World of Good Wednesday…DaVinci Code - What Satan meant for evil, God meant for good.

When the DaVinci Code by Dan Brown first came out I bristled at the thought of a fiction book gaining popularity that denied the deity of Christ. I was concerned and yes even fearful that this book…would lead people astray. Keep unbelievers from come to a saving faith in Christ…and draw Christians young or weak in their faith away from Jesus Christ.

I swore to myself…that I would not read that heretical book…much less hearken the doors of a theater that would blaspheme my Savior. The scripture that came to mind was, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie.” – Romans 1:25.

But I’ve since had a change of mind and heart. Now instead of being fearful about this movie…I welcome it.

Why, you ask? Has my choo, choo finally gone around the bend? Has my faith failed me following a couple of difficult years?

No! Rest assured…I am energized and excited at the prospects that God will take this work of fiction, chock of full lies and half truths…and turn it into an opportunity for his people, the church, to spread the gospel message. Reaching the world…with the Word.

Folks…think about it. People who are not Christians…who’ve never cracked a Bible in their life will be talking about Jesus. People whose faith is weak or wobbly will doubt and ask questions. And you, my friends…and me…can be God’s ambassadors to take his Word, the truth to a hungry, needy and dying world.

So what will be required of us so we can present an effective response to the questions and claims that people will have after seeing the DaVinci Code…or reading the book?

We are to be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us. Having good, firm, well grounded Biblical knowledge is paramount. However in this case it will not be sufficient. Instead…you are going to need to get educated on church history.

My friends…there is a wealth of information out there by apologetics teachers and Biblical scholars to help you get educated and knowledgeable. Knowledgeable about church history and the cannon of scripture, when the Bible gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were written. You will be able to learn…just who the Gnostics were and what they believed. You will be able to see for yourself the difference between God’s Word…and some gospels that were written a couple hundred years after Christ. You’ll be able to better understand why these alleged gospels were not included in the Bible.

So in others words…you’ll be getting a boat load of knowledge…that you can share with unbelieving friends of family members. When you have that friend…who is young in their faith and not well rooted and grounded in Bible knowledge…come to you with questions…and you will be prepared to answer.

But it is going to require some additional effort on your part. You’ll need to partake of the resources that are available to help you get to know church history. You’ll also need to read through the gospels and pay particular attention to passages that clearly show Jesus did claim to be the Son of God...yet fully human. Get out a pen…write it in the margins of your Bible…or have note pad handy.

Don’t forget that we…have the truth of God on our side. God tells us that his Word will not return void.

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:11

So here are some of the resources you can start with…to help bring you up to speed.

Stand to Reason…both their radio and the monthly newsletter, and other online resources.

Focus on the Family recently broadcast two programs about the Da Vinci Code on May 1st and 2nd. They also have other resources and links online.

The Da Vinci Deception by Edwin Lutzer

Lee Stroble and Garry Poole’s book Exploring the Da Vinci Code

There many, many other resources to help you get educated…so that you can put up an effective defense of the faith. Just do a quick search on Goggle…or your favorite search engine.

You can be a part of God’s plan…to take what Satan intended for evil…and bring good from it. Satan wants to see people following a false Jesus. Satan wants to deny the divinity of Christ. Satan wants people to believe that the Bible is strictly man’s invention…and not divine revelation from God. Satan wants people to remain in their sin…to not receive forgiveness of their sins from Jesus Christ.

Tell me…how you feel when someone tells you that the Bible is full of lies and contradictions? That is was written by man and not God? And then you inquire if they’ve read the Bible…and they respond, “No”. How do you feel? Do you respect their argument? I’d be willing to bet that you don’t respect that position.

Don’t you owe to others to answer with honesty that indeed you did read the book the DaVinci Code or see the movie. And while perhaps interesting…you found it nothing more than an interesting book…and totally devoid of truth and fact. Then you can present a well reasoned argument, based on fact, history and the truth of God’s Word.

Satan would like to see this make movie make in-roads into people’s faith…and he can only succeed if we back down and give him the territory. Remember…it’s all about the YAC yards. You need to make the YAC yards…not Satan.

Remember God’s admonition?

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” – 1 Peter 3:15

Are you prepared? What’s stopping you?