Thursday, May 18, 2006

Our Response to The Da Vinci Code - Coming out in theatres tomorrow

My friend Matt sent this to me earlier today:
The Da Vinci Code movie is coming out tomorrow, and it's going to bring bold-faced blasphemies to the big screen in the name of "entertainment". People are suggesting all kinds of responses to the movie, but perhaps the best defense would be to get believers on their knees. In some ways the situation is akin to that of Paul, who "breathing out murderous threats against the Church" was on his way to Damascus to blaspheme the name of Christ; we all know what happened to him. So as the masses stream to the theaters tomorrow to revel in the blasphemies of the Da Vinci Code, let's pray that many of them would see the utter ridiculousness of the claims made by the movie, and see the Great Light!
I emailed Matt back asking, Is it worth reading the Da Vinci Code or watching the movie so as to be 'informed'? He responded:
My own opinion is that the book and the movie [both] belong in the dumpster rather than bookstores and movie theaters. They contain outright blasphemy of Christ by suggesting that he married here on Earth, denying his crucifixion and resurrection. This isn't something new though; this kind of attack has been going on throughout the centuries against Christ, and will continue to go on. So the real question is, how can we best prepare to defend the name of Jesus against those who would drag it through the mud? Those who would like to go to the movies to see what Dan Brown has to say are essentially saying that it is good preparation to study the enemy's attack. Personally, I don't think this is true; we would be better served to get into the Bible on our knees and ask the Lord to reveal His awesome majesty to us. Then when [we encounter these] paltry blasphemies we can show [people] at least something of the glories of Christ!

...

1 Peter 3:15-16
but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
I think Matt's right. May we respond by (1) testing all of our interests and motives, and (2) praying, as Matt, put it "that many of [the people who see Da Vinci] would see the utter ridiculousness of the claims made by the movie, and see the Great Light!"

Go ahead and breath a prayer now.
ar TORONTO, CANADA | 2023+

APRIL


MAY

27 Sat (1) 11am Commencement speaker at R. University, (2) ~3pm+ time w/ V/AR+
29 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer, (2) 3pm mtg DerCh - Mississauga
30 Tue (1) 10am ph call (AA), (2) 5:30pm video mtg (IsTan), (3) 8pm neighbourhood prayer mtg

JUNE
1 Thu (1) 11:30am Zoom mtg (LM), (2) 4pm mtg (VS,KBr)
2 Fri (1) 10:30am ph call (PVDW; SL w/ boys; ~J working)
3 Sat SL w/ boys and MG
5 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer mtg, (2) 2pm Europe call, (3) 5pm mtg/walk (YM)
6 Tue (1) 11:30am lunch (GD) - St. Jacobs, (2) 4pm mtg (AF) - Cambridge, (3) 7:30pm worship night
9 Fri ~J's b'day
10 Sat North Bay trip
13 Tue 11am mtg (DAy) (~J school trip w/ ~Co | text BD)
14 Wed 9:30am time w/ BD
15 Thu 4:30pm video mtg (Paul T.)
16 Fri (1) 9am video med appt, (2) 15-km run (Prayer Journey "warm-up")
17 Sat Prayer Journey (my own: 50km GTA bike-ride; Jessie's: 5KM) and speaking at GTA after-party
23-25 Fri-Sat poss. SL
26 Mon 2pm Europe monthly call
29 ... July 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas

JULY
... 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas
~8-17 SA+ in Toronto; P/H Bell likely visiting too
15 Sat aft+ baptism (Saj; NaB may be coming)
17-21 Mon-Fri Kids Kapers camp
24 Mon 2:45pm med. appt
26 Wed (1) 11am video mtg (SM), (2) 3pm Zoom mtg (SMa,SB), (3) 7pm ~J speaking at Greenhouse/Zoe - UofT downtown
27 Thu 10am video MVT board mtg
31 Mon 3:05pm med. appt
July/Aug CCWM board mtg / AGM

AUGUST
2 Wed 11am video mtg (SM+)
6-12 Sun-Fri Cottage w/ O/DN+ and UB/AC - Windermere; plus Muskoka
19 Sat poss. ~J fam beach day - Brighton area
25-29 Fri-Tue MoveIn staff retreat - southern Ontario

2023+
Sep 21 Thu - MVT board mtg
Sep 23 Sat poss. date of GV memorial
Sep 24 Sun ~Ch's b'day
Sep ~26-28 Poss. time in Lushnjë, Albania
Sep 29 - Oct 6 MoveIn Europe Conference+ - Durrës, Albania
Oct 21 Sat poss./unlikely date of GV memorial
Oct 21-27 Dollar-a-Day week
Early Nov Poss. fundraising event - Niagara
Nov-Jan Poss. time in India - Goa; Philippines - Manila+; Indonesia - Jakarta/Bali; LA/San Diego