We live in a world saturated with entertainment. Movies, music, streaming shows, podcasts, TikTok videos, and digital art constantly shape how we think, feel, and imagine reality. Whether we realize it or not, we are being formed by what we consume. “You are what you eat.”
The question is not whether media influences us, it does. The real question is: how should you, as a Christian, engage with it?
For many believers, the answer has often swung between two extremes. On one side, there’s total rejection—avoid anything “secular” to stay pure. On the other hand, there’s passive acceptance—“it’s just entertainment,” so don’t think too deeply about it. I don’t think either of these approaches fully reflects the depth of a biblical worldview.
The better path is one of thoughtful, joyful, discerning engagement with culture. Not fear. Not naïveté. But wisdom.
Growing Up Between Two Worlds
A little bit of background on me. I have two degrees in theology, but I was also a music major in college first, and eventually got a bachelor’s degree in art. So, creative endeavors and theology have both always been a big part of my life, and still are.
My dad is 31 years older than me and unlike me, he didn’t grow up in church. He was born in 1953, and rock-and-roll guitar was his thing in high school. When Back to the Future came out, he was the perfect audience—nostalgic, musically inclined, and still young enough to connect with the humor and energy of the film.
Like a lot of guys, my older brother loved sports, but not me and my dad. But one thing the three of us bonded over was movies. We went to the theater a lot. We went to Blockbuster Video a lot. That ritual—hearing the film reel behind us, sitting in a dark room, picking out movies, queuing up the VCR—was part of our shared life.
But it was the 90s. There was a tension. We were not allowed to listen to secular music at all. Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, Christian bookstores were the place to get books and music. This was before Amazon took over everything. If you wanted music, books, or films (Veggie Tales), you went to a brick-and-mortar shop.
And honestly? A lot of the music didn’t resonate with me. Still doesn’t to be honest. I gravitated toward punk and metal—within the Christian subculture mainly filled by Tooth and Nail records—because it that’s where the good stuff was.
Interestingly, while music was restricted, movies and TV were more open. We watched secular content: Matlock, CSI, Everybody Loves Raymond, Back to the Future, Total Recall… Personally, I loved Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers as a kid.
Sometimes we’d talk about what we saw. The general takeaway was simple sometimes, like: “That was a fun movie, but the Bible says not to practice magic.” But those conversations planted something deeper in me.
Now, as a parent of young teens, I’ve carried that forward—but expanded it. After watching something, I do ask normal questions like: “What was your favorite scene?” But we also ask: “What was the movie about?” Not the plot—that’s usually pretty easy. (Usually… Tenet)
What I mean is, what were the creators trying to say? Why did they make it? What vision of life are they presenting? Because here’s the truth: no one is ever neutral. We all work and create from a point of view. So then, our output — whether it’s plumbing, writing the Declaration of Independence, or filming How to Train Your Dragon — is produced from a worldview.
Media Is Telling You a Story About Reality
Every movie, song, or show carries a message—even if subtle.
It tells you: What matters, What love looks like, What success is, What’s wrong with the world, How to fix it, if it’s worth fixing…. Even humor can lower our guard and make us accept ideas we might otherwise question. As Eric Hoffer once said: “Propaganda does not deceive people; it merely helps them to deceive themselves.”
That may sound strong—but think about it. Think about the cultural changes you’ve seen even in your lifetime. How much of that shift has been driven—not by arguments—but by stories? Stories shape imagination. And imagination shapes belief.
A Biblical Foundation for Cultural Engagement
Before we talk strategy, we need to talk grounding. Let’s use three bible passages to guide this conversation:
- Romans 12:2 — “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.” (ESV)
- Philippians 4:8 — “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (ESV)
And then a narrative: in Acts 17:22–28
Paul stands in Athens and addresses a philosophical and religious culture by connecting with what they already know. He points to their altar “to an unknown god” and uses it as a bridge to proclaim the true God—the Creator of everything, who does not live in temples or depend on human hands.
Paul quotes two well-known Greek sources to connect with his audience. He says, “In him we live and move and have our being,” from Epimenides. In its original context, it referred to Zeus, but Paul repurposes it to point to the one true God as the source of all life and existence.
He also quotes, “For we are indeed his offspring,” a line from the 3rd-century BC poet Aratus. This line, also, originally referred to Zeus, but Paul uses it to affirm a partial truth—that humanity is dependent on God—while redirecting his listeners toward a fuller understanding of the Creator.
He explains that God is sovereign over all nations and history, and that His purpose is for people to seek Him. showing that there are glimpses of truth within their culture. So, Paul doesn’t withdraw from culture or the conversation of the day. He understood it—and used it as a bridge. That’s our model.
What Is a Worldview
A worldview is the lens through which we interpret reality. It answers questions like: What is real? What is wrong with the world? What will fix it? Every piece of media operates from a worldview—even if it’s not explicitly stated.
Christian philosopher Francis Schaeffer famously said: “Ideas have consequences.” Art and media are not random—they are expressions of belief. Sociologist James Davison Hunter says that culture shapes how we imagine reality—not just how we think about it. So when you watch a movie, you’re not just consuming a story. You’re encountering a worldview, and it’s shaping your understanding of this universe.