This week much media attention has focused on the launch of the movie, Da Vinci Code. The movie follows Harvard professor, Robert Langdon, and gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, who follow a set of bizarre clues in their search for answers to the murder of a friend. To quote from the book upon which the movie is based: "Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine code and quickly assemble the pieces of the puzzle, the Priory's secret- and a stunning historical truth will be lost forever." The movie is fictional crime thriller, but cleverly includes selected details about Jesus, early Christianity and medieval history. For a public increasingly unfamiliar with Christianity, the book offers an alternative understanding of the origins of Christian faith.
This week Christians have responded in a number of ways.
a) Ban: Protests and legal attempts to stop the movie have occurred in countries around the world. One result is the continued media portrayal of Christians in a negative light.
b) Ignore: Pretend the movie does not exist. One result is that we miss the opportunity to dialogue with millions of people who have read the book or who might go to see the movie.
c) Reflect: The book invites us to reflect on how our Christian faith did emerge. It can serve as a catalyst to discuss Jesus with questioning people. To help us do this we are preaching on the movie today (and perhaps next week). And starting Tuesday June 6th, the espresso congregation are hosting a series of conversations; exploring questions such as - would it have been wrong for Jesus to marry? Has the church suppressed women? - as a friend of mine wrote this week: "there is another reason to [engage] with the film or to read the book. And that is if you want to discuss it with anyone it will be hard for you to be authoritative about it if you haven't seen it or read it! This is a wonderful opportunity for us to engage with our friends in a discussion that goes to the very veracity of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. The one who we worship and follow."