The extraordinary popularity of Dan Brown’s new book reflects more than good PR. The hype about this book is working because so many people found the quasi-religious, semi-mystical mysteriousness of the Da Vinci Code irresistible. It connected well with fears deep in the sub-conscious that there are forces at work in our world which we know not of but which somehow control our lives. In The Lost Symbol, these are called the Ancient Mysteries and the story is about the attempt to stop them falling into evil hands.
The Apostle Paul also writes about mystery. Writing for example to the Christians at Colossae (Col 1:26), he was dealing with a community in which, both in the Jewish and pagan world, people thought their salvation depended on using various secret rituals to pacify hostile forces. They had the same fears as the popularity of Brown’s books suggest lie in our subconscious today – that there is an underlying and mysterious threat to our livelihood. In the books, good triumphs and we’re reassured that ultimately the mysterious forces are powerless.
Paul picks up the terminology of the Colossian culture but completely transforms its meaning. For him, the mystery is the fact of God’s gift to us of Christ. Salvation is found not through any ritual but by becoming part of Christ’s life in the world. This happens through faith and is expressed in the Colossian Christians’ lives by baptism. To the surprise of many Jews and non-Jews of the time, this invitation to let Christ be the source and goal of all living and so find salvation is open to everybody whatever their previous religious background. It may be mysterious but it isn’t secret.
No doubt many people will be well entertained by The Lost Symbols. But if the book puts us in touch with fears about uncontrollable forces in the world that might threaten us, I hope we’ll trust Christ, who is in and over all creation (Col 1:15-17), to have dealt with their power on the cross (Col 1:2.15) and let him be the source of our hope.
The Apostle Paul also writes about mystery. Writing for example to the Christians at Colossae (Col 1:26), he was dealing with a community in which, both in the Jewish and pagan world, people thought their salvation depended on using various secret rituals to pacify hostile forces. They had the same fears as the popularity of Brown’s books suggest lie in our subconscious today – that there is an underlying and mysterious threat to our livelihood. In the books, good triumphs and we’re reassured that ultimately the mysterious forces are powerless.
Paul picks up the terminology of the Colossian culture but completely transforms its meaning. For him, the mystery is the fact of God’s gift to us of Christ. Salvation is found not through any ritual but by becoming part of Christ’s life in the world. This happens through faith and is expressed in the Colossian Christians’ lives by baptism. To the surprise of many Jews and non-Jews of the time, this invitation to let Christ be the source and goal of all living and so find salvation is open to everybody whatever their previous religious background. It may be mysterious but it isn’t secret.
No doubt many people will be well entertained by The Lost Symbols. But if the book puts us in touch with fears about uncontrollable forces in the world that might threaten us, I hope we’ll trust Christ, who is in and over all creation (Col 1:15-17), to have dealt with their power on the cross (Col 1:2.15) and let him be the source of our hope.
