Robert Langdon and Faith

escrito por: Andrew Friesen en 5/19/2009

Hollywood recently came out with a sequel to "The Da Vinci Code" called “Angels and Demons”.  I don’t want you to think that I’m recommending movies here or that I’m a “big movie person”.  However, I just went to see the movie on a date with my wife and was greatly blessed by something Robert Langdon (a Religious Symbologist) said that I would like to share with you. 

The scene begins with a Catholic priest asking Robert Langdon if he believes in God.  Robert pauses and says, “I have not yet received that gift.”  What a statement!  I dare to say that Langdon understood more about faith than a lot of Christians do.  Robert Langdon recognized that faith is a gift from God.  

Some people really struggle with the idea of faith feeling like they’re always a day late and a dollar short.  But that’s the point!  You can’t produce faith.  Faith is not positive thinking or believing something that isn’t true.  In fact, faith has nothing to do with you at all.  The Bible says “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God and not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2: 8-9).

I’m reminded of a story in the Bible about a man named Thomas, or commonly referred to as “doubting Thomas”.  He was the disciple of Jesus who said that he had to see it to believe it.  He said, “Unless I see the hands the print of nails, and put my finger into the print of His nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25).  People like to judge and condemn Thomas wondering how he could not believe after seeing all the miracles of Jesus and being with Him for over 3 years. 

You might be surprised to know that the Bible actually says that ALL the disciples where just as unbelieving if not worse than Thomas.  Mark 16:11 says “they did not believe” and verse 13 says again “but they did not believe them either” and a third time it says “they did not believe.”  Wow! Three times in three consecutive verses the Bible says that they did not believe.  And then Jesus turns to these unbelieving believers and gives them a mission to spread the message of good news to the whole world.  Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”  Why would Jesus do that?  Didn’t He know their weaknesses?  Didn't He require them to believe first?  The answer is that Jesus was going to send them a gift.  

 “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord and in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then there appeared to them divided tongues , as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4).  This gift of the Holy Spirit was what gave those apostles faith.  He was their faith and their works proved it because “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20) 

Robert Langdon knows something about faith.  In fact, I think he bragged about Jesus without even knowing it.  Faith is a gift of God.  And personally, I think “doubting Thomas” was not much different from any one of us without Jesus.  Why are we so hard on him?  All the disciples didn't believe.  I think Thomas was just honest.  Jesus said “for with me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).  But, “I can do all things through  Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) Your thought? - Andrew