How Should the Church Respond To "The Da Vinci Code"

In a recent article on The DA Vinci Code at Christian Post.com, Tom Hanks was quoted from Entertainment Weekly. Tom Hanks, who stars in the film, said, I think the movie may end up helping churches do their job," Hanks told Entertainment Weekly. "If they put up a sign saying, 'This Wednesday we're discussing the gospel,' 12 people show up. But if the sign says, 'This Wednesday we're discussing The Da Vinci Code,' 800 people show up. Now we must be intellectually honest here, In all probability Mr. Hanks is correct. A sign saying the church will have a discussion on The Da Vinci Code will attract more people than a sign at the same church saying we are going to discuss the gospel.

The question though is should the local church use such a tactic to attract people. In my mind the answer is yes, as long as the centrality of the cross and the veracity of the gospel is resoundingly affirmed. If one the other hand it is a discussion where the principals and the possible truths of The Da Vinci Code are massaged and the gospel is not presented and ardently defended defended then no. Recognizing that "hot topics" in our culture will attract people to our Church and addressing them is not abandoning biblical truth; but that in addressing the issues people, both believers and nonbelievers, are grappling with in their lives and illuminating clear biblical truths and how to apply these biblical truths to their lives is what the church and the preacher are about.

The full article at Christan Post.com.