Harry Potter, Kid Rock and the OC: Teaching Youth to Discern the Entertainment Culture Harry Potter, Kid Rock and the OC: Teaching Youth to Discern the Entertainment Culture Dr. William Brown President Dr. William Brown President

“If you could live forever, would you and why?” “I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we we’re supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever.” ---Miss Alabama (1994 Miss USA contest)

“Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry... …I mean I’d love to be skinny like that but not with all those flies and death and stuff.” --Mariah Carey

“Smoking kills. And if you’re killed you’ve lost a very important part of your life.” --Brooke Shields

“It’s boring. We walked out after, like, one minute.” Paris Hilton on The Passion of the Christ (Entertainment Weekly, June 11, 2004)

Engaging the Culture? Engaging the Culture?

“Will and Grace, WWE Smackdown, Eminem, and Madonna have more to do with the direction of our culture than all of Congress.” Bill Wichterman Policy advisor to Senate Majority leader Bill Frist

“More theology is conveyed in, and probably retained from one hour of popular television, than from all the sermons that are delivered on any given weekend in America’s synagogues, churches and mosques.” Phyllis Tickle Publisher’s Weekly “God-Talk in America”

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.” Gildor Inglorion in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring

Three Approaches Delighted by Culture WITHDRAW Offended by Culture ASSIMILATE

“Our father, God, Allah, we thank you for this moment in time. Bless Kanye, bless his album, take over his album and take it to the highest place possible... In the name of Allah and the spirit of our inner essence. Amen.” Prayer by Kanye West prior to a concert, Blender, September 2005, 126.

“Church” “The Way You Move” Man, have you ever really wondered Like why are we here? What the meanin’ to all of this? Man, have you ever really wondered Like why are we here? What the meanin’ to all of this?

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

19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

... 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

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 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

“Greatly distressed ”

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) 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)

Engaging the Culture with the Heart and Mind of Christ Engaging the Culture with the Heart and Mind of Christ Dr. William Brown President Dr. William Brown President