This book review was prepared for Evangelicals Now (https://www.e-n.org.uk/).
COMPETING SPECTACLES
Treasuring Christ in the Media Age
By Tony Reinke
Crossway. 154 pages. £11.89
ISBN 978 1 4335 6379 9
How long should we spend surfing the internet? What sporting events should we attend? Who should we follow on social media? Which games should we play on consoles? What entertainment should we watch? These are the kinds of questions that Tony Reinke equips us to answer in Competing Spectacles.
Reinke describes our current cultural moment as ‘the age of the spectacle’, a spectacle being an image that catches our gaze and captures our attention. In the book’s first part, he demonstrates that the world around us draws our desires through stimulating sights. Not only is this true for television, gaming, social media and movies, but it is as true away from our screens, whether for politics, news, retailers or sports. The evidence Reinke presents is clear and convincing, we live in a world where it is impossible to escape from society’s spectacles, and we are shaped by what we see.
In the second part the book, Reinke shows that contrasting with the spectacles of society, Christians have competing, and far more compelling, spectacles. Rather than being anti-spectacles, Christians have the greatest spectacle in the world, one which draws our desires and captivates our hearts. The cross of Christ is where divine love triumphed before a watching world. Although pictured today in the gathered local church, itself being a spectacle as it is conformed to Christ’s image, and the Lord’s Supper, the spectacle of the cross is ultimately seen by faith not sight. In beholding this spectacle, Christians are also changed, transformed from one degree of glory to another.
Reinke closes by explaining how Christians, caught between these competing spectacles, can spiritually thrive in this age. Drawing ten clear principles for spiritual health, his aim is to prevent the spectacles of this world causing us to be bored with Christ, encourage our prayerfulness and reset our minds on things above. As Reinke states, the worst trade in the universe is playing in the shallow pools of the world’s spectacles instead of diving deep for the treasures of eternal worth. Competing Spectacles is written to prevent us making such a foolish trade.
Although the book sets out what is described as ‘a theology of visual culture’, it is neither a long nor complicated read. It is brilliantly written, made up of 33 chapters which are often only a few pages long and with a single point. Not only is it theologically and historically accurate, it is saturated with Scripture throughout. This being true, we should not then be surprised that Reinke displays a level of wisdom and precision that is so often lacking on these topics. Rather than indiscriminately imposing a kind of media legalism, Reinke argues for cultivating self-awareness, cautiously and carefully redeeming what is useful in society for our spiritual good. This is not for the fainthearted, for Reinke argues that some may still need to thrash their TVs!
Reinke’s aim throughout is to present a framework which we can use to analyse the spectacles we see. Reinke has already modelled doing this in his popular book ‘12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You’. Reading it is a perfect next step for all who benefit from Competing Spectacles.
Whether we realise it or not, we all live within the age of the spectacle. Every day we make decisions on how to interact with the surrounding culture, including those referenced above. As all of us must make these decisions, this is a book that all of us must read. Having read it, I’m sure we can afford not to.
ALEXANDER ARRELL