I just finished reading, "The Culturally Savvy Christian: A Manifesto for Deepening Faith and Enriching Popular Culture in an Age of Christianity-Lite" by Dick Staub. I found it to be very enlightening, in that it had me questioning many notions I had about the church becoming more "culturally relevant."
From his website (http://www.dickstaub.com):
"Dick Staub concludes that though it is influential, American popular culture is generally superficial & soulless. Similarly American Christianity has devolved into its own mindless, diversionary,and celebrity-driven superficiality. We face the lose-lose alternatives of a soul-numbing culture and a vacuous Christianity-lite. The renaissance of both faith and culture will originate in a deep spiritual renewal that creates a new breed of culturally savvy, thoughtful creatives who rekindle the spiritual, intellectual, and creative legacy of Christians as enrichers of culture."
I found his critique to be very appropriate, and any of us who are serious about helping our faith become more relevant for "emerging" generations ought to understand that the culture needs depth as well as relevancy. This can only be done when we are diving into the depths of our own faith, exploring God's ongoing creative, redeeming, and sustaining work in and through us.
