Do Worldviews and Agendas Have a Place in Entertainment?

Maybe you’ve experienced something like it. You’re watching a movie or TV show, playing a game or reading a book. Everything is going swimmingly: You’re immersed, enjoying the experience when … WHAM!

A character says or does something so blatantly targeted that it could almost be considered a fourth-wall break. As if the director himself stopped the film, fixed you with his best pitying look and said, “That was important. You didn’t miss it, did you?”

The story train completely derails. Any immersion you had is in tatters, and all because the storytellers wanted to hammer home a particular point.

It’s tiresome enough when it happens within the context of the story—say, a plot point that the creators are afraid we’ll miss unless they present it in neon flashing lights. But it’s especially grating when our entertainment screeches to a halt to proselytize its views or wag a finger at us. That’s a sure sign of storytelling that’s subservient to an agenda. And ultimately, it undermines the effectiveness of said story.

What Is a Worldview?

Every piece of entertainment has a worldview, a conception of existence from a particular standpoint. Stories are created by people, after all, and different folks have their own unique way of seeing the world, influenced by their experiences and beliefs. This is a natural, perhaps even automatic, process. I have a worldview. So do you.

Now, will everyone under the sun share the exact same worldview? Definitely not! You’ll find plenty of disagreements on everything from sports to politics to what flavor of ice cream is best. (It’s chocolate peanut butter, by the way.)

Point is, there are many different opinions in the world, and we’re often able to respectfully discuss, even disagree, with each other. The same goes with media. We can often enjoy a story even if that story comes from a perspective we don’t totally support. We can still sympathize with a character’s struggles or cheer on an act of bravery.

Oftentimes, there’s common ground to be found.

Worldview Vs. Agenda

So, what does this have to do with agenda-based entertainment?

Think about it this way: Would you enjoy an encounter with a person who told you that everything you believe is wrong, without letting you get a word in edgewise? Probably not. You might smile politely and hear them out, but you would likely walk away from the lecture unconvinced and more than a little miffed.

But it happens in entertainment all the time.

Sometimes a worldview boils over, becoming the film’s agenda. When this happens, the viewer is given neither the space nor the respect to consider the issues presented and decide for themselves. Rather, we are told how we should feel. And that kills the good faith fostered between storyteller and consumer.

It feels like a bait and switch: We were promised an engaging story. Instead, we got a lecture.

Power in the Presentation

So, should movies bury their messages? Not at all. But there’s an old storytelling adage that applies here: “Show, don’t tell.”

Consider Christian films. Each character’s testimony is inextricably tied to a biblical worldview. But that testimony, that message—while certainly what makes the film “Christian”—is also what makes the story worth sharing. But we’ll talk a little bit more about Christian movies in a moment.

We don’t want a story’s characters to tell us how to feel. We want to experience the story alongside the characters—just as we might with a friend. Again, this doesn’t mean we will agree with certain characters’ views or choices, but we should at least be given the chance to ponder them and see how those things fit (or clash) with our own worldviews.

Messages in Media

Entertainment has always been influenced by societal concerns. To Kill a Mockingbird wrestled with racial injustice in the 1960s. All the President’s Men grappled with political corruption in the ‘70s. The Matrix explored issues tied to artificial intelligence and technology at the turn of the century.

There are even some films whose inspirations might surprise you.

Like many of his contemporaries, director George Lucas was greatly impacted by the Vietnam War. So much so, in fact, that he was originally slated to direct 1979’s Apocalypse Now.

Instead, he ended up creating a little movie you may have heard about: Star Wars.

Though the tone of Star Wars could not be more different than Apocalypse Now, Lucas’ space opera still carried themes pulled from the Vietnam conflict—namely, a small rebel force fighting against a technologically superior empire.

These movies don’t shy away from their messages. But they don’t sacrifice their stories for the sake of those messages, either. Instead, they weave their perspectives into engaging stories with compelling characters. And they give us the freedom to consider how those perspectives agree or conflict with our own.

Ultimately, that’s a more effective way to get your message across.

What About Christian Films?

Now, we’ve talked a lot about how worldviews are shaped by our individual experiences and beliefs, but worldviews are not entirely our own creation. As Christians, we are called to ascribe to a biblical worldview. Though we each have unique thoughts and life experiences, our understanding of the world is framed by the truth found in the Bible.

Christian films are built on that biblical worldview. After all, it wouldn’t be a Christian movie without a Christian message. And as Christians, we’re called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus himself tells us to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19a, ESV).

It makes sense that Christian filmmakers would want to put that message at the forefront. But sometimes we Christians can get into the same trouble as everyone else if our stories feel more like lectures than shared experiences. So we should strive to deliver biblical truth in a way that avoids the trap of agenda-based storytelling.

Look at the example of Paul in Acts 17: While in Athens, Paul used the Greek idea of an “unknown god” as an opportunity to share the Gospel. He did not dilute his message, but he delivered it in a way with which his audience would connect.

If you’d like another example, consider the ultimate storyteller, Jesus. Much of Jesus’ teaching was done through parables—that is, illustrative stories. Rather than lecture about moral attitudes and religious principles, He shared His message in practical terms and often through the lens of human experience.

Just look at the parable of the Prodigal Son. The story communicates a father’s unfailing love for his wayward son. Through it, we come to understand that this is how God sees us, too. We are His wayward children, but just like a good father, His love for us is unfailing.

Christian entertainment can certainly be used to celebrate and bolster our faith, but we should aim to share our stories—our testimonies—in ways with which our audiences can connect. We should show them how great God’s love is rather than just telling them.

Go Therefore and Make Disciples

Stories are important. They help us relate to others, give us insight into unfamiliar situations, help us understand complex topics. We are drawn to stories because God designed us that way. And He told us the ultimate story of love and redemption in the Bible, through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

For our part, as we try to emulate our Creator, we should share our biblical worldview in a way that is winsome and compelling—whether we’re telling stories for a living or simply talking to a friend or neighbor.

What do you think? Have you experienced entertainment where the creator’s lecture superseded the storytelling? Are there any movies you find impactful, even if you don’t necessarily agree with the worldviews?

What Christian entertainment have you seen/read/heard that you thought did a great job of telling an engaging story while effectively communicating its message of faith? Let us know in the comments below!