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A Da Vinci Warning
I want to share this timely article written by Frank Carpenter, Faith & Freedom Chaplain to the Oregon Legislature, Frank Carpenter. Frank regularly writes for Faith & Freedom. His articles can be found on the Oregon Chaplain's page at: http://faithandfreedom.us/or_chaplain.html.
I am compelled to write this special report to all friends of the Legislative Chaplain Ministry. This is a warning to all who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and to all who walk with Him and love Him.
Stay away from "The Da Vinci Code" whether it be the Book or the Movie.
I have not read the Book. I have not seen the movie. Nor will I read it or see this despicable work. I fail to understand why two of Hollywood’s better representatives Ron Howard and Tom Hanks participated in the advancement of this significantly damaging effort to attack the Christian faith. I know it is presented as fiction, but why then are so many falling for the ridiculous teachings of this attack on Christ.
The May 20 th Edition of World Magazine summarizes the thrust of the story as follows: During the course of solving a murder in the Louvre, a discovery is made that shows Christianity is really a monumental fraud. The Holy Grail, the chalice that contained the blood of Jesus is really a person, the physical descendants of Jesus. Jesus is really the founder of an occult religion that worshipped the "Sacred Femine", and when Jesus died his successor was his wife, Mary Magdalene and their daughter and subsequent holy grails.
It is not innocent entertainment. It is blasphemes against our Savior, it is nothing but a lie attacking the Divine Nature of Christ. We know who the father of lies is, and this is his work and his effort to weaken the church, and weaken the faith of thousands, and to prevent thousands of others to ever come to faith in Christ.
If the Da Vinci Code is true, then the Scriptures in there entirety are false. If the Scriptures are false then our faith is null and void, and we are all captives of our sin and have no hope of forgiveness or eternal life and our destiny lies with the arch enemy of God.
When asked by a friend if I was going to see the movie, I emphatically said no. I said there is too much truth that I have not yet discovered, why waist my time with falsehood and error. Some say we should see it so that we can combat it as we defend our faith. If this logic is good strategy then we all should try drugs etc in order to better help those who are caught in this awful trap.
Today I heard a spokesman for the National Council of Churches respond to the question, "What would Jesus do?" He answered, he would pick up His twelve friends buy them each a ticket and a bag of popcorn, watch the movie with them and laugh. NEVER!! There is nothing funny about portraying Jesus as a mere man! Obviously our friend from the NCC doesn’t know the same Jesus we know. He would respond as He did with the money changers and to the Pharisees and Hypocrites with great righteous anger.
The Scriptures are faithful and true, and Jesus is the Risen Savior, The Son of God and the Son of Man.
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; (17) so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Tim 3:16,17, NASU
"I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; (19) and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. (20) He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Rev 22:18,20, NASU
__________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
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19 Comments:
Is your faith so shaky, so tenuous, that a book or film leads you to doubt your salvation/relationship to Jesus/the Bible? O ye of so little faith!
If your faith isn't strong enough to withstand such obvious, crass commercialism, you need to read what the father of the possessed boy said when his son was healed [Mark 9:24, New King James Version]: 'I believe, Lord, help my unbelief'.
Where is the logic in this argument: "If the Da Vinci Code is true, then the Scriptures in there [sic] entirety are false. If the Scriptures are false then our faith is null and void, and we are all captives of our sin and have no hope of forgiveness or eternal life and our destiny lies with the arch enemy of God."
The basic premise that the da Vinci code might be true is itself false. The da Vinci code is fiction, which means 'an imaginative creation or a pretense that does not represent actuality but has been invented'. Putting forth the possibility that the da Vinci code might be true is potentially more damaging than the book or movie itself when it comes from someone in a position to speak with any amount of authority as it gives credence to a work of fiction as the truth instead of what it actually is: a made-up story.
PLEEZ! The idea that Jesus and Mary were married and had a son that was raised in what is now France is a 'revelation' has been passed on for a hundreds of years. Some say the secret identification phrase of 'Who will help the widow's son?' refers to this. The book is just a fictionalization of a very old legend.
Regardless how would Jesus having had a son invalidate the bible anyway? What convoluted reasoning reaches that conclusion - it would just be something that wasn't included and really makes no difference here nor there except for those that think Jesus was somehow not really a man of flesh (but wasn't that the gnostic heresy?)
Still just a tempest in teapot - just go and try and enjoy the movie in-spite of the bad reviews if you are so inclined and just remind people it is JUST A STORY WRITTEN TO MAKE MONEY AND ENTERTAIN, nothing more.
Next thing you know people will be concerned that Harry Potter stories are teaching Satanism or something.
One on one evangelism is probably the most effective way to introduce a person to Christ. To discuss such a personal topic as a persons salvation requires friendship and credibility. One must earn the right to be heard. The DaVinci Code presents an opening to present the facts of Scripture. However if one is to criticize a book or movie he will have no credibility on the subject if he has not read it or seen it. To me this is an obvious principle. So if you want to take advantage of the current DaVinci opportunity, you must go through the motions of reading or viewing DaVinci. My preference however is that if you are going to see the movie, wait a couple of weeks so the Hollywood ticket counters will not be so impressed with the opening weeks attendance that it encourages more movies of the same ilk. Probably better would be to read or even skim the book. Get it from the library or a friend if possible so not to enrichen the author. If you do buy the book, the paperback are cheap in some stores.
You need a proof reader, nothing says "I'm stupid" like mispellings, and words used out of context.
Would you enjoy going to the theater to watch a made-up story about your mother or father? Would you enjoy hearing someone's fictional account of their lives? I wouldn't and neither would I care to see a made-up story about my Heavenly Father.
Some of my pals see it as harmless entertainment, pouring millions into the hands of the Christian haters.
This will only encourage more such films. Attendance is not harm-free.
I have found that the reaction to the movie is far more hurtful to the image of the church than the movie will ever be.
"Perhaps they protest too much..."
In my own words: if something doesn't(isn't likely to; has no intention to) make you stronger, it will probably harm you....
Please, don't damage your faith... and do you think the movie and the book have distractive ability or can damage someone's faith?
what is your answer?
Most likely they have and can...
Therefore, they will... if you take the risk.
I do not believe the reaction to the movie is or will be hurtful to the image of the church. The church is stronger than that. People stand up for what they believe. We have been taught that in this country.
Well, the church's stand that this film should be censored, that their parishoners aren't able to separate fact from fiction, etc. doesn't exactly cast the institution is the most positive light.
"Stand up for what you believe." And if someone believes something else, stand on top of them.
I don't think that the Divinci Code damages the Christian faith or even hurts it. I think if you consider that it may have some truth, (like Mary Magdalene wasn't really a prostitute,) then that is good. The Bible WAS messed with by wicked men during the dark ages when the Catholic church was using unrighteous power (torturing, murdering, all in the name of God)and this book and movie is bringing to light that maybe some precious truth was lost because of these unGodly non-Christian men. That alone would make the Davinci code good. Maybe you should read the book before you get all uptight about it. I am a very devout Christian and I read nothing disturbing in the book except the one farfetched ceremony toward the end but even then, you just take that with a grain of salt. I think Ron Howard and Tom Hanks did a good thing by exposing more of the evil that was wrought by bad men wearing the cloaks of God back in the dark ages. I believe every Christian should see the Da Vinci Code- it's not against Christ but the men that deviled Him hundreds of years ago.
I believe that the Da Vinci Code is good.
Our Pastor is married and has kids, why does it have to be so incredible that Jesus was married and had children too. Just because it wasn't recorded in his "ministry" doesn't mean it didn't happen. And if he was married, why would that offend anyone? Why wouldn't we want Jesus to happy in a loving marriage relationship? It seems like the only people who would be offended by this "idea" would be the Catholics who believe that their clergy should never marry (which is what the Da Vinci Code is all about isn't it?). I loved the book and I thought it was an interesting prospect. But wether it's true or not, I would never let a movie or a book rock my faith. I hope others are stonger than that too.
Whatsoever things are true, of good report, etc... is my guide. Why should I waste time reading this controversial book, or viewing the movie? I would like to challenge people to spend as much time in the Word and in prayer as they spend on this controversy. Thank you.
In the words of the Tom Hanks character(spoken to "Sophie")near the end of the film, "It's what YOU believe..." that sums it all up for me. I trust that God can use any and every thing for His good purpose. This film/book is no exception.
"It's what YOU believe..."
Well, it is NOT... or someone believes the Bible is the word of God. This is different than to believe that you will win a lottery...
Question was: does the movie and the book have distractive ability or can they damage someone's faith?
It's not whether someone believes it has and can...
Just because we have this discussion means one must carefully think what is good for many.
I would not recommend the movie and the book.
God Bless you Frank for speaking the truth. I would not read the book or watch the movie of the Da Vinci Code, it is blasphemes to our Lord and Saviour. All we need to do for Truth is to read the Bible, that is where you will find eternal life. God Bless.
bonnie, don't go! I did and it was like sitting through a documentary - the only good acting was by gay Sir Ian ;)
Like the reviewer said "you can tell a movie's a dud when even the self-flagellating albino killer monk isn't any fun."
If your faith can be rocked by a movie, then you have none. Where you two and a half years ago when the book came out and was on the best seller list for weeks? Oh, forgot, you are not literate, ..... I can tell by your writing. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.
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