Da Vinci a gift?

I have been on Dan Brown’s website this morning, and I wanted to provide you with a quote from an interview about his best-selling book, The Da Vinci Code.

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.). These real elements are interpreted and debated by fictional characters. While it is my belief that some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit, each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations. My hope in writing this novel was that the story would serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history.”
-Dan Brown

Eph 5:16 “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (NIV)Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a Dan Brown supporter. I think he believes his erronious theories. But if Dan Brown’s intent was for his book to provide an opportunity to discuss important issues like “faith, religion, and history”, then by all means let’s do exactly that. Let’s make the most of this opportinity.
THE PHENOMENON1. The Da Vinci Code has sold more than 40 million hard-cover copies since its release in 2003, becoming the best-selling fiction book EVER.
2. Remained Top Ten on the New York Times Best Seller list for over two years.3. Translated into more than 40 languages worldwide and is a big hit in England and Australia.4. Author, Dan Brown, was recently named one of the world’s one hundred most influential people by Time magazine.5. Has become a major motion picture starring Hollywood icon Tom Hanks and directed by Ron Howard.If you haven’t read it, you probably know many people who have. (My wife is currently reading it.)THE IMPACTThis is what people are saying about The Da Vinci Code:"It nearly made me lose my faith.""It’s just a novel.""It shows that the Bible can’t possibly be accurate and that the text was changed.""It made me question everything.""The book is true or it couldn’t be printed.""While the book is ’fiction,’ one can’t help but believe much of it."

According to Barna RESEARCH Group:1. The Da Vinci Code has been read "cover to cover" by roughly 45 million adults in the U.S. - that’s one out of every five adults (I’m finding this hard to believe.)2. Of those readers, 24% said the book was helpful in relation to their "personal spiritual growth or understanding." That means about 11 million adults considered The Da Vinci Code a helpful spiritual document.

DA VINCI CODE A GIFT:

Dan Brown has done nothing more than write an excellent work of fiction. There is no need for the church to attack him or assume a posture of threat or insecurity. Our faith remains firm and the book is an opportunity to enter into dialogue with our community. I consider the book a gift! It has given the church a fresh opportunity to truly examine her beliefs. We have nothing to fear except ignorance-and too many have been too ignorant for too long. Thanks to the book a sleeping giant is awakening and ignorance can be replaced by historical and theological understanding. The facts of the historical Jesus will shine brightly once again and when the dust has settled, Christ will be who He has always been-King of Kings and Lord of Lords! I consider the book a gift!

Join us for our new series, “Seek the Truth”.
-Do the Winners Write History?
-Can We Trust the Bible?
-The Anti-Woman Church?
-Does Jesus Have Grandkids?

Begins this weekend!

Chris