Popular Culture: How Should A Christian Respond?
By Chuck Edwards
 
Francis Schaeffer once wrote that the secular philosophies of intellectuals filter down to the general population through the arts, becoming what we call “popular culture.” Thus, pop culture is the prevailing worldview expressed primarily through blockbuster movies, best-selling novels, “top-forty” music, highly rated television shows, the visual arts, and advertising.
 
FILMMAKERS ARE TEACHERS AS WELL AS ENTERTAINERS
 
George Lucas clearly understands his role as a film writer and director. He revealed, “I’ve always tried to be aware of what I say I my films because all of us who make motion pictures are teachers… teachers with very loud voices.”[1]
It doesn’t take much insight to understand the kind of teaching Lucas is doing through his art. In fact, the director of Lucas’ second Star Wars episode, Irvin Kershner, admitted, “I wanna introduce some Zen here because I don’t want the kids to walk away just feeling that everything is shoot-em-up, but that there’s also a little something to think about here in terms of yourself and your surroundings.”[2] As it turns out, Zen Buddhism and New Age philosophy permeates the entire Star Wars series.
Another screenwriter, David Franzoni, the main writer and producer of both Gladiator as well as the 2004 feature film, King Arthur, said in an interview, “That’s the whole point of writing to me: to change the world through your art.” He went on to say that Gladiator “…is about a hero who has morality, but that morality is a secular morality that transcends conventional religious morality…”[3] According to Franzoni, Christian morality is out, “secular” morality is in, and this is made clear in his screenplay.
 
WHAT’S A CHRISTIAN TO DO?
 
In light of these kinds of anti-biblical bias, what should a follower of Jesus Christ do? Christians can't settle for being passive consumers of pop culture. Instead, we are called to be discerning shapers of culture.
In fact, being culture shapers is not optional for a believer. The Cultural Commission was given to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28. God, after creating the universe, earth, the garden, and mankind, turns over to man and woman the responsibility to care for and develop what he has created. This involves every aspect of creation, from naming animals to establishing civil government (see Genesis 9:6 where God commands man to rule over his fellow man by bringing to justice those who commit evil.)
This theme of influencing culture continues into the New Testament. Jesus, in Matthew 5:13-16, referred to his followers as the “salt” and “light” of society—that which flavors and preserves His social order. Only believers, living in the power of Christ’s Spirit, can provide a positive model for and bring health and healing to the social order. This means that Christians should be discerning about popular worldview messages in order to “take every thought captive” to Jesus Christ and not be “taken captive” by deceitful philosophies (see Colossians 2:6-8).
 
LEARN TO DISCERN
 
Discernment is the ability to distinguish between good and evil (Heb. 5:14). Discernment also involves making wise choices. As we face the trials of living in a culture that is increasingly hostile to biblical teaching, we should ask God to give us wisdom (James 1:5).
The “Wisdom Literature” of the Bible calls on us to make judgments between alternative choices. We are to think hard as well as humbly, using Godly principles as well as our common sense to make the best judgments concerning how to engage today’s culture. This implies that in many areas of life, the choice is not always black and white. Often, we must choose between the better and the best.
For example, the Apostle Paul warns that even though something may be permissible, it may not be beneficial or constructive (1 Corinthians 10:23-33). He illustrates his point by suggesting how believers should involve themselves with the pagan culture of their day. It is permissible, writes Paul, to eat in a non-believer’s home, even enjoying meat that has been sacrificed to idols, so as not to offend their hosts. This practice ran contrary to the Jewish tradition of his day, which called on practicing Jews to avoid eating with non-Jews.
 
ENGAGING THE CULTURE
 
Learning to be discerning enables the Christian to avoid two undesirable extremes: what Brian Godawa describes as cultural anorexia and cultural gluttony. Anorexia is avoiding the culture altogether. On the other hand, cultural gluttony ignores how popular culture affects us, for good and evil, and takes it all in indiscriminately, consuming everything in front of us.
A third alternative for the Christian is to engage the culture: “interacting redemptively” with non-believers by understanding the good things in our popular culture and using those as a bridge to God’s truth.
Again, Paul models for us how to engage the culture when he spoke before the religious and civic leaders of Athens (recorded in Acts 17). Here we see Paul as a student of his culture; he did not try to isolate himself from it. He had studied the religious worldviews of his day, even looking “carefully” at their idols. In his speech before the Athenian leaders, he quoted from their own pagan poets and philosophers (apparently from memory). He discerned what was true in their pagan worldview and used that as a starting point to present what they had missing concerning God’s true nature, man’s true nature, and God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ.
Based on a biblical worldview, if our culture is tasteless and wicked it is because Christians are not doing their job! We cannot point fingers of blame at non-believers if our society is deteriorating. Non-Christians are simply living according to their view of life. Therefore, those of us who understand the truth must live it out on every level of society, from the boardroom to the classroom and the courtroom, and yes, even the sound stage. There is no area of society that is outside God’s concern. Cultural discernment and engagement are part of our Christian calling.
 
RESOURCES:
1)   Engaging Popular Culture: Worldviews in Movies and Music (Four-part DVD set) - An entertaining and educational multi-media presentation featuring clips from award winning movies and lyrics from popular songs revealing significant themes that shape our culture. The four presentations discuss biblical guidelines for encouraging Christians to be more discerning when it comes to their entertainment choices. Presented by Chuck Edwards, popular speaker for Summit Ministries. Purchase online: http://store.summit.org/product.php?productid=498&cat=0&page=1.
 
2) Brian Godawa, Hollywood Worldviews, (InterVarsity, 2002)
 
Note: This article originally appeared in Summit Ministries' Truth and Consequences, November, 2004 (http://www.summit.org/resource/tc/archive/1104/). For more about Summit Ministries' unique worldview training conferences for students and adults, go to www.summit.org.

[1] (www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/lucas_g.html).

[2] Rolling Stone Magazine (July 24, 1980), p. 37.

[3] Quoted in John Soriano, "WGA.ORG's Exclusive Interview with David Franzoni," WGA, www.wga.org/craft/interviews/franzoni2001.html.