"Redeeming Pop Culture:
A Kingdom Approach "
written by T.M Moore
Reviewed by Murray Brown
In "Redeeming Pop Culture", author
T.M. Moore sets out to outline a constructive approach to
engaging with the popular culture of the day which he likens
to kudzu, a fast growing vine found in southern parts of the
United States, which is attractive yet continually threatens
to overgrow and choke surrounding vegetation. The essence
of His argument is that while “pop culture” is
attractive and alluring, it is not per se evil. Yet blind
involvement and immersion in it can dull one’s spiritual
senses and gradually strangle our love for the things of God.
His answer is to engage with pop culture thoughtfully, using
discernment in such a way as to become aware of any sign of
God’s presence and creativity in it, and to understand
it so that we may be more effective in relating to society
and sharing Christ with those whom we know.
Initially the author sets out to define popular culture,
contrasting it with what he calls “common culture”.
While his description of what characterises pop culture is
useful, there is a concern that it is in places somewhat arbitrary
and lacking in meaning. In other words discernment is necessary
for all culture and not only that deemed to have transitory
mass appeal.
Some good principles for judging pop culture are suggested
but again, there is a suspicion that personal taste is colouring
aspects of his argument. The criteria for what is deemed acceptable
in the culture is that is must contain “beauty, goodness
and truth” and these are defined through church tradition,
revelation, and the Spirit of God. Beauty is defined as consisting
of “diversity and harmony of forms, colours, textures
and materials, within an overall scheme in which everything
has its place”, while goodness is “that which
skilfully and efficiently expresses the character and satisfies
the pleasure of God and advances His purposes” –
both nice definitions but both containing varying degrees
of subjectivity.
The author at times divulges some of his own preferences
including classical music and poetry, along with celtic and
bluegrass music. Most Christian music is criticised as “gushy
pietism”, with Christian TV labelled a “wasteland”
and Christian radio “little better”. The mention
of Phil Keaggy (early Christian music pioneer) and Steven
Curtis Chapman as being two rare examples of Christian music
that is “beautiful, good and true” are revealing
and the labelling of Carman and DC Talk as being examples
of Christian rap leave the reader wondering about the extent
to which the author (writing in 2003) really is as informed
about pop culture as he exhorts the reader to be. Sport also
receives negative wraps with bodily exercise grouped with
other “diversions of popular culture”.
Yet for all that T.M. Moore makes some excellent points.
He talks of a time in which he removed himself as much as
was practical from popular culture – a move that he
now labels “unwise”. He points out that young
people are steeped in forms of popular culture and notes that
“we run the risk of failing to communicate with them
if we ignore or merely condemn that which plays such a large
role in their lives.”
Amongst the most useful contributions made by this book are
his suggestions for approaching popular culture, and here
he shares a number of suggestions that could form a useful
basis for teaching young people how to live “in the
world” but not of it. Ideas such as a prayerful, intelligent
and critical approach, are essential along with the value
of having someone with whom they can dialogue about pop culture
– it’s messages and effects.
There is also some excellent work contained on the importance
of redeeming pop culture through infiltrating it, using it
to be more effective in our evangelism and searching for the
signs of the spirit’s influence in the hopes and ideas
expressed through pop culture by the unredeemed.
Overall, it’s an interesting read without being particularly
deep or thought provoking. It is what one might expect from
a theologian on the fringes of pop culture as opposed to someone
immersed in it and seeking to think theologically through
the issues they confront.
- T.M. Moore is pastor of teaching ministries at Cedar
Springs Church in Knoxville, Tennessee
- Murray Brown is the Director of YouthTRAIN
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