The Da Vinci Code, Part 2: How to Prepare for a Hurricane
The Da Vinci Code, Part 2
How to Prepare for a Hurricane
By Dr. Jim Garlow
March, 2006
Author of Cracking Da Vinci’s Code and The Da Vinci CodeBreaker
One lady who was rescued during Hurricane Katrina expressed anger, during her nationally televised interview, that she had not taken the warnings seriously. A new type of hurricane has come – not Katrina – but a hurricane named The Da Vinci Code, in the form of a book and a movie.
The Da Vinci Code book and the movie have offered the church a spectacular evangelistic opportunity, if…if…if the church is equipped. 1 Peter 3:15 states, “…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….” We have such an opportunity.
Rarely, if ever, have people asked so many questions about the divinity of Christ or the reliability of the New Testament in the way they have due to a novel and the movie. Church, this is our moment. Let us be prepared!
But the obvious question is how do we prepare? What do we do between now and May 19th ( the release date for The Da Vinci Code movie). Allow me to make the case for a 4 Phase strategy for each local church to follow – from now till May 19.
Phase 1: The Resource Phase
During the first week of April, I recommend that every believer read Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, if you have not already read it. Why read a book that attacks our Bible and our Jesus? The answer is simple. We are “missionaries.” All of us, as believers, have “missionary visas.” Missionaries have to learn the language of the pagans. The pagans are not obligated to learn the language of the missionaries.
The Da Vinci Code, though we may not like it, is the “language” of millions of unbelievers. I have spoken about The Da Vinci Code all over the nation. When I reference the book, I ask how many have read it. My admittedly unscientific survey reveals that only about 3% of evangelical believers have read the book. Yet the unbelieving broader culture seems nearly obsessed with Dan Brown’s writings.
Admittedly most of us don’t have time to read books that attack the core of what we believe. Yet this book’s popularity – and the upcoming movie – have made it the “language” of the broader culture. And we must speak their language. So get Dan Brown’s book and read it.
The second part of Phase 1, the “Resource Phase,” is equipping yourself with resources that help you respond to Dan Brown’s attacks. I have co-authored two books on the topic: Cracking Da Vinci’s Code (Cook Communications, Victor, 2004, co-authored with Peter Jones) and The Da Vinci CodeBreaker, (Bethany House, 2006, co-authored with Timothy Paul Jones and April Williams):
Cracking Da Vinci’s Code outlines the six key things every believer should know between now and the movie release.
The Da Vinci CodeBreaker is a dictionary of over 500 Da Vinci Code terms, so that as one reads Dan Brown’s book or sees the movie, you can simply look up the term and get the correct definition. Due to the fact that Dan Brown attacks the authority of the New Testament so aggressively, The Da Vinci CodeBreaker contains many terms and definitions to help one understand the reliability of the Bible.
In addition to the two books mentioned above, there are two superb, professionally recorded DVD’s to assist believers in answering the charges of The Da Vinci Code.
The Da Vinci Code Deception (Grizzley Adams Productions, Colorado)
Exposing the Da Vinci Code (ATI Productions, Los Angeles).
These well done DVD’s feature special menus with tours of some of the well known Da Vinci Code locations. (for info on ordering, go to www.jimgarlow.com)
Phase 2: The Preparation Phase
In getting ready for the release of the movie, Phase 2 is the “Preparation Phase” (last half of April / first half of May). Organize a four week Bible study using the resources mentioned above. (A free copy of the 4 week Bible Study can be obtained by going to www.jimgarlow.com or www.skylinechurch.org or calling 619.660.5000.)
Phase 3: Movie Phase
Phase 3 is the “Movie Phase.” Go to the movie - but do not go with other believers; go with unbelievers. This will give you an opportunity to begin discussing the key issues that the movie covers.
Do we like to support Hollywood, especially when it is a movie that will likely attack our faith? No, we don’t. However, the evangelistic opportunities that will flow out of this movie make the price of a movie ticket worth it.
(One disclaimer: I have not seen the movie, nor do I know how it will be rated. That one unknown means that discretionary believers will need to determine if they can attend it – once more is known about its contents. At the time of this writing, not much is know about how the movie will handle the more inappropriate portions of the book.)
Phase 4: The Discovery Phase
Phase 4 is the “Discovery Phase.” Invite unbelievers to participate with you in “Da Vinci Code Parties.” What is a “Da Vinci Code Party?” It is a four week investigative study, in which you walk through the exact same contents and topics that you covered in Phase 2 above. In other words, you will lead a group of unchurched persons in a discussion regarding the 6 key issues of The Da Vinci Code book and movie. What are those six key issues? I will cover them next month in Part 3 of this three part series of articles.
If you can only host a “Da Vinci Code Party” for one week rather than four, that can still be a very meaningful time. If you only have times to address two themes, discuss (1) the divinity of Christ and (2) the reliability of the New Testament.
Free Da Vinci Code Training: The 6 Key Things To Know Before May 19th:
May I invite all pastors and Christian leaders to a special Da Vinci Code training offered free on Wednesday, April 19th at 9:30am at Skyline Church, 11330 Campo Road (Highway 94 & Jamacha) in La Mesa (619.660.5000 or www.skylinechurch.org ). In addition, Skyline is offering a training for all laypersons on Monday night, May 8th at 7pm. To register for either of these, call 619.660.5000.
A hurricane is coming. It is called The Da Vinci Code movie. Be prepared.
How to Prepare for a Hurricane
By Dr. Jim Garlow
March, 2006
Author of Cracking Da Vinci’s Code and The Da Vinci CodeBreaker
One lady who was rescued during Hurricane Katrina expressed anger, during her nationally televised interview, that she had not taken the warnings seriously. A new type of hurricane has come – not Katrina – but a hurricane named The Da Vinci Code, in the form of a book and a movie.
The Da Vinci Code book and the movie have offered the church a spectacular evangelistic opportunity, if…if…if the church is equipped. 1 Peter 3:15 states, “…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….” We have such an opportunity.
Rarely, if ever, have people asked so many questions about the divinity of Christ or the reliability of the New Testament in the way they have due to a novel and the movie. Church, this is our moment. Let us be prepared!
But the obvious question is how do we prepare? What do we do between now and May 19th ( the release date for The Da Vinci Code movie). Allow me to make the case for a 4 Phase strategy for each local church to follow – from now till May 19.
Phase 1: The Resource Phase
During the first week of April, I recommend that every believer read Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, if you have not already read it. Why read a book that attacks our Bible and our Jesus? The answer is simple. We are “missionaries.” All of us, as believers, have “missionary visas.” Missionaries have to learn the language of the pagans. The pagans are not obligated to learn the language of the missionaries.
The Da Vinci Code, though we may not like it, is the “language” of millions of unbelievers. I have spoken about The Da Vinci Code all over the nation. When I reference the book, I ask how many have read it. My admittedly unscientific survey reveals that only about 3% of evangelical believers have read the book. Yet the unbelieving broader culture seems nearly obsessed with Dan Brown’s writings.
Admittedly most of us don’t have time to read books that attack the core of what we believe. Yet this book’s popularity – and the upcoming movie – have made it the “language” of the broader culture. And we must speak their language. So get Dan Brown’s book and read it.
The second part of Phase 1, the “Resource Phase,” is equipping yourself with resources that help you respond to Dan Brown’s attacks. I have co-authored two books on the topic: Cracking Da Vinci’s Code (Cook Communications, Victor, 2004, co-authored with Peter Jones) and The Da Vinci CodeBreaker, (Bethany House, 2006, co-authored with Timothy Paul Jones and April Williams):
Cracking Da Vinci’s Code outlines the six key things every believer should know between now and the movie release.
The Da Vinci CodeBreaker is a dictionary of over 500 Da Vinci Code terms, so that as one reads Dan Brown’s book or sees the movie, you can simply look up the term and get the correct definition. Due to the fact that Dan Brown attacks the authority of the New Testament so aggressively, The Da Vinci CodeBreaker contains many terms and definitions to help one understand the reliability of the Bible.
In addition to the two books mentioned above, there are two superb, professionally recorded DVD’s to assist believers in answering the charges of The Da Vinci Code.
The Da Vinci Code Deception (Grizzley Adams Productions, Colorado)
Exposing the Da Vinci Code (ATI Productions, Los Angeles).
These well done DVD’s feature special menus with tours of some of the well known Da Vinci Code locations. (for info on ordering, go to www.jimgarlow.com)
Phase 2: The Preparation Phase
In getting ready for the release of the movie, Phase 2 is the “Preparation Phase” (last half of April / first half of May). Organize a four week Bible study using the resources mentioned above. (A free copy of the 4 week Bible Study can be obtained by going to www.jimgarlow.com or www.skylinechurch.org or calling 619.660.5000.)
Phase 3: Movie Phase
Phase 3 is the “Movie Phase.” Go to the movie - but do not go with other believers; go with unbelievers. This will give you an opportunity to begin discussing the key issues that the movie covers.
Do we like to support Hollywood, especially when it is a movie that will likely attack our faith? No, we don’t. However, the evangelistic opportunities that will flow out of this movie make the price of a movie ticket worth it.
(One disclaimer: I have not seen the movie, nor do I know how it will be rated. That one unknown means that discretionary believers will need to determine if they can attend it – once more is known about its contents. At the time of this writing, not much is know about how the movie will handle the more inappropriate portions of the book.)
Phase 4: The Discovery Phase
Phase 4 is the “Discovery Phase.” Invite unbelievers to participate with you in “Da Vinci Code Parties.” What is a “Da Vinci Code Party?” It is a four week investigative study, in which you walk through the exact same contents and topics that you covered in Phase 2 above. In other words, you will lead a group of unchurched persons in a discussion regarding the 6 key issues of The Da Vinci Code book and movie. What are those six key issues? I will cover them next month in Part 3 of this three part series of articles.
If you can only host a “Da Vinci Code Party” for one week rather than four, that can still be a very meaningful time. If you only have times to address two themes, discuss (1) the divinity of Christ and (2) the reliability of the New Testament.
Free Da Vinci Code Training: The 6 Key Things To Know Before May 19th:
May I invite all pastors and Christian leaders to a special Da Vinci Code training offered free on Wednesday, April 19th at 9:30am at Skyline Church, 11330 Campo Road (Highway 94 & Jamacha) in La Mesa (619.660.5000 or www.skylinechurch.org ). In addition, Skyline is offering a training for all laypersons on Monday night, May 8th at 7pm. To register for either of these, call 619.660.5000.
A hurricane is coming. It is called The Da Vinci Code movie. Be prepared.
posted by jimgarlow at
7:38 AM
