Addressing the critics.
BY PHILL FELTHAM
Silencing the critics (sony.com).
While ensuring your personal relationship with the Lord and serving others is primary, our faith always needs to be challenged. How? Glad you asked. Discussion, debate and above all, education. Take for instance, the world wide theatrical success of The Da Vinci Code.
Some critics say that it’s a really bad idea to see it.
Okay, good. They’ve voiced their opinions. Now, the people that see it voice theirs. Take two young Christians studying theology at the same Bible College. Their futures are bright. They get good grades and they both want to be pastors just like their fathers. With the exception of background and personality, the only difference in this scenerio is that one Christian has seen the Da Vinci Code. The Christian that didn’t see it hears stories from others that have seen it. He’s intrigued but feels that it would damage his faith if he saw it. He doesn’t and amuses other Christians baffled by the thoughts of the movies. The second Christian saw the movie. He wanted to see what the hype was all about. He’s even read the book. He’s asked his pastor and some of his other Christian friends that if any of the conceived ideas in Dan Brown’s pages are feasible. His friends say yes and even the pastor gets a second thought now and again. But at the end of the day, he knows that the Da Vinci Code is pure fiction. You know, entertainment. It’s Tom Hanks getting paid a lot of money to bring a controversial best seller to life.
I remember when Passion Of The Christ hit the theatres. A lot of people complained about the movie’s violence and content and forgetting the all important message: Jesus Christ died on the cross so we had a place in God’s kingdom. Also, the movie made its mark in cinematic history by becoming an all-time top 20 grossing movie worldwide.
The fact is nothing has changed in terms of their faith in the Lord. They’ve been given a new perspective to use in their Bible class. Some free thinking discussion with other Christians that will eventually be forgotten. For those who consider Dan Brown’s history classes legit facts, it’s time do some actual research in a library.
Information is key in this situation. Pleas from some church officials asking Chistian devotes to boycott the film will only increase intrigue or cause spite. This is the reason why many practicing Christians stop going to church every Sunday in the first place.
Da Vinci Code was pulled from theatres in China and Iran. However, both countries have set ideologies like other communist countries and their governments thought that Da Vinci would harm its people.
That’s their opinion.
In the west, we have easy access to the movie so make your decision without any oppression from anyone else. Information doesn’t cost anything, just an opportunity to enhance your own perspective and to share the truth with others. Don’t miss that chance. iT!
Phill Feltham is a freelance travel writer teaching English in Taiwan. He is also the Publisher of The Weekly Wanderer.
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