Faith Damaged by 'Da Vinci Code'

[Soldier4Christ]

Well I don't know, how far did you get in the da vinci code before you knew it wasn't Christian? The last sentence? I have to laugh because it reminds me of certain people who say you need smilies to comprehend and pick up on emotion in English (private joke).

God bless.

 

(I like smilies)   

[Soldier4Christ]

I do understand what you are meaning hopes_daughter and I agree with you completely in the matter of this book. There are those that are new born babes in Christ that just might easily be deceived, those that will be deceived because they don't know our Saviour to bgin with but many people that are fooled by this book will be because they want to be in order to give credence to their own worldly desires.

The book is very clear and anyone that knows the Bible as the word of God and just an inkling of what it says will know the Da Vinci Code for what it is.

[stealyourface89]

Well I don't know, how far did you get in the da vinci code before you knew it wasn't Christian? The last sentence?

I didn't think it was anti-christian because my sister-in-law who goes to church every sunday and claims to be christian BOUGHT the book and let me BORROW it. I thought it would be safe since i know a couple Christians who have read it and were not offended. Excuse me for being ignorant.

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

We are really talking about a book and movie that are objected to by most Christians because of false information designed to deceive people about JESUS CHRIST. Here, we have a perfect example that it did deceive and harm faith in JESUS CHRIST. That is generally the work of the devil and is the way most Christians view the Da Vinci Code book and movie.

It is presented in such a way to make people think it is being presented as facts, yet it is completely fictional and false. The primary focus of the book and movie is JESUS CHRIST, Very GOD, our Lord and Saviour, and the primary purpose is to defame HIM. Those who lack a strong Christian foundation wouldn't know this, so the deception is more easily achieved. I and many other Christians object in the strongest ways possible to anyone making money with lies and blasphemy of JESUS CHRIST. Only the devil would make such an attempt, and that's exactly my view about the Da Vinci Code book and movie. It's the devil trying to drag the Holy Name of JESUS CHRIST into the sewer. I would and do view the people who are doing this as evil agents of the devil. They are no better than Judas who also sold JESUS CHRIST.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 103:1-5 NASB  A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

[stealyourface89]

Ok hopes_daughter,

It's all my fault. I decided to read the book, it's nobody's fault but mine. You know what? I deserve to be apart from God. In fact, I should get leprosy and loose all my money to a scam artist. While I'm at it, I might as well quit school while my skin is falling off and die in a gutter.

Because we all know that everyone should be perfect and not make mistakes. And if they do? Oh, they deserve to suffer.

It's people like you that make me wonder sometimes.

We are really talking about a book and movie that are objected to by most Christians because of false information designed to deceive people about JESUS CHRIST. Here, we have a perfect example that it did deceive and harm faith in JESUS CHRIST. That is generally the work of the devil and is the way most Christians view the Da Vinci Code book and movie.

I realize that now. Thank you for being supportive and giving POSITIVE feedback.

[stealyourface89]

Also you don't have to exaggerate. I know very well that you are not ignorant nor can you plead so in this particular case. You knew what you were doing.

Look, I knew that the book had ideas in it that contradicted the scripture (greatly) but I was ignorant to the fact that the book would damage my faith.

Of course you should find a way that this is my fault. Go ahead.

[Soldier4Christ]

Brothers and sisters this is not something that we need to get heated over or to give cause to attack one another nor to put others down over it. None of us are perfect and are capable of making mistakes and to have moments of weakness. We should be supporting one another in Christ not being judgemental.

[stealyourface89]

I guess someone doesn’t grow up overnight. I still have a lot of growing to do, and learning. I recently listened to a sermon by Jim Berg entitled "Anxiety, The Silent Killer". This sermon is one of the best I have heard in a long time, I could relate to the sermon as I listened to it. I found myself going, "Wow, this really correlates to my situation and attitude." The sermon doesn’t specifically talk about not blaming others, but it does outline several problems with most people "these days". I recommend it to anyone dealing with anxiety or depression. That sermon and "More Than Enough Hope" are available on Sermon Audio.

But I digress.

[Shammu]

The Christian life is one of facing problems, not running from them. In our greatest moments of trouble, we need not fear nor panic because the power of God’s Spirit will enable us to endure the crisis.

Your crisis will help you discover who you really are. What comes out of an orange when you squeeze it? Most of us would say, "Orange juice." But the truth is, whatever is in the orange is what comes out-seeds and all!

Whenever we are squeezed by life’s pressures, whatever comes out of our lives is evident of what is within. In a moment of crisis, we either rise to the occasion, or collapse under the pressure. The crisis has a way of helping us understand who and what we really are. It forces us to take a more honest look at ourselves than we normally would. And it also encourages us to realize that whatever our inadequacies, God can meet our needs.

In life’s trying moments we gain a greater insight into our own strengths and weaknesses. If your struggle reveals an area of need in your life, don’t run away from it. Face it, as you have done stf.  Determine to profit from your mistake. If the crisis strengthens your faith and gives you a greater determination to serve God, despite the troubles, thank Him for it!

Your crisis will force you to God.  In every time of trouble there comes a point of decision that determines our future destiny. We can either allow our problems to make us better or bitter—the choice is up to us.

I can’t help but think of Job. He never once turned away from God, though he was bombarded with one crisis after another. Who among us has ever had the kind of problems he had? He lost all of his children and all of his possessions in one day. If that were not enough, he lost his health the next day. But despite the circumstances, Job’s faith remained steadfast. Job 13:15. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.

When the greatest difficulties of life confront us, they will always remind us there is a source of strength beyond ourselves. The power of God is far greater than we ever imagined to meet our needs. When the difficulties come, turn your attention heavenward. And our faithful God will make a path and show you the way.

Your crisis can become a testimony of God’s grace. Whenever we face the difficulties of life, others are watching us. Husband, wife, child, friend or relative someone is watching your life right now! They may not always notice your reactions when things are going smoothly, but when you remain faithful to Christ—even when everything has gone wrong you will get their attention.

While we should never try to bring such difficulties upon ourselves, we must recognize that when they do come, God can use them as a testimony to speak to others. Our faith in Him says to them: "God brought me through my difficulties, and He can do the same for you!"

Our lives are not lived in isolation. We are like an open book being read by those who know us best. It is then, and especially then, that God speaks the loudest. In the crucible of human relationships in our moment of crisis. God is speaking through us by the very way that we respond to His grace which enables us to endure the crisis and rise above it!

Jesus has already dealt with the greatest crisis in our lives. He died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead to give us eternal life.

[nChrist]

Brothers and sisters this is not something that we need to get heated over or to give cause to attack one another nor to put others down over it. None of us are perfect and are capable of making mistakes and to have moments of weakness. We should be supporting one another in Christ not being judgemental.

AMEN!

Brothers and Sisters in Christ are not the enemies of each other. The adversary is the devil, and we need to remember that.

Some Christians read the book or saw the movie of the Da Vinci code to educate themselves and help those who were negatively impacted. Other Christians, like me, decided not to give one penny to the devil and simply denounce the Da Vinci code for what it is: garbage and blasphemy of JESUS CHRIST. I'm not saying that other Christians did wrong in trying to educate themselves to combat the devil, but I felt like I was already prepared for the fight.

This thread is a perfect example of how successful the devil was in using this book and movie. NOW, it's up to Christians to turn this into something positive and help those who were hurt. I don't put any blame at all on the lost or the babes in Christ who were hurt by this book and movie. I put all of the blame where it belongs - the devil.

It should now be the job of Christians everywhere to tell the TRUTH about who JESUS CHRIST was, what HE accomplished on the CROSS, and what HE means to us as a living Lord and Saviour.

1 - JESUS CHRIST was and is Very GOD, the CREATOR. HE had no beginning and HE has no end.

2 - JESUS CHRIST humbled HIMSELF and took the form of a man by being born of a Virgin and ministering on this earth as a man.

3 - JESUS CHRIST was perfect, HOLY, without sin, and was the rightful KING OF THE JEWS, but they rejected HIM and convicted HIM of crimes HE didn't commit.

4 - HE was crucified and DIED on the Cross as a perfect sacrifice, dying in our place for our sins and taking the punishment that should have been our punishment.

5 - HE was buried, but HE arose from the dead on the third day. Many witnesses knew that HE did DIE, but many witnesses also saw HIM and talked with HIM after HE arose from the dead.

6 - HE ascended back to Heaven, HIS rightful place, and HE is our LIVING LORD AND SAVIOUR today.

The devil wants us to believe that JESUS CHRIST was just a man, or just a minister, or just a prophet, or just anything other than VERY GOD of eternity past. The devil would also like us to believe that JESUS CHRIST didn't die on the CROSS. WHY?: the devil wants us to believe that no sacrifice at all took place, especially a PERFECT SACRIFICE that defeated the curse of sin and death. The PERFECT SACRIFICE of JESUS CHRIST on the CROSS was and is the devil's worst nightmare because the devil was defeated at the CROSS. The devil doesn't want us to know about how to claim that victory by accepting JESUS CHRIST as our Lord and Saviour.  The devil wants to twist and distort who JESUS CHRIST was, and the devil especially wants to twist and distort what happened at the CROSS.

The Da Vinci code attempts to do exactly what the devil wants done. In fact, the devil did get it done with many people. It is now up to Christians around the world to tell the TRUTH and fight the work of the devil. We don't do that by telling someone they are ignorant for believing the lies of the Da Vinci code. We do that by doing what we've always done: share the GOOD NEWS of the GOSPEL of THE GRACE OF GOD with everyone we can. This is the TRUTH and nothing but the TRUTH. This is the same TRUTH that has resulted in Salvation for thousands of years. Our message hasn't changed, and GOD'S WORD hasn't changed. The devil hasn't changed either - he's still the old serpent who attempts to deceive. There isn't anything new about the Da Vinci code, nor will there be anything new about what is yet to come from the devil. We MUST know and remember that the WORD of GOD has the greatest POWER, and it's still sharper than any two-edged Sword.

Brothers and Sisters, let's use the Gospel of the Grace of GOD as our weapon to fight the devil. It's always worked and it will continue to work. The devil can't stand up against the WORD of GOD not now and not ever. The WORD of GOD exposes the devil, tells the devil's history, and tells of the devil's END. JESUS CHRIST Himself will completely defeat the devil at GOD'S appointed time. REMEMBER: what the devil fears most is the TRUTH, especially the TRUTH about JESUS CHRIST!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 4:20-21 NASB  yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

Colossians 2:13-17 NASB  When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day -- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

Romans 8:26-27 NASB  In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Philippians 4:19-20 NASB  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

[airIam2worship]

Hello Stealyourface89, I haven't had a chance to welcome you to CU, so welcome.   

SYF, first of all I want to let you know that first of all God is not mad at you, He has not abandoned you, you are not a bad person, you realize that you may not have been as stong in the faith as you may have thought you were, and since you look up to your sister in law, you thought nothing bad about reading the book. I hope I got this all so far. Please bear with me a little as I have not been in the forum as often as I usually am in the last few days.

SYF: Please understand that you are not the only Christian that has read the book, some may have read it  because they want to know what is in the book so that they would be better able to defend their faith, some as yourself SYF, have read the book and have either, been confused by it, expierienced a wavering of their faith, felt guilty, or are completely lost because they were not spiritualy prepared to be able to prove with the Bible or historical material the lies and blasphemies in the DaVinci Code.

As a babe in Christ, by this I mean someone who is new to the faith, you did not understand everything, but the important thing here is that you do realize that you read that book and were not spiritually prepared to deal with the consequences.
My advise to you is 1. go to God in prayer, ask Him to reveal His truth to you. 2. Read the Bible everyday, always ask God to guide you and to help you understand it as you read His Word, this is the way to grow and become a more mature Christian. 3. Forgive yourself, you seem to think that God has left you because you read this book.  4. Realize that no one is perfect, God does not expect us to be, that is why He forgives us, when we repent and ask Him to forgive us.

SYF, there is a book written by Josh McDowell tittled The Davinci Code a Quest for Answers, this book was written to show where fact and fiction begin and to prove the errors of the book the DaVinci Code, and to show the truth. However I want to point out the the very best Book is God's Word the Holy Bible.
Also please keep in mind the devil is not just God's enemy, but because we are God's children, and because he cannot defeat God, he tries to hurt Him by deceiving God's children, and all the lost that he may keep them from coming to Christ.

SYF, brothers BEPs, DW, and PR have given you some very solid, strong, Christian advice.
One more thing I would like to touch on is this: you are a child of God and you shouldn't fear what anyone says if you go to church, God did not give you a spirit of fear, He gave you a spirit of love, power and of a sound mind.
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
 Pray about which church to attend and do not fear what anyone will say about you or to you when you do attend church. And finally always remember the Jesus warned us that we would face persecution for His namesake. He Himself was turned away by His own people/
Your friend and sister in Christ,
Maria.

[Brother Jerry]

syf,

I think everyone else has done a great job of providing scripture and encouragement for you.  Let me take a moment to talk about Da Vinci Code.

I am about 100 pages short of finishing the book.  A book that has wasted much of my time   550 pages worth of a thriller that could have been put into 150 pages.  The rest was Dan Brown trying put his theory out there, one that is founded on nothing. 

What he states as fact even in the front of the book is fabrications.  Do a google on Priory of Sion and you will find it is a social group started in 50's by Pierre Plantard.  Les Dossier Secrets mentioned do exist and are in the National Museum of France in Paris.  However they have been found to be fraudulent.  Their author even admits them to be falsehood.  Who is the author?  Pierre Plantard.  For those that do not know what the Dossier entailed...the royal geneology of France basically...a lost blood line of the royal family.  And who did they say was one of two current members?  Pierre Plantard...imagine that.

So right off the bat there is falsehoods in the book.  Which sets in motion the doubt behind everything else that one may debate.  One issue is Leonardo's Last Supper.  The theory being that the person sitting to the right of Jesus is Mary Magdelene.  And the story states that Mary was the wife of Jesus and bore him a child.  She was to be the true leader of the church.  And that it was Constantine during the Nicean council that altered the course of religion.  During this council the book states, the Sacred Feminine was removed from scripture and all aspects of Christianity.  That Christ was a man and not divine until then as well.

Now some problems with this entire story.  The book would make you think that Constantine had such power that he not only altered Christianity, but also Judiasm.  A religion that had been around for quite some time.  Although it focuses only on what Constantine did to Christianity, but fails to take into account the Jewish faith and how they have never had a Sacred Feminine.  However Dan did mention this once in the book that even the Jews had a male and female and that was what was in the Holy of Holies in Solomons Temple.  But if that were the case then by the time Christ came about they would have had to have already gotten rid of the feminine.  There would have been no way for Constantine to not only change the New Testament, but also change the whole of Judiasm as well to fit the aspect of the book.  And if Teabing (the historian of the book) could come back and state that the Jews had already moved the feminine out, then there would have been nothing for Constantine to have done, Jesus was a Jew and would already have been establishing a faith built on masculine and not feminine.  So that is out.

Even ignoring the above and looking at other aspects of the story.  The Last Supper painting.  Yes the figure to the right of Jesus is feminine looking.  However even in Leonardo's notes which have preliminary scetch of the painting with names above the figures, states that is John.  John was considered the youngest of the Apostles and thus was painted in a very youthful appearance.  And young boys have fair complections and smooth skin, as do all young people.  The story brings in the Holy Grail legend here as well.  By making people toss out their common sense.  There is nothing Biblically that mentions the Holy Grail, or that if there was a sacred cup at the last supper that it was something extravagent.  The book points out that there is no one cup on the table that is super duper or anything, that there are 13 cups on the table.  Well DUH, 12 apostles, 1 messiah = 13 cups.  It was dinner, the host would have either had 13 of the best cups out there for their guests or they would have all had 13 regular ones.

You could go on and on about the errors in the Code.  But it is pointless because once you start on one piece, quickly do the rest fall apart.  Dan Brown said in an interview that he spent years researching this book.  He could not even get the dates on the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls correct...5 seconds on Google brought that up.  Let alone he said there were Gospels found there....NOPE it was a Jewish sect and had Jewish writings and such, not one NT piece of literature.

So please just put the book down and pick up the best book there is to read (The Bible).  Continue to do the will of God and your faith will be bolstered.  James teaches us that as we continue to do things in accordance with God's will, then God will bless us.  The more we are blessed by God the more our faith grows.  It is a circle of building.  Pray and be thankful that God loves you so much He is always willing to take time from His day to listen to you talk about how your day was.

Sincerely
Brother Jerry

[stealyourface89]

So please just put the book down and pick up the best book there is to read (The Bible).  Continue to do the will of God and your faith will be bolstered.  James teaches us that as we continue to do things in accordance with God's will, then God will bless us.  The more we are blessed by God the more our faith grows.  It is a circle of building.  Pray and be thankful that God loves you so much He is always willing to take time from His day to listen to you talk about how your day was.

Sincerely
Brother Jerry

I have already told myself not to read anymore of Dan Brown's books. Or anything like Holy Blood, Holy Grail. I am reading The Bible. I just finished reading Romans. And I think Romans 3:23 says it all, that is the golden text of Romans.
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Remember that.

[1Tim]

Steal...you did nothing wrong...except maybe the timing of reading the Davinci Code.  You are young in the Faith for now, but you wont allways be if you stay in the Word as recommended by others who posted above.  Use your doubt / confusion to your spiritual advantage.  Isolate, and identify your questions that the book raised for you, then research the Bible, and ask your Brothers here.

I was raised in a 'christain' home, attended church regularily, attended a christain elementary school all 8 years, and memorized many Bible passages...BUT, I never learned as much of what the Bible actually said untill I had mormons come to my house and give me their shpeal, for about 8 weeks.  Each time I learned Bible truth, it began with doubt.  I thought that maybe what the mormons said was true, because it sounded reasonable, and I went back to the Bible to research what IT said (Acts 17:11).  The authority I chose to believe was not what a man ( or boy) said, but what the Bible said.  Because of that, I found the answers to the questions the mormons raised in my mind...and grew.

I tend to learn better if the question exists in my mind before the answer does, maybe that is the path you are beginning right now.


I have since read all the Mormon "scriptures".  Since I had a good foundation in the Word first, I see the lies easily in mormonism, but even now, if I read too much mormon doctrine, it begins to create questions in my mind...but greater is He that is in me, than he who is in the world.  The same can be said for anything, TV, novels, CNN, whatever music you listen to, all of that stuff can cloud our minds so Jesus is faded....back to the Word we must go.


Let Jesus answer the questions in your mind now, through prayer, reading His word, and hanging out with christian friends and e-brothers, and don't sweat the doubts, answer them.

"doubting" Thomas believed Jesus was God.  He said, " my Lord, and my God"
Paul believed Jesus was God, read 1 Tim 1  (Is God the Savior or is Jesus the Savior---yes)

These two lived 300 yrs before Constantine,  Not to mention the entire OT that identifies Jesus as the Messiah  (the OT was the scriptures referred to in Acts 17:11--thats all they had)

It isn't wrong to have questions, unless you don't look for the answers.

[Soldier4Christ]

Hi 1Tim,

Welcome to Christians Unite. I hope that we will be seeing more of your here.

You said:

It isn't wrong to have questions, unless you don't look for the answers.

Amen to that but I must add that one must look in the right place for those answers as you also said:

Let Jesus answer the questions in your mind now, through prayer, reading His word, and hanging out with christian friends and e-brothers