A Culture of Spirituality
This blog was first posted in 2008. It considers both the significance of spirituality in contemporary culture and the tendency of Christian institutions and individuals to interpret that relationship as something unimportant or even problematic.
A few moments of channel surfing through religious programming could lead the average Christian to believe our world is on the cusp of a spiritual vacuum, and the only reasonable response is to raise a fist against the cultural conspirators that are responsible. I don’t agree. Though the modern media may be oblivious to the reflection of the Holy in its creations, it is modern Christianity that seems deliberately blind to evidence of the image of God within human creativity. Literature, movies, television, and music are all reflections of the Creator indelibly marked within humanity, including the millions who have never heard of Jesus Christ.
Consider for a moment the mass appeal of the children’s literature and silver screen character Harry Potter. One would have to be a mere “muggle” to miss the spiritual dimensions of Rowling’s tale of an adolescent conjuror of magical arts. Characters on the small screen are loved in part for their commentary on religious themes, be it Battlestar Galactica’s playful reversal of monotheism and polytheism, or The Simpsons’ caricature of American evangelicalism. No one should be surprised that a-searching world both moves to the rhythm and affirms the spiritual message of John Lennon’s Imagine, U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For or Pink’s God Is A DJ. These ideas, lyrics and melodies may not appear on a pane of stained glass or the pages of a hymnal, but they nevertheless demonstrate humanity’s insatiable interest in all things spiritual.
If the ancient teaching of the Church remains true-that every human being needs Christ-then Christianity must find a way to connect with a global culture that is increasingly spiritually interested but simultaneously institutionally jaded. As tele-preachers vindictively indict the secular media for its failure to reflect the Holy, even Christian viewers are growing suspicious of these would-be miracle-moguls with their manipulating telethons and prosperity hanky offerings. Why would a non-Christian seeker of the spiritual be any less suspicious?
Two scenarios must be in play before the Rubicon that exists between the Church and our spiritually engaged culture can be crossed.
Firstly, the Church must realize that she is not at war with culture but rather recognize the Presence of the Spirit in all human creativity. It seems the doctrine of total depravity is so dominant in our theological vision that no one can see the Imago Dei in anyone but themselves.
Secondly, when the Church is given the privilege of responding to an honest seeker, it should do so with Spirit-led intelligence and a little cultural savvy- not blind belligerence. Why is it that so many feel they must damn the little solace people have experienced in their spiritual search before sharing with them the gospel? They may unwittingly destroy the very road that God has over a lifetime built between Himself and that person. Since Christ first walked the planet, the deity has taken delight in surprising the professionally spiritual with just how far he will go to reach a human being. Today is no different.
We can all use a little culture. Truth be known, I enjoy a little literature, television, a movie or two and some music. Sometimes the experience is downright spiritual. Truth be known, I have found the remote control a spiritual friend to turn more than one religious program off.