I have been remiss in not reviewing this helpful and important book before now.  The above book reminded me that this would be good place to include it in Equip for Ministry.  One of the four priorities in the PCA’s Strategic Planning Format presented to

the last two general assemblies is “to engage the culture.”  As we have said on numerous occasions, we either engage the culture or it engages us.  There is no escape!  But as Christians we are not intimidated, especially if we realize that God has called us to that task as “we are going into the world.” 

But the tragedy seen in study after study, as well as one’s personal observation, forces us to ask, which is having the greatest influence, the culture without Christ, or the Christian culture with Christ at the center point of reference? 

Having benefited greatly from the author’s previous books, Pop Culture Wars and Dancing in the Dark , I read with anticipation Romanowski’s Eyes Wide Open.  I was not disappointed.  The author is the professor of communications art and sciences at Calvin College. He has demonstrated in his earlier works his grasp of culture and the need for Christians to be aggressive in asserting the Christian faith in our world.

This book is a good companion to read along with Hunt’s book reviewed above.  We cannot automatically assume that preaching the Gospel without the least reference or application to our world will be comprehended by most professing Christians.  Christians only have two choices, to be a Christian and think like a non-Christian or to be a think like one.  That takes effort and according to several trends studies, not many Christians demonstrate a Christian worldview; hence Christians are not that different from non-Christians.  Romanowski writes, “There are many Christians who seek to be an evangelistic voice in the world, while still keeping themselves set apart from the dominant culture.  To in “in the world but not of it,” they create a “Christianized” version of the “secular” culture by appropriation of mainstream practices and trends, infusing them with a spiritual justification.”  The bottom line is that most Christians have a difficult time doing much more than giving merely a superficial evaluation of culture and before long, Christians are mimicking the culture and defusing Christianities message.

When we talk of the importance of learning the culture, we do not intend nor believe that such can be accomplished without a regular study of the Word of God.  It is the basis upon which we make our interpretation and evaluation.  But one without the other will produce a sterile ineffective Christian impact on our world.  Eyes Wide Open is not only a challenge but also a guide to help Christians to understand the culture and know how to evaluate it from a Christian perspective.

What I like about this book and other similar ones is the reminder that Christians cannot influence the world by being like it nor being so removed that we cannot make contemporary application of the Gospel message.  While it is true, as the author reminds us, that we live in a trivial pursuit world, there is much that is ideological and ideas do have consequences.  If we do not understand those ideas and how to evaluate them from a biblical/theological framework, we will be more influenced by those ideas than we care to be reminded.

You hear phrases such as, “it’s only a movie,” “it’s only a book,” or “it’s only a song” and forget that each maybe far more than that.  Media, print, and music communicate ideas.  Christians are obligated to develop critical skills and practices to know how to think Christianly, hence life and witness from that perspective.

Romanowski states that “this book addresses problems, tensions, and frustrations that Christians have encountered in their engagement with the popular arts and also suggests a way forward.”  He makes clear that in this process, Scripture is our common point of reference and authority. 

We make no apology for the repetition to our readers in underscoring the extremely critical need to develop a Christian world and life view, or to have a Christian grid through which we see and understand our world.  This book reminds us of the need to see things with the “eyes of the heart,” as the Apostle Paul wrote.

We cannot be effective by applying secular principles and practices to biblical truth.  “It is critical, then for Christians to be both creative and discerning when it comes to worldview and culture,” (Page 48).  We cannot live for the Lord simply by going to church on Sunday or praying or even reading the Bible.  Everything we do, see, and think have to reflect biblical truth or it is wrong.

Now why should we take the time to develop a Christian worldview that applies to all areas of life?  The obvious reason is because the Word of God teaches us to do that but beyond that, as Romanowski reminds us, “Christians can serve their neighbor with popular art and criticism that helps us all understand and feel deeply the brokenness of our world and recognize the destructiveness of sin and the joy of forgiveness and redemption.”

There are so many things in this book that deserves to be read, study, and applied. But if it only had the appendix one and two, it would be worth owning this book, because, they provide us with a matrix for interpreting, understanding, and evaluating popular artworks, such as movies, music, and other arts. 

Knowing the right questions to ask is crucial before arriving at answers.  Often we are answering the wrong questions; consequently, we do not understand the right answers. We have simply not asked the right questions.  This book will be a valuable tool to use especially in teaching God’ people how to be discerning.  It can serve as checklist of questions to ask when you watch a movie.  Rather than being entertained by a particular movie and not giving it much thought, now we will watch that movie and evaluate how effective it is in interpreting reality and truth.  For example: “what ideals, values, beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions are displayed?  What kinds of representations exist in this popular artwork?  How does this artwork deliver its message?  Does God exist in this artwork?  How are humans portrayed in this artwork?  Etc. Etc.

Buy this book!  Read it! Develop your own matrix to assist you in understanding the things you watch, hear, and read.  We’ve got to call a halt, an quickly, to so much mindless Christianity because the only way we can serve the Lord is to love him with our minds, heart, body, and soul.  Romanowski’s book will be a valuable tool to have in your kit to help you to that end.  If I were developing a bibliography of twelve of the most important books on this topic, this would definitely be on that list.  Don’t let it go out of print without owning a copy.

-Charles Dunahoo

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