Christ and Pop Culture

Richard Clark says:

Obama’s Bible study: the Gospel of Mark

Richard Clark says:

SBC Blog Madness 2010 has begun! Vote for us in the East Division! (and if you’re feeling generous, vote for our own Drew Dixon in the West Division as well).

Richard Clark says:

Jason Boyett, author of the Pocket Guide to The Bible/Sainthood/The Afterlife among other things, has just posted an interview with our own Chase Livingston about his participation in the Ride:Well bicycle tour. Check it out!

Richard Clark says:

Glenn Beck, Social Justice, and the Limits of Public Discourse – Al Mohler has written an extremely helpful and clarifying article about Glenn Beck’s now infamous call to leave churches that deal in social justice.

David Dunham says:

Southern Seminary hosts a panel discussion on Brian McLaren’s newest book, see it here.

Alan Noble says:

The Tennessean presents a list of companies that are “rooted in Christianity.” The post features the usual companies: Chick-Fil-A, In-N-Out, Hobby Lobby, and a few that hardly seem to count since they primarily sell Christian products: Thomas Nelson and and Lifeway. Lists like this raise all kinds of questions:

1. What is the purpose of listing companies who are “rooted in Christianity”? Should I be compelled to buy a greasy Chick-Fil-A “sandwich” just because they are closed on Sundays?
2. What does it mean for a company to be “rooted in Christianity”? In-N-Out has Bible verses on their cups, Chick-Fil-A is closed on Sundays, and Precious Moments features angelic children with freakishly large eyes in “christian inspired” scenes. What Christianity is this? Does this rootedness lead to business practices that honor God? Products that honor God?

This list reminds me of a trip my wife and I took to the mall yesterday to buy her some clothes. She bought a few shirts from Forever XXI, and when we left I was surprised to notice John 3:16 printed on the bottom of the bag. I was shocked to find out that this was a Christian company since the atmosphere of the store seemed to promote an utterly vain, club lifestyle. Obviously, I don’t think there is anything wrong wear wearing attractive clothing, or buying clothes from stores that promote non-Christian worldviews (if I did I would probably be naked), but I was surprised that a company which seemed to be so explicitly appealing to vanity would also explicitly market themselves as a Christian store.

I have no strong conclusions to draw from these observations, except that we should be discerning when companies claim to be Christian and those companies or others in the Church imply that we should support them because they are “rooted in Christianity.”

Adam Carrington says:

The Onion mocks our texting, short-attention spanned culture in its signature way.

Adam Carrington says:

Roberty Gibbs continues the White House’s rather childishly-enacted attack on the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Roberts was right to criticize the way President Obama singled out the Court during the State of the Union. The action was not unconstitutional; it was not illegal. But it was in bad taste to subject the Court to a standing ovation against it in a setting where it had no chance to defend itself. If he is upset about the tone of those opposing Health Care, he could set a better counter-example than that.

David Dunham says:

Facebook Research reveals how we are connected

Richard Clark says:

Glenn Beck Wants You to Leave Your Church – If you hear the words “social justice,” run!

“I’m begging you, your right to religion and freedom to exercise religion and read all of the passages of the Bible as you want to read them and as your church wants to preach them . . . are going to come under the ropes in the next year. If it lasts that long it will be the next year. I beg you, look for the words ’social justice’ or ‘economic justice’ on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!”

Richard Clark says:

The story behind Oscar’s “Kanye moment” – This is both fascinating and sad.

Richard Clark says:

The Curator analyzes Up In the Air:

Up In The Air gets so many of our modern conundrums right that it’s hard not to classify it as a tragedy, even with some great laughs. The film explores themes of corporate greed, alienation, infidelity, and much more, but the dilemmas that really triggered further reflection were the film’s portrayal of certain dichotomies: family versus career, love versus romance, and freedom versus commitment.

Richard Clark says:

Our own Chase Livingston is offering you a chance to Get A Free Book & Win A Library! Also, help people live!

David Dunham says:

Here’s an hour long interview with Christian cultural critic Ken Myers

Richard Clark says:

Remember Six Days in Fallujah, the video game based on real life war events? They’re looking for a publisher, and Micahael Abbott says someone should Step up and get it out there.