What is the value of the arts? How much should television be allowed to shape our thinking or drive our decisions? How much does it? Do we Christians spend too much time immersed in popular culture or entirely too little?I have always enjoying making connections between popular culture and the Christian faith. Just as Jesus taught in stories, parables and word pictures, I believe there is much in popular culture of tremendous reference value. There are many worthy books on this subject, but Christianity Today (in cooperation with Tyndale) has now published a thought provoking study guide on the subject as part of its ongoing series of studies - Christianity Today Study Series: Faith and Pop Culture. Drawing from Christianity Today articles on popular culture, Scripture and classroom discussion, the study seeks to find ways to connect meaningfully to the world around us. The eight-session study guide covers movies, books, sports, television, family friendliness, violence, Christians in the entertainment industry and entertainment in general. The topic selections are very relevant and excellent.
While it is difficult to fairly critique a study guide, since it is not written to be comprehensive, but provoke good conversation, this study guide seems to accomplish its objective. There are many sobering questions to ask about the nature of Christian interaction with the media; this study should be helpful in pushing people to ask those questions.
There are great arguments to be made for engagement and some excellent arguments to disengage. I regularly waffle between the two. This study guide is helpful in talking about the struggle.
