Periodically, through media such as film, the topics of good versus evil, God, and Christianity enter today's pop culture. Mel Gibson's portrayal of the passion of Christ, Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code and JK Rowling's Harry Potter, among others, have sparked dialogue in the modern media. The Internet, talk shows, news reports, magazines, and other media outlets have capitalized on these themes because of their controversial nature. It sparks discussion among Christians and non-Christians alike.

By way of these movies over the past few years, I have never seen so many people -- Christian and non-Christian -- talk about Jesus Christ. God has indeed entered pop culture, which is an amazing opportunity and great responsibility for us as Christians. The sad reality is that many of us use these controversies to take stands against modern media, while not looking at the "log in our own eye," even in our own homes (Matt 7:3).

I am astonished to see how many children under ten years old play violent video games with ratings of 10+. I am amazed when I hear of 8 year olds watching prime time television shows with mature content, as well as teenagers who have unlimited access to the internet and hours each day of unsupervised time.

In response to these inquiries we have received in the Department, I raise the question, "How many anti-theistic views do we allow to enter our lives on a daily basis?" Whether it's through email, cell phones, searching the Internet, watching prime-time television, or reading popular magazines, much of the content potentially viewed on a daily basis is anything but Christian. Forget The Golden Compass for a minute; how many of us pray with our children every day? How many of us bring our children to church and teach our children about Christ in our home? If we are ready to condemn this one film as "anti-Christian," we should also be asking, "What in my life is 'pro-Christian'? What else, besides my viewing habits, needs to change to reflect the light of Christ in my life?"

As Orthodox Christians, we need to be cautious so that we don't unnecessarily get drawn into controversies. We live in a secular society that does not value Christian principles and morals as absolute. Jesus Christ was sent into this world to offer us a better way - to open the doors of Paradise (John 3:12).

By the means of His Baptism, Jesus Christ sanctified this world, as we do every January through the service of the Blessing of Waters. Through this event, all creation, the world, is sanctified. Creation is still in harmony with God and adheres to his commands flawlessly. Do we?

With the release of The Golden Compass, we are offered an opportunity to place our focus on the important things in life, taking something positive out of this movie experience. Through dialogue, we are able to view this as what educators call "a teachable moment," and begin to look at our own lives and see how we have allowed the secular mentality to creep in. We need to look for opportunities that will lead to growth and spiritual maturity. While being selective in what you allow into your homes and lives, look for that "teachable moment" in all interactions. Place your focus on Him and trust that He will show you the way.

I hope that we Orthodox Christians take this opportunity not to "join the band wagon" condemning just another non-Christian film, but to begin looking at our own families and lives to follow God's compass.

Fr. Mark Leondis is the Director of the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. This article originally appeared in the Department's Youth Worker Pulse e-newsletter and is republished here with permission. Click here for more from the Department on how to use this movie as an opportunity for youth ministry, or here for a sermon by seminarian Paul Lundberg that discusses the message of The Golden Compass.

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