The Adventures of Robert Langdon or, Books I Shouldn't Read....Yea Right....

I have recently borrowed a copy of Dan Brown's new novel, "The Lost Symbol." As fan of Brown's novels featuring Harvard Symbology Professor Robert Langdon, and as a poor college student, I have anxiously waited to borrow this book from my good friend and colleague, Matt Smith. As I began to read, my mind remembered that certain people would be displeased with my reading of this book. Why?

Because they are tragically closed-minded.

You see, when The Da Vinci Code was released, it caused a HUMONGOUS controversy. I mean, people arguing about it's validity left and right, sermons preached on it, and numerous people telling me not to read it. So, what do I do with all of this? The answer is simple: I read the book. I greatly enjoyed the plot and pace of the novel. It was extremely thought-provoking. Sure, it included things about the Church and Jesus Christ that were totally untrue. And this is the reason most told me to stay away from it. Yet, to everyone who says that The Da Vinci Code, as well as other books starring Robert Langdon, shouldn't be read by Christians, let me say this: IT IS FICTION.

How else can Christians know about the truth of their faith if they also do not examine false claims against it? Now, I realize that if a young Christian(meaning young in faith, not just age) reads and is confused, why, this is the only danger that these books present. But, that is why there are the offices of the Church. Christians are free to explore outside ideas and contrary ideas in order to strengthen their faith. It is up to the leaders of the Church to make sure that these ideas to not sway believers. Discipleship is the process of learning and growing in the faith, and it is the leaders' jobs to disciple (Eph.4:. I believe people should be encouraged to check things out for themselves and put them against Scripture. This is what I did with The Da Vinci Code. I read it, saw that the story was good but the claims were heretical and untrue in regards to the Scriptures. Also, I do not believe that you can attack something you do not know about. This is so your really are informed AND people can't deny your claims based on the fact that you don't know because you haven't read, watched, etc.

We should face these intellectual challenges with faith, not fideism. Fideism is the notion that we accept things based sole on what others say. In other words, it is blind acceptance. You accept things not based on fact, but on what others simply say. You just go with it. Faith is educated. Faith is not blind acceptance(see previous post, What is faith?). Check things out for yourself, but remember to take the lens of Scripture with you.

I'll probably put a book review up as soon as I finish The Lost Symbol. In the meantime, go grab some Scripture....and a good book. :)