Culture
Culture
I am fascinated by this observation of Mrs. Laura Woods, the Thinking Housewife. She calls it her first law of popular culture.
“The more absorbed a person is in popular culture, the more removed he is from his own culture. Many conservatives and thinking people justify staying abreast of TV and movies with the argument that they are obliged to stay attuned to the times and the world at large. This is wrong-headed. Popular culture removes people from their real cultural surroundings, deprives them of deep pleasures and furthers the decline of our civilization with breathless speed.”
My own reflections will be forthcoming. Meanwhile, I would love to have you share your thoughts on culture. Specifically: in what ways can Christians cultivate a counter-culture of purpose, stability, and beauty?—in their own homes first, and the world at large? Please go ahead. Don’t be shy.
Painting: The Shrine. John William Waterhouse.
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KATHY said...
This is interesting as I have heard the argument that homeschoolers or particularly "sheltered" children need to know about the current popular culture in order to keep up with conversations at large. Kayla recently was in a group where the topic was movies. She doesn't see very many movies, especially current ones, so she was unable to contribute to the conversation. She thought it was boring, but DIDN"T wish she knew more about movies. I think it takes a person who feels comfortable in their own skin to not be bothered by this. The more one feels convinced and convicted by God in his or her own values, the stronger one can stand in the face of popular culture. A person shouldn't lower his or her standards just to be able to converse...perhaps that person should look for other people with whom to converse. :-)
We're off to camping now, maybe the girls will add comments when we return.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 12:56 PM
TRACYLEA said...
I am not what many would consider culture savvy. I do not watch TV and see very few movies. I enjoy reading on the internet but only sites that are appropriate for my Christian worldview. I love to read and read many books, but again am selective in what I read. I avoid pop culture, it is fleeting. My confidence is built on the Lord, His culture is forever. My purpose is in pleasing Him and I have built my home around that. Great thoughts!!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 01:11 PM
TONYA said...
First of all, I wanted to comment that your blog is beautiful. I look forward to spending more time here reading what you have contributed to your blog.
Secondly, I think most people are very much in love with the popular culture, even Christians. I think it is easier to look for excuses to be "relevant" rather than to be counter-culture with the pop-culture. Being counter-culture can be hard, especially if it is a new way of life for someone. A friend of mine observed, when she first met our family, that we didn't seem to pay any attention at all to what we did not do, but rather we enjoyed what we do. We live, enjoy life and various activities/hospitality/etc. without the burden of worrying what we might be missing out on, or what others are doing. We love living the way we do! Our children are happy, they are busy—not with 1,000 activities that take them out of the house and apart from the culture of our family, but with working together, playing together, worshipping God, hospitality, and things like these. If a person feels like they are out of the loop in cultural movies, books, worldview, then they should be thankful! And, as mentioned by another commenter, perhaps get new friends!
I just re-read your question: In what ways can Christians cultivate a counter-culture of purpose, stability and beauty? I think the first thing to do is to have a vision for what your purpose as a family is. Once we know which direction we want to go in, then we can map out a route to get there. We have found that hospitality is a key issue in developing these things. We spend time with other like-minded families as an encouragement to our own children (and us!), we are challenged to be even more transformed towards godliness. And, we also have opportunities to disciple other families in this way. We grow in both instances! We need to be working towards a goal with ourselves and our children. We have to live life with a purpose towards sanctification, not pop culture. When we are bored, I think we are more susceptible to fall back onto the things of the world.
Sorry for the long response. This is a great topic. I look forward to reading what others post, as well as your follow-up post!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 01:52 PM
MASSIEL said...
This post is awesome! My sister and I were talking about this very subject last night. We spoke about how TV brainwashes people to think that beauty looks a certain way. I mentioned to her how TV is not reality. We have a one-month old nephew who was born with a hand anomaly, and we recalled that people born with birth defects are virtually ignored on TV and if they are on TV, usually they are regarded as second class people (Popular culture removes people from their real cultural surroundings). So this culture's definition of beauty has been distorted. We live in a fallen world.
Let's see.... to counter-culture at home, we have decided to not watch TV. To counter-culture the world at large, I am praying for opportunities to befriend people that have birth defects & debilitating syndromes, instead of separating myself from them completely as this culture does...because they do not fit into their pop culture, TV perfect world. As John Macarthur put it, "Vanity is a virtue" in this day and age. Handmaiden, thank you for challenging us to think!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 02:24 PM
MRS. D said...
BEAUTIFUL blog. I think this is an area where it is best to leave it to the Holy Spirit to guide. We definitely don't feel bound to keep up with TV or movies. We don't watch TV except for pre-approved videos. But we do enjoy those, especially at your house ;o). It is such a joy to find a clean, positive movie. Society changes so much; what was "cool" yesterday is not today and so forth. So we aren't worse off for skipping that particular "cool" movie or book. With today's internet, we can learn about a movie or book without having to watch or read them. What a blessing!
This is one of many areas that we lean on the Lord moment by moment for. In my life that has meant even skipping out on some popular Christian movies or books. But it will be different for each family. This keeps us dependent on Him, ever looking to Him as the handmaiden to the maid. It also keeps us from judging or imposing our rules on others. It is a dynamic, moment-by-moment of looking to Christ and listening to the Holy Spirit and following through. In this endeavor we hope to elevate culture, at least in our home, to the glory of God. I don't expect the unsaved to understand this, but in welcoming them to our home, we hope to give them a taste for higher things.
Much Love!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 02:53 PM
HANDMAIDEN said...
I am very grateful for the response this post has seen. Thank you, ladies, for sharing your valuable and wise insights. I enjoyed reading and learning from them. You each brought up very important points.
1.The Bible (God's Holy Word) must be our foundation. The principles are constant, but they encompass amazing diversity!
2.We must limit our exposure to popular culture. Television is the quintessential avenue, but popular culture can also infiltrate the mind through music, film, internet, and reading material.
3.We must fill that empty place with pursuits that are wholesome and productive. I loved Tonya's friend's observation that the focus isn't so much on what we can't do, but what we can do.
I hope to elaborate on these points in another post(s), because I find this such a fundamental topic that provides plenty of food for thought.Thank you, again, for your responses. It has been a great encouragement to me.
Thursday, December 3, 2009 08:48 AM
TAMMY said...
Lest we should forget.... "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2)
Bravo on a "good" and "acceptable" blog that is unique and true. Truly it is beautiful!
Thursday, December 3, 2009 09:28 AM
MARTHA said...
I do not miss being raised without a lot of TV, popular music, even though I do sit there quietly during a lot of those kind of conversations. I even do watch TV now and am still clueless about a lot of it.
I think staying in the imaginary world of only TV shows, movie actors etc is not right at all. But I think we can make our own celebrities as well, which is just as wrong. I have seen people quote leaders in our churches or movements today like they quoted scripture, when in fact it was simply good teaching, but I have seen many great men fall because of too much confidence placed in them.
I think we should be attuned with the world at large in the sense we know if someone in our town needs help and we help them. The starving child in India gets our help because we now can read about it, and we pray around the dinner table for persecuted Christians across the world by name. So often, I see Christians who "shelter" themselves from the world in their own family and isolate themselves from the realities of life, and miss out on the many blessings of being able to reach out to those in great need around them.
There are times I am in situations when I am around people who have fallen away from the Gospel, and one reason is something I struggle to fight against. Sometimes Christian people now seem to care more about fighting the evil government or making sure they are getting their knitting done, than ministering to those people who have real needs in their own communities.
Great conversation provoker!
Thursday, December 3, 2009 09:55 AM
HANDMAIDEN said...
Thank you for sharing that Scripture from Romans 12:2, Miss Tammy.
Here's another pertinent Scripture passage we should keep in mind: "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." [Matthew 3:13-16]
I thought Miss Martha brought up a crucial point when she mentioned Christians who "isolate themselves from the realities of the world" and thus miss opportunities to minister to others. This is definitely a corruption of the Bible's directive.
I will add to her excellent thoughts this: Yes, we need to be aware of the world around us. God does not mean that Christians should adopt monastic lifestyles, hiding themselves away until Christ's return. We need to be shining lights amid a perverse nation. But we cannot be shining lights if we put on the guise of darkness. Mainstream Christians argue that we need to be a part of the culture if we want to influence it, but I think they've confused influencing the culture with adopting the culture. I believe it was Stacy MacDonald who observed that to save a man in a pit, we don't climb down there with him. We throw down a rope and pull him up to higher ground.
Thank you for sharing, Miss Martha! As I said, it is a crucial point, and I will be sure to include it when I prepare a more complete post.
Thursday, December 3, 2009 12:35 PM
MRS. RBC said...
I love your blog! It is lovely. I am sending my daughters, 14, 14, 17, and 20 here as well! When I read your post, I thought of how HAPPY I am that when I go in various stores like Walmart or the grocery store that I HAVE NO IDEA who any of the people on the covers of the magazines are! Well, except for Obama and Oprah!
I feel so blessed that our gracious and patient GOD has rescued me out of the world of PEOPLE magazine and the like (even as a young housewife who watched TV while she nursed her sweet babies! I am ashamed to say it!)
Now I feel so FREE to enjoy, as your quote said, TRUE LIFE. In a moment of boredom while I was waiting for two of my daughters to get haircuts the other day, I did pick up a magazine with an actress on the cover. The article was about how much she was enjoying her new daughter/baby and how she was enjoying NORMAL, what she called REAL life. And that she does not even watch TV! She noted that her professional acting life (she looks popular/familiar) was not REAL. That she felt it was 'fake.’ That she enjoys now the simple things, like being alone on her huge ranch in Nashville, etc. Anyway.........I thought it was so fitting. But I pray she will ultimately find Christ. Or that He would find her. That would have made her magazine article even better! Although, if she does come to Him, and publicly advertises such, she will probably not ever get interviewed again. Smile.
I agree with what the other ladies shared about how to cultivate the atmosphere of 'real life' in our families and not even care a hoot about what 'the world' is doing. I would say that not seeing TV is probably the largest 'difference' any family can make to keep the family culture more prominent. Even being careful with video viewing (ie. knowing about the 'latest' movies, etc. OK... passing your address on to my daughters and friends. God bless you!
Sincerely,
Mrs. RBC
Thursday, December 3, 2009 04:30 PM
BETH said...
A lot of the points everybody's bringing up have been really good!! I do think that, just like in every area of life, it's a balance. God says that we are to be in the world but not of it. I think we need to keep up with what's going on in the world to best reach out to it and we shouldn't be scared and shy away from it. But we need to be careful not to compromise our values in the process. We need to keep our priorities straight. If you make a point to spend time together as a family and keep the family and God as the highest priorities, that will be an example and witness to the world in and of itself. I think the root of a lot of the problems in our society is that it is too individualistic and there is not enough value placed on the family.
Thursday, December 3, 2009 10:22 PM
HANDMAIDEN said...
Thank you for your input, Mrs. RBC and Beth!
Those wrapped up in popular culture feel strangely compelled to keep abreast of the private lives and scandals of celebrities, the latest books and films, "news," etc. It must be exhausting—and depressing! As Mrs. RBC noted, there is freedom in attending to your own life instead of dividing yourself among so many others—freedom to devote our time and energy to the real and important and lasting things.
Some people end up knowing more about Hollywood than their own neighborhood. That, I think, is the core of Mrs. Wood's claim that popular culture removes us from ours.
By the way, you can find G. K. Chesterton's excellent essay "On Certain Modern Writers and the Institution of the Family" on my blog under the tile "The Largeness of Small Community." I believe it is very pertinent to this discussion, especially in defending the interest and variety of family life. It is very illuminating... and witty.
Friday, December 4, 2009 10:56 AM
MRS. PRINZ said...
Hi. Your website is beautiful, both in content and in art. Regarding culture, I agree that there must be a balance; however, most of us err on the wrong side by allowing the cares of the world (including entertainment, politics, worldly cares, trends, etc.) to distract us from the things that are truly important: our relationship with God and listening to his quiet voice as he guides and convicts us to be about His business. I'm convinced that entertainment or amusement (which literally means "without thought") is one of the Devil's most useful tools in this era to keep us distracted from the things that are most important and of eternal value. If you think about it, nowadays you really have to go out of your way to pray, think, meditate, have real meaningful human interactions, etc. Everywhere we go we're bombarded with audio and visual input of all kinds, which in most cases is not very wholesome. So, let's go out of our way, and instead of letting the advertisers, movies, radio programs and music and magazine displays determine the topics of our conversations and how we spend our time, let's be proactive in wisely choosing where we look, what we watch and listen to, and what we think and talk about. It'll take some serious swimming against the flow, but I'm sure it will be worth it!
Friday, December 4, 2009 12:16 PM
PASTOR DAVID said...
Hi. I guess I'll be the first man to post a comment. I affirm the comments that have been posted so I will not rehash their content. You posted a very thoughtful question and I thank you for that. It is encouraging to see a Christian young lady thinking deeply about spiritual matters. How should the Christian be counter-cultural in today's world?
That question has been a critical concern for Christians since the first advent of Christ, and especially since Acts 2 with the birth of the church. Observe that the Christians in NT times lived within a Greco- Roman culture that was full of the basic outward forms of lifestyles, pagan practices, and entertainment (our political system, sports, theater, medicine, etc. reflect that influence) as we Christians live in now. Nothing's new under the sun. What is the overwhelming focus of biblical teaching and exhortation about being counter-cultural as Christians? Our attitudes, our conduct, our ethical actions and reactions that glorify Christ and promote the gospel.
I've been preaching as you know through James. We see there that the core expression of worldliness is pride, self-centeredness and preoccupation - self-indulgence, self-righteousness, and self- determination - relying on self-sufficient strategies instead on the sufficiency of God and His word. In the letters of Paul, the practical sections emphasize mainly spiritual attitudes of humility and social ethics (how should we act and react/put off and on) that must be distinct from the "Gentiles" (euphemism for unbelievers, pagans) (Eph 4:17ff). After Rom 12:1-2, Paul elaborates what a consecrated life that is not conformed to the world but transformed by mind renewal looks like so that we are discerning to what is God's will for us: humble service in and through the local church, meeting the needs of others, prayer, pursuing peace not vengeance or retaliation, submission to government, loving our neighbor, practicing purity in light of the imminent end of our age, not be judgmental toward other believers in areas of personal, spiritual freedom, but pursue each other's spiritual edification, perseverance, and financially giving to the gospel
ministry. Peter exhorts Christians to make sure that our conduct is excellent among the "Gentiles" (1 P 2:11-12ff). The manifestations of that excellent behavior is submission to authorities even if they are not worthy of it, not having a retaliatory spirit, and living ethically righteous. For the ladies in 1 Pet 3:1-6 the focus is on their spiritual qualities of conduct especially in submission to an unbelieving spouse. One final example is from our Lord Jesus Christ. In all His major discourses, Jesus dealt with teaching and correcting His people regarding their spiritual attitudes and ethical conduct. In the Sermon of the Mount as an example the point is having a righteousness that exceeds the Pharisees and Saducees. It is a righteousness that is sincere and not self-exalting, not vengeful, and that flows from the inner person. The Beatitudes are mainly descriptions of attitudes, desires, ethical pursuits (peacemaker), and joyful perseverance. This is how we are salt and light (counter-cultural) in this overwhelmingly dark and sin-saturated world.
If we are prayerfully devoted to a right understanding of the Scriptures as our guide and renewer of our mind in the power of the HS and for the pleasure of Christ our Lord and Savior, then these external cultural things such as movies, TV, books, etc. will not be powerful objects of fixation and distraction for us. To be truly counter-cultural as a Christian is to live out the Gospel ethically and attitudinally from the heart in love for Christ and people. (see 1 Tim 1:5)
P.s. An interesting biblical case study from the OT is the life of Daniel and their friends in the book of Daniel. How did they as Jews live counter-culturally in the midst of a pagan society?
Saturday, December 5, 2009 09:29 AM
HANDMAIDEN said...
Thank you so much, Mrs. Prinz and Pastor David, for your wise input.
Friday, December 11, 2009 03:36 PM
Tuesday, December 1, 2009