Welcome to “Mind Over Media,” a blog on books and film by a group of evangelical Christians. We are not artists, do not pretend to be professional critics, and have no pretension to Critical or any other kind of Theory. Among our contributors are an attorney, a professor of international relations, and a student at Yale Divinity. We have no methodology, no school of thought, and no official hermeneutic. We’re a group of over-educated Christians who love 1) Jesus, 2) books and film, and 3) talking about Jesus and books and film.
We are guided by Scripture. Paul commands us “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,” (Philippians 4:8). We are to have the “mind of Christ,” (1 Corinthians 2:16) and “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:5). The Christian is to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind,” (Romans 12:2). We are to be “shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves,” (Matthew 10:16). We are to “test everything” and “hold on to the good,” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
We understand it to be part of our worship of God to examine the world around us, to discern what is true, noble, pure, and even “lovely,” and to dwell on these things. That includes, we think, the cultural output of the world we live in. We are to sift the vast ocean of images and ideas, find the gems, and delight in them. (We might also take a moment to shun the chaff). We do so because the good stuff is a gift from God. Good culture teaches, inspires, ennobles, even thrills us. The best even changes our lives.
We pray that this blog becomes a way to edify Christians by holding up what is good, true, and beautiful—even, occasionally, by finding traces of the gospel—in the world’s cultural output. We also pray this blog piques non-Christians interested in how we think. Finally, as in all things, we hope this blog glorifies God; in this case, we aim to glorify God with our minds and our media choices.
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