Harry Potter, Britney Spears and Eminem: Engaging the Culture with the Mind and Heart of Christ Harry Potter, Britney Spears and Eminem: Engaging the Culture with the Mind and Heart of Christ

The Christian and Contemporary Culture T h e C h r i s t i a n a n d C o n t e m p o r a r y C u l t u r e

Three Approaches WITHDRAW Offended by Culture

“The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot ever fence it out.” J. R. R. Tolkein Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod, Fellowship of the Ring

Three Approaches Delighted by Culture WITHDRAW Offended by Culture ASSIMILATE

Three Approaches Delighted by Culture WITHDRAW Offended by Culture Distressed by Culture ASSIMILATE ENGAGE

... Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 2 Peter 2:7-8 The Cultural Challenge

... Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 2 Peter 2:7-8 The Cultural Challenge

I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.... I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means, I might save some. - 1 Corinthians 9:19, 22

The Cultural Challenge I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.... I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means, I might save some. - 1 Corinthians 9:19, 22

The Cultural Challenge While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogues,...as well as in the market- place day by day.... “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship...” Acts 17:16-34

The Cultural Challenge While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogues,...as well as in the market- place day by day.... “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship...” Acts 17:16-34

The Cultural Challenge While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogues,...as well as in the market- place day by day.... “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship...” Acts 17:16-34

The Cultural Challenge While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogues,...as well as in the market- place day by day.... “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship...” Acts 17:16-34

Paul’s Motivation Paul’s Method sought to understand the culture (v. 23) started where they were (vv ) positive about the truth he found (v. 22) knew and quoted their sources (vv. 23,28) communicated the Gospel (vv. 18,30-31) greatly distressed

Harry Potter, Britney Spears and Eminem: Engaging the Culture with the Mind and Heart of Christ Harry Potter, Britney Spears and Eminem: Engaging the Culture with the Mind and Heart of Christ

> Everyone has a worldview THINKING WORLDVIEWISHLY: Basic Assumptions > Most people do not think worldviewishly > Every cultural expression communicates worldview beliefs worldview beliefs