1956 Statutes of the Priory of Sion were submitted on 7 May
1956 at the Sub Prefecture of St Julien-en-Genevois.
(Wikipedia.com, cp. Abanes, Bock, Garlow, Meisel) III.
LEONARDO DA VINCI AND THE
CHURCH A.
TDC 1. Da Vinci was a prankster who often
amused himself by quietly gnawing at the hand that fed him. He incorporated
in many of his Christian paintings hidden symbolism that was anything but
Christian--tributes to his own beliefs and a subtle thumbing of his nose at
the Church. (TDC, pg. 45-46) 2. Leonardo was a well-documented devotee
of the ancient ways of the goddess. (TDC, pg. 96) B.
Fact 1. [Leonardo] probably was not a very good
Roman Catholic. He was terribly offended by priests, who, he said, “produce
many words, receive much wealth, and promise paradise.” (Abanes,
The Truth Behind the DaVinci Code; pg. 65) 2. Near the end of his life, however,
Leonardo apparently returned to the Church…. [in a] document, dictated before
witnesses, the artist “commends his soul to Almighty God” (not the goddess),
“to the Blessed Virgin Mary” (not Magdalene), and “to Saint Michael and all
the angels and saints in paradise.” (Abanes, The Truth Behind the DaVinci Code;
pg. 65) IV.
LEONARDO DA VINCI AND HIS
PAINTINGS A.
The Mona Lisa 1. TDC a) Da Vinci was a prankster, and
computerized analysis of the Mona Lisa and Da Vinci's self-portraits confirm
some startling points of congruency in their faces. (TDC, pg.
120) b) Mona Lisa is neither male nor female.
It carries a subtle message of androgyny. It is a fusing of both. (TDC, pg.
120) c) Gentlemen, not only does the face of
Mona Lisa look androgynous, but her name is an anagram of the divine union of
male and female. (TDC, pg. 121) 2. Fact a) As for the “startling points of
congruency” between the face of Mona
Lisa and the face of Leonardo in his
“self-portraits” (plural, indicating several), these would be difficult to
obtain since there only exists one uncontested self-portrait of the artist.
It was sketched… (Abanes, The Truth Behind the DaVinci Code; pg.
67) b) X-rays of the Mona Lisa have revealed
only that the original form of her face was, overall, “more oval and less
spherical..no trace of the smile…shows repeated reworking by the painter. (Abanes,
The Truth Behind the DaVinci Code; pg. 67) c) The woman pictured in the Mona Lisa is
just that – a woman. Although her identity cannot be conclusively proved, she
is thought to be Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo, the wife of Francesco del
Giocondo. (Abanes, The Truth Behind the DaVinci Code; pg. 66) d) In “Leonardo: The Artist and The Man”,
biographer Serge Bramly remarks, “The most far-fetched theory is that this is
a portrait of a man, or indeed a self-portrait by the artist.” (Abanes,
The Truth Behind the DaVinci Code; pg. 66) e) …Leonardo himself did not even name
his painting. He never titled any of his works. (Abanes,
The Truth Behind the DaVinci Code; pg. 67) B.
The Last Supper 1. Mary Magdalene
vs. the Apostle John a) TDC (1) As it turns out, the Holy Grail does
indeed make an appearance in The Last Supper. Leonardo included her
prominently. (TDC, pg. 243) (2) The woman to Jesus' right was young and
pious-looking, with a demure face, beautiful red hair, and hands folded
quietly. This is the woman who single handedly could crumble the Church?
"Who is she?" Sophie asked. "That, my dear," Teabing
replied, "is Mary Magdalene.” (TDC, pg. 243) (3) This fresco, in fact, is the entire
key to the Holy Grail mystery. Da Vinci lays it all out in the open in The
Last Supper. (TDC, pg. 236) b) Fact (1) … the figure next to Jesus [in Da Vinci’s Last Supper] – historically identified as the apostle John – is not “obviously” a
woman. It could easily be a man. (Brown uses the word, “hint”) (Abanes,
The Truth Behind the DaVinci Code; pg. 71) (2) John appears decidedly non-masculine. Why?... According to Bruce Boucher –
Curator of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture at the Art Institute of
Chicago – John’s appearance reflects the way Florentine artists traditionally
depicted Jesus’ favorite disciple:… (ibid. pg. 72) (3)
“ (4) Moreover, if the figure next to Christ
is not John, then we need to know where the apostle really is. It is highly
doubtful that Leonardo would have left John out of the picture since he is
known as the “beloved” disciple and is considered the author of the Gospel
(Joh 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20, 24). (Abanes, The Truth
Behind the DaVinci Code; pg. 71) (5) Observations: (a) Jesus is
“obviously” Leonardo’s visual center of
attention. The rest are clusters of disciples. (b) Even if it
were Mary, she is off to the right among those clusters of disciples. (c) Both of
these visuals are opposed to Brown’s jaded views. 2. The Letter
“M” a) TDC (1) "Finally," Teabing said,
"if you view Jesus and Magdalene as compositional elements rather than
as people, you will see another obvious shape leap out at you." He
paused. "A letter of the alphabet.“… Glaring in the center of the
painting was the unquestionable outline of an enormous, flawlessly formed
letter “M”. (TDC, pg. 243) (2) Teabing shrugged. "Conspiracy
theorists will tell you it stands for Matrimonio or Mary Magdalene. To be
honest, nobody is certain. The only certainty is that the hidden M is no
mistake. (TDC, pg. 243) b) Fact (1) There is no clear “M” is the
Last Supper. It is more like a lightening bolt. (2) Actually
the painting is very obvious in trying to draw attention to Christ by
separating the disciples on both sides. 3. The Hand
and the Dagger a) TDC (1) "And Peter had a problem with
that," Langdon said, pointing to The Last Supper. "That's Peter
there. You can see that Da Vinci was well aware of how Peter felt about Mary
Magdalene." (2) Again, Sophie was speechless. In the
painting, Peter was leaning menacingly toward Mary Magdalene and slicing his
blade-like hand across her neck. (TDC, pg. 248) (3) Sophie squinted and saw a hand
emerging from the crowd of disciples. "Is that hand wielding a
dagger?" "Yes. Stranger still, if you count the arms, you'll see
that this hand belongs to... no one at all. It's disembodied. Anonymous.” (TDC, pg. 243) b) Fact (1) It is
obvious that Peter’s
hand is pointing to Christ in discussion of Christ’s statement, not
gesturing to slice John’s neck. (2) In reality, it is Peter’s right
hand….First he rises from being seated, then turns left to speak with John....
He moves the knife he is holding downward…, turning his
arm clockwise…wrist bent and upside down. (Abanes, The Truth
Behind the DaVinci Code; pg. 75) (3) This explanation of Peter’s arm
positioning is supported by a Last Supper study sketch that Leonardo made for
Peter’s right arm. The sketch matches perfectly the arm in the painting… (ibid; pg.
75) (4) Art experts see it as a foreshadowing
of the sword that Peter will draw in the V.
CONCLUSION A. It would be very easy to dismiss “The Da Vinci Code” as a novel,
if in fact, Dan Brown did not include the “fact page” which states, all descriptions of artwork, architecture,
documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate. Or perhaps “The
Da Vinci Code” would be easy to dismiss if the book did not attack the
Scriptures, Christ’s deity, and deify Mary Magdalene. B. But the fact remains that Dan Brown is incorrect in his historical
research and his descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret
rituals. Furthermore, Dan Brown could not farther from the truth in regard to
his denunciation of the infallibility of Scripture and Christ’s deity, not to
mention his deification of Mary Magdalene. C. Therefore it must be concluded that “The Da Vinci Code” is a
well-crafted attack against Christianity. D.
How is it that such false
teaching could become popular even among some professing Christians? Some
professing Christians are not grounded in sound doctrine, and they will trade
the truth for myths (2Ti 4:3-4). Some professing Christians are not grounded
in sound doctrine and are blown by every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:14).
Therefore, some professing Christians will reject the traditional and embrace
the novel regardless if it coincides with biblical truth. Jefrey Breshears
writes, Ours is an intellectually
schizophrenic age of great skepticism matched only by its gullibility.
Fastidiously skeptical when it comes to almost anything traditional and
orthodox, yet indiscriminately gullible regarding almost anything new or
novel, sensationalistic or iconoclastic. Hence, in the realm of religious
faith, many people are fascinated with anything extra-biblical and esoteric,
especially if it is tied to something salacious or conspiratorial. E.
What might Leonardo think of Dan Brown’s DaVinci
Code? If Leonardo (and not Mary Magdalene), could be heard, whispering up from the chasms of the
earth, might he not be saying, the truth of things is the chief nutrient
of superior intellects, though not of wandering wits (Leonardo Da Vinci, “Morals”)? |
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