When it comes to culture, how do we as Christians approach it?  Do we create our own?  Do we integrate? Do we engage in the world’s cultures?

Craig Gross, self-proclaimed ‘Porn Pastor’, is one Christian who has sought to engage in culture in a specific way. To help people involved in the sex industry get out as well as help those addicted to porn recover, he has created an online community named XXXChurch.com.  He also rents booth space at adult movie conventions and has public debates with porn stars about the validity of the industry.  He certainly engages culture… but does he cross the line? How far is too far?

Dick Staub, in his book The Culturally Savvy Christian, addresses the issue of evil (read sin) in art.  How do we as Christians approach it?  We cannot expect non-believers to have a Christian view regarding the world, God and lifestyle choices.  This does not mean we avoid commercial movies, but we approach them with caution.  Staub suggests we look at the content of any art and ask whether the sin presented is being glorified, is it being made normative, and is it necessary?

When it comes to movies, is every movie worth seeing?  Should we go see every new release with the excuse of understanding the culture?

I was hesitant to see the movie Knocked Up (2007) because of the movie Superbad (2007), made by the same writers.  Superbad, in my opinion, was super bad.  I did not find any redeeming value in it. It seemed simply to promote underage drinking and the ‘necessity’ that teenagers have sex before going to college.  Knocked Up made $148,734,225, making it popular in today’s culture, but why?  I agree Knocked Up has a good message of accepting responsibility for our actions yet it also contained some explicit scenes that did not enhance its message.  Is this type of film ‘appropriate’ viewing if we consider that despite some graphic scenes, continuous strong language, there was, however, a moral message?

So, the question is, where do we as Christians draw the line on what we support with our time and money?  Do we justify seeing movies like Knocked Up because it is what people are watching?  Do we reject any movie that has gratuitous scenes that do not add to the plot?  Do we only watch Christian movies like Fireproof simply because it was made by, and largely for, Christians?  Where do we draw the line?