Mockingbird’s purpose is “to connect the historic truths of the Gospel with the realities of everyday life in as fresh and down-to-earth a way possible.”
That means we use a lot of illustrations. Whether it’s the films of Whit Stillman or Pixar, the music of Elvis or Michael Jackson, or recent headlines from the world of sports or psychological research, we’re always beginning with analogies, stories, illustrations, and examples to explain things like sin, grace, love, forgiveness, and redemption. At times, people object: should Christians be listening to/watching/reading that “culture” stuff?
Definitely.
Why? Because people generally don’t want to hear what we have to say.
“If one is to lift up the whole age one must truly know it. That is why those ministers of Christianity who begin at once with orthodoxy have so little effect and only on so few. . . . One must begin with paganism. . . . If one begins immediately with Christianity then they say: that is nothing for us–and they are immediately on their guard” (The Journals of Soren Kierkegaard, ed. and tr. Alexander Dru. Oxford, 1938. 201).
That’s why we’re here, folks.
12 comments
paul says:
Aug 2, 2010
I love this post so much.
Think James Taylor does, too.
John Zahl says:
Aug 2, 2010
That's a great quote from Kierkegaard too! He wrote an essay entitled: "Thoughts That Wound From Behind For Upbuilding", which makes a similar point in and of itself, and explains the way that effective ministry often works, where we decrease so that He might increase.
Cindy says:
Feb 8, 2016
Whoa, things just got a whole lot eaersi.
Michael Cooper says:
Aug 2, 2010
"I have found, in short, from reading my own writing, that my subject in fiction is the action of grace in territory held largely by the devil…"
Flannery O'Connor
StampDawg says:
Aug 2, 2010
What a great piece! Such a simple helpful way to explain what it is that we are all about, why we do what we do.
Actually Aaron has written a META-Mockingbird piece! He has used pop culture (Peanuts graphics, references to Whit Stillman) to explain why we talk about pop culture!
I just wanted to add one thing — and I am pretty sure Aaron would agree. He wrote:
"At times, people object: should Christians be listening to/watching/reading that "culture" stuff?"
Aaron answers yes and then explains the reason why is that it is as a means of "talking about Christianity with non-adherents."
The only thing that makes me nervous about that is that it might suggest once you become an adherent, a Christian, then there really isn't a place for you loving pop culture and all kinds of non-Christian culture anymore. Put your Edgar Allen Poe and your Stanley Kubick and your X-Men and your Homer and your Beatles and the Clash on the shelf. They have served their purpose — which was to supply you with illustrations enabling you to bridge to Christianity. But now that you're a Christian, you can just read your Bible.
Or at the most liberal, it's fine to still look at that stuff, but only if you are trying to evangelize non-adherents.
That is indeed what some people think. But it's not what we are about. We love this stuff for its own sake too. It's not just good for conveying a Christian message. Great art (including pop culture) is great because it deals with deep feelings and problems of life in and captures them in an extraordinarily beautiful way. This is always good — God is the father of all lights (even pagan ones).
David Browder says:
Aug 2, 2010
You're giving away our secret! Just kidding. Great post.
Aaron M. G. Zimmerman says:
Aug 2, 2010
Couldn't agree more, StampDawg!
Michael Cooper says:
Aug 2, 2010
I agree too, Stampdawg. This MB thing is not about " 'pagan' culture in the service of Christian didacticism" or at least I hope not! That approach makes a mockery of both.
bls says:
Aug 2, 2010
Obviously this is the advantage of being non- (or rather, anti-) religious to start with: it would never have occurred to me that I shouldn't read Poe or go see Kubrick or X-Men. (I don't listen to the Beatles or Clash, but for a completely different reason….)
Christine Anne says:
Aug 2, 2010
Thanks you for posting this! I've only recently come to visit this site, and I'm fascinated and loving it. Every bit of "explanation" helps!
StampDawg says:
Aug 2, 2010
Well, welcome Christine! Thanks for the encouraging word. We are real glad you're here.
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