Salty and Bright

by: Sara Leo

Christians often struggle with how to interact with popular culture: things like movies, television, books, music, or the Internet. One option is to separate ourselves altogether. This way we don’t have to think about our decisions. Another is to unthinkingly embrace everything. Standing somewhere in the middle will draw fire from both sides. Those who only listen to Christian radio, watch Christian movies, and read Christian books might call others too worldly. People who don’t hesitate to engage whatever movie/music/show/website is popular that week might tell others to lighten up.

For those Christians who want to engage our culture without embracing its sin, striking a balance can be tricky. Jesus called his followers salt and light. Salt must mix with and light must shine upon. A good example of this is the band U2. U2 has been popular for over twenty years. Their music is good by any standard. They have sold millions of albums, won numerous awards, and have grown as artists. Bono, U2’s lead singer, is a Christian who speaks out on issues like justice, mercy, and compassion. U2’s music has reflected a faith that is complex, sometimes brooding, and occasionally dark and painful. But U2 has been salt and light. Through their music they share their faith in a way that even nonbelievers can relate to. After all, tasteless salt and hidden light do no one any good.