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Sunday Edition


01
May
2006
The DaVinci Code


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In a recent correspondence with someone very dear to me, the controversy over the book about the DaVinci Code came up. A simple and sincere question was asked of me. I have tried to respond to this question and the collateral ones that followed with a brief overview of biblical perspectives. Perhaps, this may help others who struggle with how to sort out all the voices that are supporting this and other literary works that are flooding the bookshelves in our country.

Please feel free to write your questions or comments to this article.

Dear Dr. Frazier

I read the DaVinci Code because of all the hype that surrounds it. Besides being a complete work of fiction, it is ultimately a murder mystery. Obviously, it does promote some "out-there" ideas of Jesus marrying Mary Magdalene and having children. But this book endeavors to take nothing away from Jesus. It never claims that He didn't rise from the dead or ascend to the Father. It only promotes the fictional idea that it might be possible that before He died, He got married and it was something that was hidden by the Roman Catholic Church. People who have never read it assume the worst, in that Dan Brown is debunking Jesus as the Christ. Think about it: what if Jesus did get married? What would it change? Would He no longer be the Christ? In my opinion, it doesn't take anything away from Him at all. It means that He can better relate to married men, if anything.


Dear Friend,

Thank you for your views but I think you're trying to defend the indefensible. What would it change, you asked, if Jesus had married and had children? THE ENTIRE GOSPEL!

He would have created a genetic link to God by natural generation rather than by spiritual rebirth. You would not have to be saved because God would be you BIOLOGICAL progenitor. Since the expression has been coined, "God has no grandchildren" (meaning, just because your parent was a Christian makes you a Christian) would be voided and everyone would, by physical birth, be a child of God. This is currently espoused by the Existentialists who negate the need of salvation by referring to "the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man." They say that when you are born, God is your Father and all humanity forms your core of siblings. Your physical existence supplies the only connection you need to Deity. Therefore, there is nothing you can do or should do to have a relationship with God. It came with your birth certificate!

While the Catholics consider Mary as the "Queen Mother", you would have an entire race that can legitimately claim that Jesus' wife is indeed their biological mother. If Jesus had progeny, THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE TO GET SAVED AND THEY COULD NEVER BE LOST. This would establish an "automatically saved" doctrine that neither requires consent and belief, nor personal responsibility. In contradistinction to this fallacy, The Bible declares that ALL must receive Christ "by faith" (Roms.10:10). Are you sure you want to deviate that far from the Gospel?

David said, "I was born in sin". That principle would cease to be true if there was a special genealogical line of Jesus' roaming the earth. Just like the Rephaim that were part human ("the daughters of men") and part angelic ("the sons of God"), you would have a super race of half Jesus/half human ethnicity which would not need a Savior, the Cross or to be born again (lit. "From above").

When you have an admixture of fiction with fact you are leaving it to the discretion of the reader to delineate one from the other. This is a highly dangerous endeavor since many readers may be unable to make the separation because of their lack of knowledge in the particular field of study. Two major literary works that have caused incalculable harm using this masking technique are, "The Book of Mormon" and "The Koran".

When a noted cult leader, for instance, stated his views condoning Polygamy and Celestial Marriages, readers believed him. Since he copied certain Scriptures directly from The Bible, how were they to know when something like these two spurious concepts was "unscriptural"? Jesus said, "A little leaven ("error, heresy") leavens the whole loaf". He declares that the influence of error is not confined to just a little space but spreads throughout and it ALL is contaminated. In other words, something that contains both fact and fiction is FICTION! It needs to be plainly declared as such. Religious books that pretend to be factual, while containing error, only serve to create confusion and deception.

The American society has certainly seen the escalation of Constitutional Revisionists who have altered the purity of the original document by declaring, "FICTIOUSLY", that the framers had in mind the guarantee that anyone can peddle smut, spew filth, remove prayer and God from the schools and public forums, murder babies in their mother's womb, project hard-core pornography depicting beastiality, incest, child molestation, and other vile acts without censure. No one, in their right mind, believes this. Yet, millions have been influenced by Satan wiles and subscribe to and defend this deviant mentality. They have set their course to change the American Constitution to reflect their amoral mindset.

The Bible shows us from the opening pages that one of Satan's tactics is to mix the Truth with error. His statement to Eve in the Garden is a preview of how he will take a statement from God and "add to or take away" from the purity of His Word. Revelation gives a strict warning, with ultimate punishment waiting, for anyone who dilutes the Word of God. God knows that dilution will bring pollution and this will result in their exclusion from His presence.

The Bible warns us of (1) "The Gainsaying of Korah" who challenged the authority and finality of God's Word (Jude v11 and Numbers 16) ; (2) "The Way of Cain" (Jude v11) which was to ignore God's instructions with no regard for human life; (3) "The Way of Balaam" ( 1 Peter 2:15) which was to say or do anything for money; (4) "The Error of Balaam" (Jude v11) which was to rely on his own mentality, instead of God, to exercise his gift of prophecy; and (5) "The Doctrine of Balaam" (Rev.2:14) which taught God's people to corrupt themselves by conjoining themselves with the corrupt world's system with the promise that there would be no penalty from God incurred.


The logic portrayed in the "what difference does it make" mentality is yet another way to circumvent the ABSOLUTE necessity of Calvary. If Jesus had intended to set up His Kingdom here in a natural way at that time, He would be nothing more than a monarch. His progeny would have inherited His Kingdom in a purely physical dimension rather than the spiritual dimension He declared to His disciples. He would now be the "Father of the Kingdom" and replace Jehovah as the ETERNAL Heavenly Father. When people would call out, "Abba, Father" who would answer them? Would Jesus' offspring have to cry "Abba, GRANDfather" when approaching God?

While I have never read the book, I'm sure others did before they wrote their comments on the Da Vinci Code. With the various articles available warning readers of major concerns, I'm wondering how you missed seeing the obvious. If there is ONE statement in the book that will lead someone to reject Christ as "the only way" then the book is misleading and harmful. The problem may not be with the author's INTENT, but with the CONTENT of his work. Satan can take anything and use it to discredit Christ as the ONLY way to God. If people have their eyes blinded by Satan when they hear the Bible so that they will not believe, what will stop him from deceiving people into believing this fictitious tome as Truth?

I hope this helps you in your search.

Dr. Frazier

Reader Comments

Jorges, don't kid yourself. The author didn't have the best of intentions.
That's like telling a murderer that he probably had good intentions.
I don't mean to sound rough, but the truth is you can't view the world through rose colored glasses and get a clear true picture.
Jesus called King Herod a fox.
John the Baptist called the pharisees vipers.
I call this book the work of satan and you think I'm bad for that?
How about saying that I probably had good intentions?


Commented by On 05/10/2006
My friends, the Bible teaches me "to come out from the world and be ye seperate."

JORGES: I'm not sure what the authors intent here was... chances are he IS a good guy sure... I can go with that. But as a faith believing Christian it is my duty and YOURS to stand against anything that could potentially mislead anyone and caused them to be detured from the whole truth of the Gospel. I agree that we Christians can approach these issues more carefully and be sensetive to a "POINT" but I will ALWAYS stand by the truth. If you water down the truth and candy up the truth and try to say what "MAY NOT BE SO OFFENSIVE" then we have let our Lord down. People are as children... let me give an example if I may. If you have a child who loves to ride his bike, and he would love to just once take a spin down a fairly busy neighborhood street. Just as in this book and now a movie, some folks might let it roll of their backs and not be misled in any way "being raised knowing the truth"- that child might ride down the street all day long and everything go just fine "being careful knowing the danger", but knowing there is that chance of the child getting hit, are YOU going to say to that child. "little Johnny don't play in the street honey a car might come around the corner and put a little bumpy on your head?" No! or atleast I wouldn't with my child. You'd be more likely to say, "Son. If I catch you in that street you'll wish I hadn't... If a car comes around that corner you could be killed!" You get the point.. All I'm saying is we as Christians SHOULD stand up against anything that could be misleading. It seems our problem today is that we are and have been for too long accepting anything into our homes and our neighborhoods. You mentioned the gay film... My friends we all know how God feels about this... These movie makers are just testing the public to see what they can get away with... it's nothing more than poison to those who know not the truth and causes them to be misled by thinking it's just a differesnt way of life. Then when they hear the TRUE GOSPEL they turn it off! That's why JORGES- sinners are turned off by Christians!! Not because we are too judgemental, society has accepted just about anything... They come to know it as just different life styles... Then when the truth is spoken "WE BECOME RELIGIOUS FINATICS" in their eyes and turn it off. thus leaving them to die and doomed for hell.. It's a shame... I stand my ground and will remain with the truth, for JORGES I pray God show you your duty and reveal to you the harm in accepting this junk and making justifications for it.


Commented by On 05/10/2006
Jorges-

I will echo what Jack and Chuck and others have written here. The crux of this issue is very, very simple for the true born-again person.

ANY vehicle that attacks their Savior and Lord is evil. Period. They do not have to know the author, his person, or his intended motives. He has attacked their Savior. Therefore, as per the verse in Ephesians 5:11 (which is the one verse I quoted that you ignored), they should have NOTHING to do with a "work of darkness", but rather, should expose it for what it really is. That is what the owners of this website asked Dr. Frazier to do- and he did it with honest and Biblical accuracy.

Here is what the Lord sees as "pure religion", for the person who is truly saved by grace. "Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this; to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, AND to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)

They ain't mutually exclusive, friend. BOTH are absolutely required by God, for Him to find pleasure in our lives for Him. Minister to the downtrodden with the gospel, AND make absolutely sure this septic system of a world does not even put a single blot upon us.

It would seem you might major in A, and minor in B. God doesn't see it that way. To Him, they are both "majors".

He also tells us to "redeem the time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:16) I would kindly state that for you to waste 2 hours paying His money to watch a movie about two gay cowboys, just so you could "learn their struggles", is not redeeming the time. Same with watching the struggles of an alcoholic, or anyone else bound by sin. Would you be not far better off redeeming that time, and getting the gospel to those in need of it? To answer your specific question to me- I don't go to movies at all. I can't bring my Lord in there with me on 99% of them; I would be ashamed to ask Him to watch them with me. They do not glorify Him, and they are a waste of time.

As Jack just so eloquently wrote- the biggest stumblingblock to an unsaved person is a Christian living just like they are, and NOT living separate from this present evil world. If what they see in you and me is not a huge difference, then they have no desire to BE different, by accepting Christ.

"More Christlike"? Jack already started telling us what Christ called Herod. He also called the Pharisees "whitewashed sepulchres, full of dead men's bones". He called Judas "the son of everlasting damnation" (perdition). He called the men a "den of thieves" as He bodily ejected them from the temple.

But here's the one I really want you to think about, before you respond.

He called one of His closest disciples "SATAN", because Peter tried to derail Him from going to the cross. If you re-read Dr. Frazier's expose, you will see that he states this to be one of the many fatal flaws of this book. Anything that would lessen the finished work of Christ, is of Satan, no matter WHO is behind it. If Christ could call Peter "Satan", then we can atribute the same "qualities" to any person who might detract from the Savior and His work in ANY way, even today.

Please think about that, the next time you try to tell us who are trying to stand up for the Truth, to be more "Christlike". Please.

One more thing. I'm not screaming. It is you who is repeatedly using this word. Neither is anyone else who disagrees with you on this. We're simply quoting scripture, clearly written, to tell us exactly how the Lord expects us to live. 2 Cor. 6:14-15 has EVERYTHING to do with this debate. Everything.

God expects both you and me to not touch a single thing that is, to Him, unclean. This book/movie is totally unclean. As Dr. Frazier said, dilution of the truth IS pollution.


Commented by On 05/11/2006
Jorges,
Please read Matthew 7, but read the WHOLE chapter. In my Bible most of it is written in red denoting that it is the words from Jesus. There is a difference between disagreeing with someone's lifestyle or actions and judging the person. There is also a big difference between hating a person and hating the sin. I truly, truly hope that Mr. Brown will have a 'Damascus Road' conversion. Did Jesus not change the life of Saul as completely as anyone could be changed? Think what an awesome testimony that would make! Dr Frazier very aptly pointed us to the crux of the problem with the DaVinci Code which is; if you believe God's Word, then this whole premise is a fallacy and a dangerous one. It tries to humanize what is divine. What the evil one wants us to do is deny the Sonship of Jesus. You seem to have a lot of anger toward other Christians. Could you possibly be judging them for what you perceive as their failings? Sorry to have to tell you this, but none of us are perfect. If we were capable of that, then there would have been no need for Jesus to come and die for our sins. He did that to pardon the death sentence that man deserved. You know, when I think of what He did for me, I feel like just standing up for the Word of God is such a small thing to do for Him. Lastly, remember that even our Lord's Disciples were not all carbon-copies of one another. Each had his own strengths and weaknesses, but all, except John the beloved, were martyred for their faith. He isn't asking that of most of us, just our love, faith in His Word, and acceptance of the gift He died to give us. To tolerate the suggestion of anything less is to belittle that gift.

DR-O


Commented by On 05/11/2006
To Chuck: I don't kid myself---I just choose not to judge other people's motives, and give them the benefit of the doubt until they have a chance to explain themselves. The author has said, on numerous occassions that he wanted to write an exciting book which would generate interest. He didn't intend to cause trouble. Are you calling him a liar? That's an awful hard life to live just always looking at the negative side of people, and assuming the worst Chuck. And for the love of all that is Holy, I AGREE with you about the book. It's a work of SATAN, but the AUTHOR is not Satan, so stop ATTACKING HIM.

To Jack: I don't make justifications for anything. I'm a traditionalist, and I stand firm in my beliefs. And ironically, in this case, they're the same as yours---what I take issue with is how people are attacking the author and making judgements on things they've never seen, heard, or met, and doing so in a manner that is UNCHRISTLIKE. Also, about the gay film...did you ask Ang Lee what his goal was for the film? Why he made it? Did you hear the interview? Did he actually say he only made it to "test to see how much he could get away with"? I don't think he said that. I think he more or less said "I wanted to portray how hard some Gay people have it and how many times they're misunderstood, and that it's a terrible affliction for some".

But to YOU Jack, you minimize it to a bunch of people, all sitting around a table saying "yeah...let's just make a movie about two guys sucking face and let's offend as many people as possible"..!!!

Yeah Jack, THAT argument holds a WHOLE lot of credibility. You did make some other good points though, and I commend you for SOME of your level headedness.

To Lindsay: I'm not disagreeing with anyone on this. I agree with the overall point that Satan is playing this book like a fiddle. My point is, be more gentle and realistic in your approach to people. You along with DR-O came on way strong in your posts. You equated the author with the devil. You don't realize that your words can be hurtful to an UNSAVED PERSON. There's a right way to say the book is evil and there's a WRONG way to say the book is evil. Calling the author names, attacking him personally and pre-judging his intentions when you do not even know the man is NOT the right way.

DR-O...you come off as more an more "matronly" with each post...you're getting better. GENTLE is the key here. Again, I don't disagree with the BROAD sense of this---just the approach. Next time, instead of equating the author to a wolf, which implies HE HIMSELF is evil, maybe you should just say what you said in your 3rd or 4th post..."I don't know his intentions, but the book itself can be dangerous.."......now...doesn't that just sound SO much better?

My only argument here people is to be nicer and gentler when stuff like this goes down.


Commented by On 05/11/2006
Here's another way of looking at it:

Let me ask Chuck, DR-O, and Lindsay a question:

If you had the chance to meet the author face to face...and to witness to him, would you say any of the following things:

1. You and your book are a work of Satan.

2. You are a wolf in sheep's clothing.

3. You are masquerading as a minister of righteousness.

?????????????

Something tells me you wouldn't say that to his face if you truly had the chance to share Christ with him. Something tells me you'd be more gentle in your approaches, in the hopes that he'd realize the situation and give his life to Christ.

My question is: If you wouldn't say that to his face...why would you say it HERE?

That's the last thing I'm saying on this subject. If you can't see what I'm trying to say beyond that, then you're blind.
2.


Commented by On 05/11/2006
The naivety of this poor man is amazing! I wonder if Jesus felt that he was being "gentle" when He drove the moneychangers out of the temple. And what about when He said, "By their fruits shall ye know them?"

I really believe that Jorge has somewhere been deeply hurt by another person so he lashes out at anyone who tries to protect the integrity of the Word of God. Let us all pray for him and hope that "the truth will set (him) free." To defend every person who attacks the gospel is just not what we are supposed to be doing!!


Commented by On 05/11/2006
That's right Anne, you hit it on the head with the hammer---you called me naive and passed judgement on me all in the same paragraph. Amazing.

I can tell you that I've never been "hurt" as you put it, I just have an unquenchable desire to lead people to Christ and to understand the unsaved and to "meet them where they are" as Rick Warren says.

You, on the other hand, wish to pass judgement and name call.

I defend the word of God through honest open conversation with the opposition, standing firm, but with a gentle tongue, thus gaining credibility and gaining an open ear.

You, on the other hand, defend the word of God through harsh words and visceral attacks on not only the unsaved, but apparantly, now the saved, thus CLOSING ears and minds.

Who have you led to Christ lately Anne? Just curious.


Commented by On 05/11/2006
Jorges-

This will be my last post on this subject. Dr. Frazier, Dr. O., Jack, Chuck, Anne, and I all seem to be on the same page. You're in some other book.

First of all, and I say this as kindly as I can- how many souls Anne has led to the Lord Jesus is none of your business. Nor is it mine. You are setting this up as a straw man argument- it is not even the issue here. Blasphemy against the Word of God, and the Deity of the Savior, and how we handle it, as Christians, IS.

Seeing people saved, and calling sin sin, are not mutually exclusive events. The theme of the NT, for the Christian in a wicked world, is "no compromise". Period. You are to run from evil; not defend it.

What would I do if I had a single hour with Mr. Brown? First of all, I would tell him how I got saved. How that the Lord, in His mercy and grace, snatched a poor, lost hell-deserving sinner from everlasting punishment Then, I would say "I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus". I would remind him that God considers him a sinner as well, and would explain to him why. I would tell him that God had him in mind when He sent His Son. I would tell him, openly and honestly, that his book contradicts God's Word, devalues my Savior, and actually, blasphemes the Deity of the One Who died for me. I would tell him that Satan has and will use it world-wide, against the sanctity of scripture, and the Savior.

He would argue with me, and tell me that I was crazy. And I would tell him again how wrong he is, and how honestly terrible is the error of his work, and of the effect that it has had and will yet have on both saved and unsaved alike.

He would, once again, emphatically disagree with me. At which point, I would smile, get up, thank him for his time, tell him that I'd be praying for his salvation, and walk away from him- for good.

Why would I do that? Because I believe what the Bible says. "Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned." (Titus 3:10)

Is this judging another? You bet it is. And you and I are commanded to do just that. I would be judging Mr. Brown precisely HOW the Word of God TELLS me to judge him. I would then leave the man to the Lord. Salvation is "of the Lord" anyway- it is not of me. Or you. I've done all I can. If you tell us you'd do anything else, then you will be letting us all know how you personally treat a simple and obvious command of the Lord.

Thankfully, this board has shown that there are still Christians who fear the Lord, who stand up and defend what is right, who can still call sin, sin; who try to keep themselves unspotted from the world, and who don't argue away the simple commands of scripture.

Preaching the gospel of Christ is the highest of all callings. But before, after, during, and in every way this calling might affect our lives- God demands our total and full obedience.

Without that, we are nothing.

Preaching the gospel with a heart to see the Lord save souls,, and living lives that are totally obedient to God's Word, are NOT mutually exclusive ideals.

Trust and obey. There is no other way.


Commented by On 05/11/2006
Saw this quote the other day and I really like it.
"Truth without love leads to legalism...love without truth leads to liberalism".

Gotta have both.


Commented by On 05/11/2006
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