Jungle Culture

I am fully immersed in today's culture. I own an iPod. I see blockbuster movies ranging in type from chick flicks to action to historical dramas. I read best sellers and classics. I subscribe to a cooking magazine and Netflix. I look forward to watching my guilty pleasure's season finale tonight, Project Runway.

When I read articles in youth ministry magazine or hear conversations among church workers about the dreadful state of 'pop culture' I internally pull my hair out and usually offer a soft sigh. If I am too tired or simply not in a situation to explain myself, that sigh is usually misinterpreted as an acquiescence to the truth of that statement. In actuality, that sigh is frustration and a sign of my years of debate training warming up.

Yes, there are some awful facts about 'pop culture' today. Video games, movies, and, increasingly, even TV shows offer violence, illicit behavior, and other amoral behaviors. Reality TV makes stars of people with less than admirable qualities. Some music contains lyrics and messages that make me cringe. Yes, 'pop culture' has some tragic flaws.

However, to point to culture as if it were a separate entity, tut a bit and shake our heads we are doing a disservice to ourselves and our ministries. One of the fundamental flaws on blaming 'pop culture' is that people forget that culture is nothing more than what we create. We are a part of that pop culture. Even if you don't know how to work the iPods that your kids bring to youth group. Even if you don't know what LOL or OMG stand for, you are a part of the culture. By placing culture as the 'other' we alienate those we try to reach and place ourselves in a precarious position. We become outsiders, seen as (often quite rightfully) judgmental and (just as rightly) hypocritical. Our youths will see that we really are a part of the culture. They will see that we pass judgement on some things, not others. Some will recognize why we criticize particular aspects. Others will only see that we don't like what they like.

When 'pop culture' is attacked, people often forget the power of praising what is good. There are spectacular films, books, TV shows, music and the people who make them possible. They manage to show the positive power of that 'wicked pop culture' we so often forget. They may not be "Christian" in their motivation, but their messages are such that we can embrace, point to them and say, "Look. Here is good media. Here is positive culture." We focus so acutely on the negative that we miss the popular song speaking of redemption. We miss the film showing the power of an ordinary family in extraordinary circumstances living the call to love each other. We miss the film star who uses their fame and wealth to help rebuild a city destroyed by a storm.

I am not saying we should turn a blind eye to all that is wrong in our culture. I am saying that we should be careful how we approach it with the youth. I am saying we should make sure that we are just as vocal in pointing out the good as we are the bad.

After all, let's not forget a few of the other times pop culture was condemned. Two hundred years ago the waltz was risque. Now the Blue Danube is a classic piece of orchestral music. Eighty years ago jazz was scandalous. Now it is respected and we look to musicians like Louis Armstrong as near mythic figures. Fifty years ago rock and roll was a sign of all that was wrong with society. Now we have Christian rock and mainstream rock stars fighting to end poverty and hunger, provide assistance to those with AIDS, and provide instruments for schools in disadvantaged areas. By this time, should we not be able to see that 'pop culture' has a validity? Should we not be able to see that it is truly our culture?