Plugged In: Connecting Your Faith with Everything You Watch, Read, and Play

by Daniel Strange, Timothy J. Keller (Contributor), George W. Sarris (Narrator)

Whether it's TV boxsets, Instagram stories or historical novels, we all consume culture. So it's important that we are neither bewitched by it buying into everything it tells us or bewildered by it, lashing out in judgment or retreating into a Christian bubble. Daniel Strange encourages Christians to engage with everything they watch, read and play in a positive and discerning way. He also teaches Christians how to think and speak about culture in a way that plugs into a bigger and better reality, the story of King Jesus, and his cosmic plan for the world.

It's possible to watch TV and read novels and play video games in a way that actually feeds our faith, rather than withers it. It's even possible for you,yes, you, to be that person who starts off talking to a mate about last night's football and ends up talking about Jesus.

So be equipped to engage with culture and use it for God.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Faith, Cultural, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Christianity

Audible Audio

First published May 1, 2019

About the author

Daniel Strange was born in 1974 to British and Guyanese parents. After studying theology and religious studies at Bristol University, he completed his doctoral work on the theology of religions under Prof. Gavin D'Costa. From 2000-2005 he was Co-ordinator for the Religious and Theological Studies Fellowship, part of UCCF. He joined the faculty of Oak Hill Theological College, London as Tutor in Culture, Religion and Public Theology in 2005. In 2018 he became the Director of Oak Hill. His book, Their Rock is Not Like Our Rock, received an Award of Merit for Theology/Ethics in Christianity Today's 2016 Book Awards. Dan is a Contributing Editor for Themelios. He is married to Elly, has seven children and serves an Elder at East Finchley Baptist Church. He regularly suffers as a season ticket holder at West Ham United.

Reviews

[Coalición por el Evangelio]

Necesitamos libros como «Cultura y conexión». A través de siete capítulos y tres apéndices, Daniel Strange comparte reflexiones que nos llevan a permanecer firmes en la fe, pero también a ser bíblica y estratégicamente comprensivos en nuestra percepción e interacción con la cultura actual.

Lee la reseña completa en Coalición por el Evangelio.

[Aneurin Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really helpful how-to-guide in our call to engage in culture. Strange makes some great points early on in the book about how important it is to engage with culture, more so, he says we must engage because we always are. He encourages us to look at our culture biblically, the good and the bad. The latter half of the book is a really helpful guide to how we can practically do this. The examples at the end of the book are incredibly helpful. We do not see so much of what is going on in the cultures surrounding us. We often fail to see how Christ can and will fulfil the real needs of our culture.

[Dorcas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fact that this book included a theological cultural analysis on the Japanese toilet with such beautiful clarity is beyond me ha! 5 stars from me!

The book also has other great cultural topics that it explores and is packed with useful tools for Christians when it comes to engaging with the culture. I would highly recommend it!

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange lays out an argument for why we should be aware of what culture is consuming to more effectively evangelize. I enjoyed the discussion of evaluating what we're consuming and why, but felt a bit lost when the author discussed UK specific situations. All in all, a valuable and thought provoking read!

[Chris Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more like 3.5 just cause it didn’t present many new ideas that I hadn’t read in “Telling a Better Story” and “The Heart of Evangelism”. Thought this book was going to be different than it was but was still solid. Good for us to engage culture as Christians and be able to read into the desires that culture presents that are really desires for Christ even though people don’t know it.

[Mady Paes Leme · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very quick read about how to engage with culture about the Gospel and why we even should do that! This will be very helpful for anyone who wishes to experience and engage with culture about the underlying story that all seek to tell—that we as humans were made to be good, have been broken, and that Jesus is the only One who can save us.

[Emma Prado · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been great to read this with Victoria once a week! It has been very insightful to reflect on what we were reading and challenge each other on how to apply it. Confront and connect with culture!

[Nick Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading on how to engage with culture, both in our private time and evangelisticaly. Strange is clear and honest throughout which makes it easy reading too

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives us a deeper understanding of our culture—how we should approach it, think about it, and engage with it. Perhaps the greatest recommendation I can give is that it has impacted my interactions with people and events and has opened new avenues for evangelism.

After offering definitions of culture from various perspectives, the author presents his own definition: "Culture is the stories we tell that express meaning about the world. . . . Culture is the way we communicate and 'live' our worldview—what's important, what's right and wrong, what is true and how we can know it, and how to be happy." He further develops that definition through subsequent chapters, adding, "[C]ulture is also the 'fruit' of our 'root' heart relationship with God—and for most of humanity, that relationship is in a state of war." Finally, the author arrives at this: "Culture then is 'religion externalized.' It's how we show on the outside what we believe on the inside. Culture is how we worship."

The question then turns to how the Christian is to confront a fallen culture. The author explains that God's plan of redemption transcends the salvation of individuals to include all of "culture." Furthermore, "In Christ, culture is our calling." Referencing Psalm 19:1-2 ("The heavens declare the glory of God; . . . "), the author also explains that God’s glory is revealed in "sunbeams" and "shadows." Shadows are events and circumstances that reflect the "bad news" (judgment, wrath, sin). These are revealed in "frustration and brokenness and dysfunction. . . . [S]upremely we see it in human death." Sunbeams are manifestations of God's "common grace" (Matt. 5:45 - "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good"). The problem, however, is that culture misinterprets these expressions of God’s glory.

As Christians, it is our calling to present a true revelation of those sunbeams and shadows that appear in the culture. To provide the believer with a mechanism to evaluate what is true, the author refers us to the five Solas of the Reformation: Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, God’s glory alone. By this, he means that these five foundations of our faith should fashion our worldview. It is these that the believer should use to determine what is holy, right, and true.

Finally, the author provides a means to engage the culture, to present its belief system truthfully, to demonstrate where it is idolatrous, and to demonstrate the supremacy of Christ. The basis for the approach comes from Paul’s presentation to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:18-25). He explains, “The message of the cross always confronts culture. But the message of the cross always connects too.” He also writes:

Jews look for power; Greeks look for wisdom; your average 21st-century Westerner looks for…? Freedom? Peace? Satisfaction? Status? Identity? What is it that you’re looking for? How does the gospel both confront and connect? How does the Christ crucified subversively fulfil these stories?

Paul did exactly this at the Areopagus in Athens when he explained the “unknown God.” This challenge received mixed reviews in Paul’s day, and it will receive similar reviews in our day as well. But our passion for God’s glory should not be deterred. To engage the culture, the author proposes the “subversive fulfillment approach.” This involves “entering” (listening to the culture’s story - Acts 17:23), “exploring” (looking for sunbeams and shadows), “exposing” (showing up the idols as destructive frauds - Acts 17:29), and “evangelizing” (showing off the gospel – Acts 17:23). The author explains these aspects of “subversive fulfillment” and gives many practical, tangible examples such as English football, adult coloring books, birdwatching, zombies, and the Japanese domestic toilet.

This book will open your ears so that you listen to the culture around you differently and hear what people are really saying. Hopefully it will cause others, as it does me, to filter that through Truth and then give greater opportunity to challenge those stories with the Gospel.

[Emily Morrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this, firstly as Tim Keller wrote the foreword and secondly as I believe the subject is incredibly relevant to our time. It was indeed relevant, but overly academic and formulaic.

Chapter 4, titled "Can I Watch?..." is worth getting the book to read, though. I loved the questions he provided to ask ourselves when making decisions about what content to consume. It's not black and white, and he trains us well to read the nuance as well as our conscience.

[Brian Whittaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant book. It’s very well written, contains numerous pop culture references and genuinely helps Christians to understand the culture around them, engage with it biblically and see how it connects to the gospel. The basic framework will be so helpful for evangelism in the future.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to anybody looking to discover what the faithful Christian life looks like; what a biblical worldview should lead one to do. In particular, I think, as encapsulated by those parts of Scripture that read:
"Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." Gen. 1:28
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor. 10:5
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31

What's more, it provides incredibly valuable and important insight into how we should engage missionally with the many and distinctly varied cultures around us (both locally and globally). Any Christian that takes Jesus' command to "go and make disciples of all the nations" (Matt. 28:19) seriously would do well to read this book.

[JEM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, helpful book about how to engage your faith with culture. The author begins by delving into the question “what is culture?” and why should we care.

If you are looking for a list of what you can and can’t watch (hello legalism) you won’t find it here. Instead the author offers a helpful guide to how and what we engage with, taking into account character, conscience, context and common sense. He does this through the lens of the five solas of the reformation (scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone and God’s glory alone).

And finally the last part of the book underlines the importance of both connecting and confronting culture, using the example of Paul in Athens.

A helpful resource for parents, young people, youth workers and really anyone seeking to be a light in the world they live in.

Fun to see a former student worker on our team feature in the book!

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book, but one that’s filled with good advice on how to approach culture as a Christian. Daniel Strange takes the approach of “in the world, but not of the world” and flips it, arguing that effective evangelising can only be done when we meet people where they are. He sets out a framework of ‘Enter, Explore, Expose, Evangelise’ as a model for us to understand and use the biblical truth behind cultural falsehoods. The premise can be summed up with my favourite quote from the book - “So with whatever gifts God had given us and in whatever context he has placed us, we are to be faithful to his call”.

[Rafael Salazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughtful and practical. The book reads as the handbook of how to apply Strange's principle of subversive fulfilment to media (the contemporary Western currency of ideas and stories) and other cultural texts. His 4 E's strategy is a good blueprint for apologetical engagement with the world's notions: Engage, Explore, Expose, Evangelize. Strangers high-profile academic mind and his passion for Reformed and neocalvinist concepts combine to offer a lucid, orthodox, and practical guide. In my view, it would be a perfect work if not for his muddy view on the holiness/entertainment debate when engaging the culture (with no clear apologetical purpose). Overall, a most helpful and godly tool.

[Jc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had a physical copy of this book because I listened to the audiobook and there were so many parts I wanted to highlight.
This book talks about culture, and the understanding of culture helps us to see clearly how we can connect our faith to it.
The author provides both theory and practice about being plugged in your society without losing your faith in Christ. Daniel Strange also mentions that understanding culture is the starting point to share the Gospel, so don’t miss this book out.

[Philip Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most Christians should read this. Every pastor should. Daniel Strange is a gift to the 21st century church.

Have been doing a bit of "subversive fulfilment" with stuff I'm reading in the last year in my preaching and some as a mental exercise with different content I consume. This was a great refresher/ refiner. His theoretical stuff was great, but man the book finished strong with his examples of him doing it himself.

[Kenny Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! I’ll never watch England play in a major tournament (or look at adult colouring books) the same way again. A great introduction to the vital task of engaging with culture from a Christian perspective. Explores wide & complex theological ideas in a very straightforward way. Also a most excellent book recommendation. Well played Dan, well played. Keep blowing them bubbles. #COYI

[Andrew DiNardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly important read as Christians continue to abandon either society or their faith. Strange offers a different alternative, one that flows from Jesus’ proclamation to enter and engage while holding to fundamental beliefs all the while.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, recent and UK-based thinking on cultural engagement and presenting the gospel as ‘subversive-fulfilment’ to all human culture and desire.

‘Like Paul, we preach Christ crucified, yes - but always within a particular cultural story, answering particular questions, hopes, fears, dreams and desires: always confronting, always connecting.’

[Mikayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was good, but there wasn't much in here my parents hadn't thought me. His writing style was not very engaging, and I found it hard to stay focused while reading.
Overall, it was okay, but not something I'll be rereading.

[Jack C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really helpful framework for looking at culture through a Christian lens. Made me think deeply about trivial things in the cultures that we live in and will probably provide a helpful way of engaging in conversations about cultural principles with non Christians.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

First faith based book I've ever read which begins with Miley Cyrus and ends with Japanese domestic toilets!

[Tyler Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 stars?

[Brandi Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed and appreciated this book. A well done look at how to practically think through what and how we engage with media and culture.

[Lisa Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

highly recommend

[Andy Littleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d recommend this book to people who want simple and practical suggestions to help them understand culture and engage with it as Christians.

[Thomy Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking and needed

Strange leads the reader on a journey of one’s need for a biblically centered theology, the application of that theology in one’s life and how that theology then spreads to those the reader encounters. Excellent, enjoyable and personally thought provoking and challenging. Buy this and read it now.

[Brandon Rathbun · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book about engaging a culture from a Christian worldview, it’s a 5 out of 5.
Overall it’s a 4 out of 5.
Strange does a great job of talking details without getting bogged down in details.
The first half is all about entertainment in what we watch read, listen, and play. In the context what is appropriate and what is not. He does a tremendous job on elaborating on that for it is much more nuanced than that.
The second half centers around his 4 E theory. Using these four E’s to engage with culture and share the gospel.
1. Enter- we first have to become familiar with the culture
2. Explore- we have to understand it (the idols, the values)
3. Expose- share how their cultures idols and values don’t ultimately satisfy
4. Evangelize- share how Jesus ultimately satisfies.

Also, Tim Keller has the Foreword so you know it’s good

[SK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plugged In by Daniel Strange is for Christians who want to think more carefully and critically about the cultural products they consume. Written in an engaging and winsome way, it provides a sort of blue print for participating in “Christian cultural analysis,” as Tim Keller puts it in the book’s introduction. With a strong emphasis on evangelism, much of the book’s energy is devoted to helping readers consider how they might tease out a text’s underlying presuppositional beliefs, and then discuss those findings in light of Christian doctrine with friends, colleagues, and neighbors.

My favorite chapter, and one that I think many Christians might find beneficial, is the one called “Can I Watch…?” in which Strange argues that the five Solas of the Reformation (Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, and God’s glory alone) “are a useful test or filter through which to measure our cultural consumption and creation” (84). I found this fresh and creative litmus test helpful in ensuring that the Christian conscience is “cared for, trained, and calibrated by the truth” (93).

My somewhat phlegmatic three star rating has less to do with the book’s merits—which are numerous—and more to do with my subjective experience with it. Though I found the book useful and fun overall, my indifference to all things sport-related ensured that the many references to such things in Plugged In would be completely lost on me. This feature of the book, however, could be a strong selling point for others.

I also have some lingering questions about the implicit theological debate simmering beneath the surface of the book (i.e. transformationalism versus the two kingdoms doctrine). From what I understand, this debate goes all the way back to Augustine and has implications for the way Christians are to think about politics, culture, and vocation. It’s a debate that I am keen to learn more about, thanks in large part to this book for raising the right questions. My guess is that Plugged-In is coming from the transformationalist angle, and I find myself naturally more inclined toward the two kingdoms view. I have therefore added David VanDrunen’s Living in God’s Two Kingdoms and Michael Horton’s Where in the World Is the Church? to my to-read list, in the hope that they might clarify some of the gut-level objections I felt while reading Plugged In.

Overall, Plugged In is sure to be a satisfying read for Christians who already love engaging in cultural analysis, and a necessary one for Christians who don’t.