English 
繁體中文 
简体中文 
What is pop culture? 1. Pop culture consists of a series of customs, beliefs, and cultural products that dominate a particular society. 2. It has mass appeal and accessibility, permeating people’s everyday lives. 3. Pop culture is often viewed as a low-level form of artistic expression. Common categories include entertainment, sports, fashion, technology, and slang.
Positive Impacts of Pop Culture: 1. Connects people from different regions, societies, and generations. 2. Builds and strengthens connections among like-minded people, like through tech gadgets, popular dances, environmental issues, etc. 3. Media diversity makes it easier for marginalized groups to be accepted. 4. Raises awareness, can reveal various social issues, harmful practices, etc.
Negative Impacts of Pop Culture: 1. Children and teens are exposed to inappropriate content before they are psychologically and emotionally ready. 2. Descriptions of violence and gore can have severe psychological impacts, especially on young children. 3. Normalization of inappropriate behavior: for instance, attitudes toward drugs, premarital sex, abortion, and issues surrounding homosexuality are becoming softer. 4. Difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy, and how to compare the real world with the fictional universes, etc.
Some aspects of pop culture are positive or neutral, but some ideas and values within it have subtly influenced us and our families, especially today’s young people. It’s easy to see this from daily habits. The term “generation gap” that young people talk about is also an explanation of ‘cultural’ change.
So how should we approach pop culture? John 17:15-16 says, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” It doesn’t mean we should isolate ourselves from society, quite the opposite! We should stand in this world!
In our everyday life, we should discern contents that go against the truth through reading the Bible and prayer. As Christians in this world, we shouldn’t hide or become hermits. Instead, we should be the lamp at others’ feet and the light on their path, “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5). That is our responsibility as Christians.
We need to learn how to discern the world through God, so knowing God is key to unlocking wisdom. We’ll host the Fall Evangelical Services and Spiritual Convocation from September 14 to 17, 2023 to help us better understand God more quickly. We sincerely invite everyone to join. The address of our church is as follows:
4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
Google Maps
For online streaming, please click here.
For regular service hours, please click here.
Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org