A constant struggle we have in our home is the amount of time the t.v. is on and what shows are appropriate for our 8-year old daughter. Needless to say, her opinions differ from ours on both counts. In addition, the other day she complained about going to church because church is "boring." When I suggested that t.v was also boring, she was ready with a strong defense of television.
Our daughter's thoughts are reflective of the culture in which she lives. She wants to be entertained every minute of every day and she searches for entertainment and "fun" through the t.v. shows she likes to watch. She is not old enough yet to make a lot of use of the internet or make a lot of decisions about her clothes or the music she listens to, but that day will come soon.
Terry Mattingly, in his book Pop Goes Religion: Faith in Popular Culture makes the following observations: "The world of entertainment and mass communications -- through television, radio, contemporary music, movies, magazines, art, video games and pop literature -- is indisputably the most extensive and influential theological training system in the world. from commercials to sitcoms, from biographies to hit songs, from computer simulation games to talk shows, God's principles are challenged every moment of every day, in very entertaining, palatable and discreet ways. Few Christians currently have the intellectual and spiritual tools to identify and reject the garbage" (xxi).
"Unbelievers wrestle with the same deep questions believers have . . . Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Does life make sense? Why is there suffering and evil in the world? What is my purpose in life? How can I learn to get along with people? (179).
The question for today: Do you agree with Mattingly's observations? Is there a way to reconcile the deep, ongoing questions people have about their lives with the ever-changing pop culture in which people often seek answers? Can the Bible have relevance for a culture that gets its theological training primarily through sound bites, song lyrics, and internet sites? If so, how? If not, why not?
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