Da Vinci Code Debate

How Can Christians Engage with Those Who Have Read or Seen the Da Vinci Code? (6:43)

By Lee Strobel
5.18.06

In India, a Catholic group called on Christians to starve themselves to death to protest the impending release of The Da Vinci Code movie. In the Philippines, Archbishop Ramon Arguelles is crusading to ban the film. At the Vatican, some officials are urging lawsuits. In the U.S., media critic Ted Behr is leading a boycott. What’s a conscientious Christian to do?

There’s no debate over the contents of The Da Vinci Code. After all, no serious scholar supports its historical assertions. But there is a very real debate over how Christians should respond to it. I can understand those who say we should picket, but I support a different approach: let’s follow the example of the Apostle Paul by leveraging this phenomenon to bring the true story of Jesus to people whose spiritual curiosity has been piqued.

Consider what happened in Acts 17 when Paul traveled to Athens – a city dedicated to idol worship. Was he angered and repulsed by the blasphemous behavior that he saw? Absolutely! Verse 16 says he was “greatly distressed.” I bet he wanted to smash a few statues before lunch!

But he was facing a choice: He could either lash out or he could reach out – but he couldn’t do both at the same time. So he decided to engage the Athenians. Verse 17 says “he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.”

Wherever he went, Paul initiated spiritual conversations. In fact, when he faced the intellectual elites, he actually congratulated them on being spiritual. “Men of Athens,” he said in verse 22, “I see that in every way you are very religious.” In effect, he was building a bridge by saying, Hey, we have something in common: you’re religious and so am I. Let’s build on that!

With this as a starting point, he delivered a brilliant defense of Jesus’ deity. He even quoted back to the audience their own sources. In other words, he had read their books! And how did people react? Verse 32 says, “When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, ‘We want to hear you again on this subject.’” The good news comes in verse 34, which says, “A few men became followers of Paul and believed.”

Am I repulsed by The Da Vinci Code? You bet – just as the idol-worshipping in Athens sickened Paul. But like him, I think we should build bridges by celebrating that many people are becoming spiritually interested because of this book and movie – and seize this opportunity to engage them in conversations that can change their lives and eternities.

Am I going to see the movie? You bet – because my non-Christian friends and neighbors are going to. Jesus considered their eternities important enough to sacrifice himself on their behalf. I might very well have to close my eyes during some scenes of the movie to avoid certain images. But Jesus sent out his followers as “sheep among wolves” in order to advance his mission of seeking and saving those who are spiritually confused.

Should you see the movie? You decide. Pray about it. Prepare yourself by first reading Exploring the Da Vinci Code or some other book that points out the historical and theological errors in the story. If you’re just going to the film to be entertained – don’t. But if your seeking friends are going and you’re convinced that attending with them would help you reach them with the story of the real Jesus, then I’d certainly consider it.

I respect those Christian leaders who take a different approach – and I hope that in the spirit of Romans 14 they’ll respect me and others who are equally convinced we’re following God’s directives regarding this movie, though in another direction.
Personally, my goal in life is to drag as many people to heaven with me as I possibly can. Jesus endured taunts, insults, and ultimately the torture of the cross on his way to redeeming humankind. I guess I can sit through 150 minutes of Dan Brown’s spiritual drivel if that’s what it takes to reach my friends with the real Gospel.

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