2006/05/23

The Da Difference

My wife and I were going to see United 93 on Friday. Unfortunately, the opening night of The Da Vinci Code pre-empted the late show of the 9/11-based movie. Fascinating. A retrospective look into a real event isn't as hot a seller as a ficticious, (and to some, blasphemous), re-writing of the origin of Christianity.

We entertained the idea of seeing it but the earliest available showing would have brought us home over an hour later than our third choice. While I like staying up later than the average bear, my wife, on the other hand, would have turned into a pumpkin long before Tom Hanks made his Eureka! discovery.

Personally, I don't have a problem with the DVC as entertainment. Where I stand, the story has as much credibility as an historical work as This is Spinal Tap a documentary on the life of a rock band. Do people believe all bands are as messed up as the spoof? Of course! People even form bands and mess themselves up just to be like the characters in the movie, completely unaware that they are being idiots.

Will people accept the details of the DVC as fact? Probably no more so than those who buy into the most common theme in entertainment: the indomitable will of the human spirit. To believe that I am the source of everything in my life, rather than the recipient of a choice my Saviour made for my sake, is worse then asking the simple question of whether the DVC is true.

At least DVC is open and honest with its stand, even if considered wrong. The "if it's gonna be, it's up to me" attitude has subtlely worked its way even in Christian circles. We've accepted a form of godliness but deny its power; we've taken responsibility that should rightfully be God's.

The da difference between all belief systems and Christianity is simple: Other systems impose their rules for living, and reward only those who follow them completely. In contrast, Christianity establishes its rules for living, and rewards all who believe in Jesus with His Spirit, that the rules will be enforced internally.

Romans 8:14-16 reminds us: 14 Only those people who are led by God's Spirit are his children. 15 God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. 16 God's Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. 17 His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him. (CEV)

That in itself makes all the da difference to me.

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