yeah, who would have thought! It is funny, but last semester, in Historical Theology, we traced the history of the church following the ascension of Christ. In the class we discussed topics, such as gnosticism, eutychianism, appolinarianism and a bunch of others. Personally, I was interested but didn't see the point of camping on some of these first century heresies. That is until I started to look at the Da Vinci code...

It seems that in the book that I read that broke down the arguments that the Da Vinci code was making, I realized that all of the arguments that were being made were in some shape or form an extension of the 1st century attacks on Christianity.

I don't believe history repeats itself but I do believe that past beliefs crop up at unexpected times. In my examination of the problem, I was relieved to discover that the Da Vinci code is nothing more than that. Unfortunately, it is leading millions astray and many Christians see Dan Brown as the devil, but he is not. He is nothing more than a man with a pen who has also been led astray much in the same way that many 1st century believers were led away by gnostics.

I don't have the time to debate the book right now but hopefully this will spur some food for thought and you can go to the link below to find out for yourself of you can buy some of the numerous books about this subject. (I highly reccomend, Irwin Lutzer, Darryl Bock, or James L. Garlow & Peter Jones)

The Da Vinci Code

We had a great discussion in class today. We are studying American church history since we live in America (I really think that is the only reason). Dr. Bingham shared with us that the Puritans that settled Massachusetts in the 1630s viewed themselves as the New Israel. When they read the Old Testament they believed that they were seeing a mirror of themselves. The Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, the Puritans were persecuted for the faith in England. The Israelites exited Egypt across the Red Sea, the Puritans crossed the Atlantic Ocean. The Israelites drove out the Canaanites, the Puritans saw it as their mission to drive out the Native Americans.

The Puritans believed that they were the closest to God. Therefore they believed that no other nation in the world was in such a direct relationship with God and no other nation had the supremacy that that relationship afforded them.

American Christianity has stemmed from the Puritan faith since they were the first to bring it to this land mass on which we sit. Consequently, if you start looking around, there is evidence all over of American Christianity believing itself to be superior. (ex. "...one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all...") In addition, you see signs everywhere quoting verses that were directed towards the Israel of old that are being applied to America. What is it in Americans that causes them to believe that America has the corner on the relationship with God?