Love According to Pop Culture
Pop culture is filled with expressions of love. Without the Church engaging today’s culture, pop culture will redefine love. It is vitally important that we ask ourselves the following questions to help identify the Gospel message woven in the culture of our times.
- What is the Story?
- What’s false and ugly and perverse about it?
- What’s good and true and beautiful about it?
- How does the gospel apply?
- What is the resolution?
Below are a few examples of love expressed through Pop Culture. Take a look at these examples and see if you can find a way to point people to God’s love through these pop cultural expressions.
LOVE IN MUSIC
In music if you want to understand love it’s as simple as reading the title of the song. By reading these titles what do you suspect these songs say about love?
| Top 7 Classic Love Songs | |||
| Song Title | Song Artist | ||
| 1 | The Power of Love | Celine Dion | |
| 2 | The Way You Look Tonight | Tony Bennett | |
| 3 | When I Fall in Love | Nat King Cole | |
| 4 | Can You Feel the Love Tonight? | Elton John | |
| 5 | Eternal Flame | The Bangles | |
| 6 | At Last | Etta James | |
| 7 | I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You | Elvis Presley | |
LOVE IN ENTERTAINMENT
The beautiful thing is that each of the articles express the true characteristics of love, while void of real meaning. What happens when you insert the gospel? Love is heartfelt, because God desires a loving relationship with each of us. Love is a gift that was given to us by God in order that we may have abundant life. Love is revolutionary, because it changes the very fabric of who we are.
LOVE IN MOVIES
Here are two links that express the powerful influence of love has over people. Remember, these clips are expressing a deep need to give and to receive love. They are void of the gospel but reveal a longing for love that can only be fulfilled through the love of Jesus Christ.
LOVE IN THE GOSPEL
Every love expression can be summed up in one of the simplest, most well-known verses in the Bible.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
God’s love for mankind is beyond our comprehension. Pop culture captures man’s attempt to identify, explain, celebrate, and understand love. Christians have a unique opportunity to step into the world of pop culture and build on mankind’s need for love by sharing what God did to love us. Here are some questions to think through as you ask yourself what God wants for your life.
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Why is the world in such a desperate search to find love?
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How can the Church meet the world’s need for love?
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How has God uniquely designed you to share his message of love?
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