In ploughing through my sociology readings on 'celebrity' this week, I've been increasingly moved to think about a few things...
One part of one of my readings in particular struck me. It's looking at the concept of celebrity; what it is, what its function is. I quote:
" First, commentary in the popular media by columnists and other public intellectuals tends to regard the modern celebrity as a symptom of a worrying cultural shift: towards a culture that privileges the momentary, the visual and the sensational over the enduring, the written, and the rational."
I find it intriguing how everyone seems to know that society is becoming more and more "me" focussed, with the individual (and all the selfish and sinful desires that come with that) is the only important being. Not only that, but we (I use the term loosely) are valuing "the momentary, the visual and the sensational". This reminds me (like a slap in the face) of just how differently we are called to live, and how the message of Christ is so unique, so powerful and so alien to many in the world.
This contributes to thoughts already milling in my head after hearing from Stuart Crawshaw and Matt Redmond from "Soul Revival" speak to us at Crowded House about their new approach to young adults ministry. An approach with a heavy emphasis on being friends with one another, living as siblings under our heavenly Father and promoting deep, fulfilling relationships within a community.
Despite the current trends of individualism, consumerism and a focus on the momentary, I believe that people, deep down, have a great longing and desire for real, true relationships. Not only ones that fulfil our selfish desires here and now, but ones that count and last into eternity. Something only our Lord can offer, and we have a responsibility to proclaim.
The gospel is a powerful message; one of love, of community, of relationships, and of salvation. And one with an eternal and glorious perspective.
Maybe some things to think about and discuss here...perhaps spurring us on to invite others to S2Life or thinking of implications in light of our "Matters of the Heart" series...
Too vague and fragmented a thought stream?
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4 Responses
Josh Maule
August 10, 2007 at 02:04
1Hey Sam, yeah I think it’s true about “the momentary, the visual and the sensational” being “privileged” in today’s society. We have so many quick and snappy things to keep us stimulated – YouTube, MySpace, and iPods, where clips and styles and songs come and go with every new day. So much so that why would we want to sit down and read a massive historical book, and hear someone speak to us about it (FYI I say this to make a point not because I think it).
You raise a good point about people’s desire for friendship despite their constant want for a quick fix of self-fulfilment. Maybe friendship first, ‘Two Ways to Live’ second is a good way to get people into churches nowadays. What do people think?
Annelise
August 14, 2007 at 12:44
2Its so difficult.
i know that i am someone who can seriously fall into the category of “targeted” in this and topics like it.
i have an ipod, i spend hours everyday on myspace, i crave attention and more than anything, i’d kill for friendship.
i love my Lord with very fragment of my worthless body. but i still desire the trappings of this world.
I have been blessed with the worldy things that some people can only dream of, but still i want more.
selfish fulfillment, here i come.
do you know how many of your adjectives i match Sambo?
Andrew Cork
August 14, 2007 at 04:03
3Hey Sam,
A very thought provoking post.
As God is the creator of the world and its ruler I believe he is BOTH
momentary, visual and sensational’ as well as ‘enduring, revealed in written form, and rational.’
God is momentary as in he manifests himself in the small moments of life as well as the large; sunsets, laughter, reflection, awe. He is also visual as we can see His amazing work of creation. He is also sensational; both in the WOW sense and in the way we can experience Him working in our lives.
Clearly we need to celebrate God’s enduring qualities, His eternal nature and His enduring Kingdom. We need to celebrate and treasure the written Word of God (the Bible) and approach our faith with reason and prayerfulness. However this approach to Christianity (which I believe is the default approach taken by many Evangelicals) must not be taken at the expense of experiencing God in the fleeting moments of beauty in life and the blessing He has given us in this world. It also means being willing to DISPLAY the gospel not just DOWNLOAD it as information or knowledge.
This is probably the most important point I am trying to make. If our current culture is responding to the ‘momentary, the visual and the sensational over the enduring, the written, and the rational’ then the church LIVING out the gospel in terms of serving others as a loving community is going to have far more currency and impact than the gospel merely spoken as words.
Let’s do it.
Thoughts?
Sam Atwood
August 14, 2007 at 06:53
4Thanks for your thoughts Cork! I didn’t intentionally mean to disregard the very immediate and ‘now’ nature of God, but I did fail to mention it, so good on you for bringing it to light!
I agree with you. We can get stuck in merely “downloading” the gospel as you cleverly put it. It can get stuck in the head and fail to make it to our heart and our feet in terms of really living it and displaying it.
I guess the trick is making sure we don’t go too far either way. That we come to know God more and more in his fullness.
Interesting point comes to mind: I’ve been reading through “Prayer and the Voice of God” by Tony Payne and Philip Jensen, and it struck me how often I will explain off answers to prayer as mere coincidences or flukes (even if I don’t necessarily notice I’m doing so). I can fail to truly see how God is working throughout this world so powerfully.
So you’ve highlighted the challenge there: as a church to truly LIVE out the gospel “in terms of serving others as a loving community”. But now…to actually do it. There in lies the rub. I’ve got to ponder this a while…anyone else??
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