The Unseen Pulpits: How Secular Voices Shape Our Values
As Christians, we often assume that sermons are exclusive to Sunday morning church services. But what if we’re being preached to every day, through our screens, advertisements, and entertainment? Writer and researcher Kevin Simler defines a sermon as “any message designed to change or reinforce what a group of people value.” By this definition, sermons are happening everywhere, from Super Bowl commercials to Netflix shows, from social media feeds to corporate mission statements.
The Power of Common Knowledge
What makes these secular sermons so influential is how they create a shared understanding among millions of people. It’s not just about the individual impact, but the fact that we know everyone else has absorbed the same message. This shared awareness creates a powerful network effect that amplifies the message far beyond its initial impact. Think about a popular TV show that portrays religious believers as backward or hypocritical. The power lies not just in how it might influence you personally, but in the fact that you know millions of others watched the same portrayal.
Competing Pulpits
The moment we recognize this broader definition of sermons, we begin to see that our culture is filled with competing pulpits, each vying for influence over our values, priorities, and beliefs. A pastor may speak for an hour on Sunday, but secular voices are preaching to us for the remaining 167 hours of the week. Here are seven secular sermons you might have encountered this week without even realizing it:
The Gospel of Aesthetic Perfection
Scroll through Instagram for just five minutes, and you’ll hear the persistent sermon that fulfillment comes through aesthetic perfection and curated experiences. This secular sermon quietly challenges the Christian understanding that true joy comes from a never-ending relationship with God rather than endlessly collecting picture-perfect moments.
Corporate Moral Authorities
Companies increasingly position themselves as moral authorities with purpose-driven messaging. Whether it’s a coffee chain promising community or an outdoor retailer preaching environmental stewardship, these brands are delivering sermons about what matters most in life. The underlying message remains the same: ethical consumption is the primary way to effect change in the world.
Personalization as a Sermon
Every time you open Netflix, Spotify, or your news feed, the recommendation algorithms deliver a sermon tailored specifically to you. The message it’s sending is that your preferences are sovereign and your individual taste should be your primary guide. This personalization subtly undermines the Christian notion of submitting to truth outside ourselves and joining a community with shared values rather than one based on individual preferences.
Confessional Culture
Late-night talk shows and podcast interviews with celebrities regularly feature intimate personal revelations framed as courageous acts of authenticity. These confessional moments preach that sharing one’s struggles publicly is the path to healing and that growth requires vulnerability but not accountability. This secular liturgy subtly replaces the biblical model of confession within community.
Redemptive Violence
The latest blockbuster likely contained an implicit sermon about how the world is ultimately saved through the right application of force by a morally righteous individual or group. This narrative of redemptive violence stands in stark contrast to the Christian story of a Savior who conquers through self-sacrifice and who commands love of enemies.
The Wellness Gospel
From supplement companies to fitness influencers, the wellness industry preaches a gospel of salvation through physical optimization. These sermons promote the idea that with enough discipline and the right products, we can achieve bodily transcendence and avoid suffering. Their not-so-subtle message is a direct challenge to the Christian understanding of various aspects of our physical life.
Political Commentators as Moral Guides
Whether left-leaning or right-leaning, political commentators deliver powerful sermons about who belongs in the moral community and who stands outside it. These secular liturgies form our understanding of neighbor-love more effectively than many Sunday sermons.
Recognizing the Unseen Pulpits
What makes these secular sermons so effective is that they rarely announce themselves as moral or spiritual instruction. Instead, they slip past our defenses through entertainment, convenience, or utility. But we are not helpless to respond to these messages. The first and most necessary step in countering their influence is simply recognizing them for what they are. When we understand that we’re being preached to through our screens, products, and entertainment, we can begin to critically engage with these messages rather than passively absorbing them. As Paul encouraged believers, we must “take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
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