Why learn from culture

Westside started a series last Sunday called AT THE MOVIES. We'll go through different popular movies this last year and see if they have anything to teach us. I.E. is there something in these movies that affirm how God is already trying to shape us through the scriptures.

I often wonder if that takes away from starting with the Bible?

But Phil. 4:8 helps us see that we must be able to discern when things affirm truth.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

If God is real and if God is right, then he must be trying to affirm the kind of life he's created us for outside of just the scriptures. Though the scriptures are HIS word to us and our final authority when discerning other voices, I think it's important to know when other voices echo what God is trying to tell us.

Here's why I try to look for those affirmations:

1. they help me see that God speaks our language - b/c he loves us and wants to get our attention.

2. they help me see that the human heart searches for God - or the life he's created for us; so when we notice someone yearning for justice or purity or love - it affirms what the scriptures already tell us about how God created us in his image

3. messages that affirm God's truth in our culture help us connect people to God. if people could see some movie or song or poem they're excited about is echoing a message God has already been saying, this can help them see that God not only exists but that he's worth getting to know