The Da Vinci Code
I'm a bit of a "spy" movie/book fan, so I confess I'm looking forward to seeing this movie on the big screen. I don't get to a lot of movies, but I'm looking forward to seeing this one, mostly because I really enjoy mystery stories. The movie does raise an interesting question in my mind.... What if something came to light that affected what we had always believed as truth? What if what I have come to believe about Jesus was not entirely the way it really is? I'm not suggesting something as big as His deity or the virgin birth, but we tend to create Jesus in our own image. In other words, there are times that we think that Jesus sees the world in the same way that we do, that He enjoys the same things that we do and that He shares the same preferences and tastes that we do. (That might sound ridiculous to you, but I've been a pastor long enough to know that for most people, that's pretty much how it works...)
Here's where I'm going with this. When Jesus came to earth the first time, the religious crowd didn't accept him because He didn't fit their mold or meet their expectations. They were looking for someone who embraced their lifestyle and shared their values. When he came and hung out with tax collectors, drunks, gluttons and sinners, they were mortified.
In the same way, I can only wonder what my response to Jesus would be if I saw him on the street. Would he "fit" into my grid or would I put him on the back burner because he's not what I expected him to be.
I think Jesus is a whole lot of fun. A person who loves people and isn't too uptight about all of the "stuff" that matters so much in church life. I also think that He's got a ton of passion and the stuff that matters to him REALLY MATTERS A LOT! I think He's more about mercy than He is about judgment. I think He's big on grace and forgiveness. Holiness is connected to walking closely with Him on the journey and not about all of the rules and trappings that we create to make him "happy".
Open my eyes Lord, I want to see Jesus. The way that He is, not the way that I've made him...
Have a good one gang!
3 comments:
I am sorry, but I am no big fan of "The Da Vinci Code."
Watching the movie will probably impact my impression of Jesus in much the same way as someone starting a conspiracy theory about Joe Blow having a second wife somewhere. In the same way “The Da Vinci Code” puts seeds of doubt in ones mind about the legitimacy of the Bible.
Every second person at work it seems has read the book and for the most part they are convinced that the Disciples covered up the truth that Jesus married Mary Magdalene because they were jealous of her, etc. It is written in suspenseful way that had brought Dan Brown great success, but he cannot even get simple facts straight like how many panes of glass are in the pyramid outside the Louvre or the frequency of Olympics.
Having said that, the upside is everyone is talking about Jesus, so one needs to be ready for an answer when called upon to do so.
Maybe I am missing something, but that is the way I see it.
Here is an example site
Can you imagine what would happen if an equivalent blasphemous story was told of the profit Muhammad! Why to go Christians for being so tolerant.
I was interested in reading the book, just never got around to it. I was planning on seeing the movie instead. Then I heard the movie bites the big one, so I think I'm just going to abandon that topic altogether.
I agree with you about the Jesus thing. And, unfortunately, sometimes Christians aren't that tolerant.
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