DaMoney Code

Book Review:
The DaVinci Code

Have you seen the movie National Treasure? If you have, then you've seen a similar plot line(Much more family friendly) to the book that has sat atop the bestseller list, and is about to become a blockbuster movie.
Essentially Dan Brown, has built on the controversial foundations of Symbols, Art, Secret Societies, and Theology. His book is well written, with descriptions that make the characters and locations believable and amenable to the mental image evoked on each page.
The quest...the Holy Grail, oops, (sorry Harrison and Sean) it's not the Grail you think. But the quest that unfolds, as tradition holds, is one in which you don't find the Grail, the Grail finds you. And if you are a fan of the novel genre, then you'll be found turning pages.

Now, I'm a Pastor, and there is much controversy raised by this book for the church community or so we've been sold.....erm....I mean told.

Here's my perspective on the whole deal. Those of you who know me, know that I'm an optimist. Though this may sound synical it isn't at it's heart. I think this is less religious and more political. It's about capitalism. I believe that capitalism is the most successful foundation for government in the world today. Liberty and freedom that allows people to compete and achieve has shaped the world as we know it. Even countries that are not capitalistic have benefited by those nations that are. Enough politics.

I think Dan Browns editors were thrilled with his pitch when he brought them The DaVinci Code. The editor knew Controversy sells books. Since a main theme in the book relates to degrading Jesus' divinity, Christians will be up-in-arms. Since the Catholic Church has been reeling for years, Catholics and those who are skeptical of the Church will be tweaked. And everyone loves conspiracy theories, so all of us in alluminum foil hats are "in". It's about money.

And in this corner...The Church. There is a company that deals in production goods to market churches. They've been around for several years. They deal in mass mailing postcards, doorhangers, banners, etc. They really made a move a couple years ago with a movie called The Passion of The Christ. They got rights to produce bullitens with movie artwork, banners, and all the marketing materials you'd need to advertise anything from sermon series to reserved movie showings.
Then came The Chronicles of Narnia. Everything you'd need from another company (and the other one too) to promote the movie in your church. An interactive DVD includes the video clips, sermon notes and handouts you'll need for a 4 week prep course culminating with a trip to the theatre for everyone to see this great tribute to the philosopher Walt Disney....erm...I mean C. S. Lewis.
And now Lee Strobel, author of The Case for Faith and The Case for Christ (great books), has engaged the fictional attributions in The DaVinci Code. Marketing and teaching materials are available from a number of marketing comapnies. Why? Because Controversy sells books.

I see as much or as little problem with Strobel as I do Brown, or maybe more specifically Zondervan as Doubleday. It's all about the money.

I know 2 Christians; one who is vehemenantly opposed to the Code and one who told me it was a pretty good read as novels go. I told them in a mutual conversation that I saw both sides. If an author, let's call him Don Brawn, wrote a book called DaRainey Code and described an intelligent, good-looking, albeit overweight pastor, named Ben Rainey, Jr., who was secretly homosexual as proven by the cactus that grew on his Glen Burnie lawn, there would be multiple responses. That book might be pretty good depending on Don's ability to write, but those of you who know me, might fell greatly offended because you know me, and that I'm not Homosexual as proven by the lack of cacti on my lawn. For those of us who know Jesus, I'm not surprised that there is so much hurt brought about by this book. But it is still a well-written book.
*SPOILER* Note the following paragraph contains a plot spoiler. Read at own risk.

The book intertwines non-fictional elements like Jesus, the church, etc. with fictional elements like...come on...does anyone believe Mary Magdelenes bones are burried in front of the Louvre?

*Non-Spoiler*

The fact is that not everything in the book is true, and people who are looking for a reason to not believe in Jesus put their faith in fictional arguments all the time. This is not something to be scared of. Instead in Christian love I believe that we should be more excited about the release of The DaVinci Code than we were about The Passion of The Christ. Because the fiction raises more questions about what Truth is.

I think Socrates was in part of God's truth when he expressed, "The unexamined life is not worth living." We should be ready to engage in the questions raised. Humble enough to admit when we don't know. Having enough integrity to search for the answers, and honor the scripture that tells us to always be prepared to answer for the hope that we have within us. (Thanks Peter)

So anyway,

I know a shepherd and He is really good
He came to earth and gave me all He could
And all the lies that can be ever sold
Can't destroy the greatest story ever told
(* Iambic Pentameter)


--Ben