Pop culture and stories

Rarely anything makes me shiver with a recognition of evil. I don’t often attempt to discern the spiritual realm around us. However, this year I watched something that made me think—Wow. This is dark, and it’s the reality of the pull of idolatry in the modern world. The animated movie K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025) covers the adventures of three K-Pop (Korean pop) superstars who also hunt demons behind the scenes to rid the world of evil. It’s rich with Korean cultural references and incorporates obsessive fan culture directly into the story.

Korea is not alone with its deeply embedded fan culture. Someone living in Japan need only get on a subway and look. There are young women with handcrafted bags featuring multiple badges of the same animated character over and over, lined with bows and lace and practically enshrined in plastic. The Can★Do 100-yen store near me has an aisle full of neon-coloured uchiwa (fans), stickers, decorating materials, and mini clothing and furniture for dolls, all to make devoted signs and little replicas of people’s favourite music, anime, drama—you name it—idols, and don’t get me started on the myriad of card and plastic model collecting.

People in Japan and in countless other countries are in love with fiction, or alternate reality. They are drawn into stories or lives unlike their own. It doesn’t matter whether it’s following the life of a band, escaping into a console or tabletop role-playing game, watching steamy romance drama on a streaming platform, or something as innocent as picking up a holiday brain-rot novel at the airport. Speaking from past experience as someone who has struggled with low periods and hasn’t enjoyed life very much at times, a good story can be the thing that keeps someone breathing. This is important for us to remember: Pop culture stories can be lifelines in their own way and a gateway to sharing the gospel.

Hobbies or obsessions?

Obviously, Christians need to be extra attentive to this. We do not want our hobbies or interests to turn into obsessions that draw us into the dark and dangerous waters of idolatry. I had a long period at Japanese language school where all I could think of was to go back to my apartment and continue my audiobook. I didn’t want to do my homework and I sometimes passed up opportunities to be with friends because ultimately, I wanted that escape. A conversation with another missionary told me I was not alone. Life is hard and escapism is captivating.

Friends, there is no condemnation in Christ (Rom. 8:1 NIV). If stories, games, idols, come before our time with God, if we are craving them more than anything else, more than time with our loved ones, more than spiritual strengthening through prayer or the Bible, we need to stop, put the fantasy novel (or insert own weakness here) down, and ask what we’re looking for in this story or version of reality that we feel the Lord is not providing. You can literally write a list. It helps. Bring it to the Lord and ask him to meet those needs and to reawaken you to the world around you. Stories can be a blessing, but they can also be an addiction. I say again, friends, there is no condemnation in Christ.

Stories of redemption

We do need to be aware that games, dramas, and anime are a lifeline for many healthy people, as well as thousands of Japanese looking for a focus or a group in which they can belong. Where K-Pop Demon Hunters and many other fictional worlds work so excellently in our favour is that so many are ultimately stories of redemption and salvation.

Not to spoil the movie if you haven’t seen it yet, but those born thinking there is evil in them—and those who make awful choices—are given the chance to change, to speak truth, and to overwhelm the lies and words that the chief demon speaks into their minds. The fact that this movie is a major hit, is, in my opinion, testament to the truth of the gospel. Obsession will not save you; it will devour you. Lies will not save you; they will be brought to light. As Paul says, “He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart” (1 Cor. 4:5 NIV).

For romance story lovers, let us talk to ourselves and those we are trying to reach about the One who loved us to his death, and even beyond. Perhaps we need prayer for God to meet our needs for affection in a pure and godly way, too.

To gamers who want to feel like their actions matter or have a community in which to belong, let’s talk about the reality of Christ, his fellowship, and his commission to share the gospel and bring people to himself.

For superhero fanatics, let’s talk about the One True Saviour.

To fans of the 2025 animated smash hit, ask what you think your idol might be. Share your thoughts with seeker friends. Be vulnerable and share that you want God to take the place of that which cannot build us up because he is more than we could ask or imagine.

We are living a better story than the ones in pop culture because ours is real and happening now. The Bible is not fiction. Our calling is not secondary to a great adventure. Read stories, be inspired by games, absorb movies, and take care to know that you’re living in the better story because ours begins and ends with the glory of Christ.