The Code, Jesus, and the like
Posted by Ryan Woods
Ok, lets just jump on the band wagon and talk about The Da Vinci Code like the rest of the world. As I've said before, I've been working as a substitute church secretary for the last few weeks, and let me tell you, I've received my fair share of emails, letters, and calls concerning the validity of the Da Vinci Code (or rather the lack of truth to the movie/books tale). I'm sick of it. I'm frickin' sick of it.
I've got a few disjointed thoughts, some random stories, and a biased opinion or two.
But to muddy the water a little more, lets toss in some more news. Have you heard about gay Jesus? The story may have broke years ago, but it only just now passed before my eyes. Yeah, apparently in an attempt to piss people off and to enlarge their readership some Oregon University student magazine posted pictures of gay Jesus with an massive erection. The only pictures I could find had the penis blocked out, it's probably for the best, but disappointing none the less.
So people get all worked up about all this. Blasphemy! They scream, "Blasphemers! Shut the paper down! Protest the movie! Stone Tom Hanks and Oppie! Blasphemers!" It is true. I mean, it is true blasphemy what the author of The Code proposes. And it is blasphemy to depict Jesus with an erection I think (though I can't find it anywhere in the Scriptures). But do we need to get all worked up and angry? When has Jesus not been able to defend himself against things that are untrue? Since day one people have been proporting lies about the life and deity of JC. But they always come up short.
What I mean is, many people fear that viewers of the movie will come away convinced that Jesus is not God and was indeed only human (among other untrue things). I guess this is true, just as much as it is true to say that after watching National Treasure people will believe that there really is gold underneath Wallstreet in New York City. They're fiction. People know that right? And even if people are sucked up into Tom's acting and they leave the theater believing that Jesus was married, had kids, and all that crap then what? Isn't that the perfect opportunity for a conversation about truth? BCD (before Da Vinci Code) that same person did not care in the least about who Jesus was, but after there may be more opportunity than ever to engage in conversation, in real truth seeking. And concerning Boner Jesus, that is pretty offensive, but so what? What is more offensive, 19 year olds who are purposefully trying to make people angry so they take something/someone who is beloved by millions and they tongue-in-cheek parade him as something that he isn't; or someone who parades around with the name of little Christ (Christian) and then does horrible and hatefully things under His banner? I would argue that the former is much more easily forgiven than the latter. But thats just me. 
Don't misunderstand me, I'm not cool with lies about Jesus. Lies are bad. But I've got more to worry about than pointing fingers at those who waste their time trying to earn money through exploitation. As far as my mind powers are concerned, I'm going to use them in other places...like solitaire or minesweeper.
I would like to add one more thing. I like Jesus. I would even say that I love the man, though I do not know him as I desire to. He is an amazing person and part of an amazing God. It is through him that I find life both here and in the hereafter. So in those respects, I am very offended that someone would make fun and speak false things about my friend and savior. But my belief is that Jesus came so that those very people would come to know and love him as I do. Hatred and anger breed animosity. Love and forgiveness breed something totally different.
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