Engaging & Redeeming the Culture

A few days ago, my roommate and I were running a few errands in my car, and I was playing my iPod through the stereo.  As we rode along, “We’re All In This Together” from High School Musical began to play. I, of course, began singing and car-dancing, but as I turned to look at my roommate in the passenger seat, he informed me that he did not like High School Musical…not one bit.At the heart of my roommate’s argument was the idea that movies and shows such as High School Musicalteach children to expect false things about love and encourage them to have battitudes (bad attitudes). For these and other various reasons, he does not watch or support various franchises. I call this the isolation model — that Christians ought to isolate from any unholy elements of culture. This idea is not in and of itself bad. In fact, I agree with my roommate that many of the media elements that are aimed at children DO thoroughly twist many important truths. Also, media is infamous for elevating individuals as role-models that I would not necessarily want children to emulate.

Still, in engaging these various elements of culture, where is the healthy balance?

The predominant teaching of Scripture is that followers of Christ ought to be IN the world and not OF the world. This is one of the most difficult teachings to faithfully apply, as there is danger in straying from this principle in either direction. On the one hand, there is the chance that Christians can become too worldly, but on the other hand, there is the risk that Christian communities might become closed units with no exportation of the Gospel.Personally, I feel that it is important for Christians to be familiar with the culture so that we can employ it as a tool for sharing the Gospel. There are almost always redeemable elements!

Do not misunderstand. I am not suggesting that you ought to take your children, nieces, and nephews out to see Shutter Island…I am merely suggesting that, within the context of ministry, it is wise to recognize that, like it or not, children are exposed to the culture, and if we are not at least familiar with the elements of society, then we have no means by which to engage and redeem it.

Is a love for the World or a love for the Gospel informing the way you approach ministry and carry out your life?

Kids are interacting with the culture of the world.  In the case of High School Musical, I watch it because I like it and because I know kids are watching it, and I want to be able to relate to them as I seek to build relationships and share the Gospel.