How much influence does media have on our Faith?

We were just sitting here flipping through the channels and discovered that a movie by the name of What Dreams May Come was on. I love this movie because of great acting, the heart wrenching love story that exists throughout the narrative, and because I think the cinematography is excellent.

There are numerous references to God and God's character, nature, etc. There is a non-Christian expression of heaven and reincarnation is alluded to as more than a possibility. Simply put, it would never pass as a movie representation of the Christian faith...in fact, it was never designed to be such a movie. So to judge it on those terms would be unfair...it is simply a fictional drama that alludes to something beyond this life.

I don't have a problem with any of this...but it does raise an interesting question for me. With the number of images that we are given on a daily basis (internet, social networks, movies, videos, etc), do those images affect our understanding of faith (specifically Christian faith)? Is it possible that due to the images of church and funerals, pastors, etc in these movies followed immediately by reflections of the screenwriters fictional heaven...is it possible that this convolution of images impacts the way that some people view the Christian faith (or even their Christian faith)? Are these impacts always negative?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, are movies like the Left Behind movie and Fireproof, and television shows like Seventh Heaven, etc. accurate/true/healthy expressions of what the Christian faith is?

I would like to think that with movies, television shows, and books like the ones mentioned above, people would realize what rings true to the Christian faith and what doesn't. I would like to think that they really understand the meaning of fiction and how large a role fiction plays in most of these portrayals. While good morals and ethics may be at the heart of many of the episodes/movies/books, etc, I wonder if it ever moves beyond simple morality and ethics.

When I reflect theologically on many of the aforementioned pieces, I often find that the portrayal in media is very different from what I find in Scripture and the Christian tradition.

It seems to me that we fall somewhere along a spectrum when it comes to these kinds of issues. We either find ourselves at the end that appreciates the artistry and imagination and thinks that connecting to the culture in this way allows us to better share the gospel; or, we find ourselves gravitating toward the end of the spectrum that avoids such encounters---encapsulating ourselves in a bubble that is designed to keep such things away from us.

I tend towards the appreciation and connection end of the spectrum. I think that if we are not engaged in the culture in which we live, we have little ground to speak to such things in our relationships with others. I tend to think that there is a lot of fiction out there that gives portrayals of Christianity that are more inaccurate than accurate. I tend to take these opportunities as teaching moments with those that I serve.

What do you think? How much influence does media have on our faith? Should media and culture be encountered or avoided? Why? I look forward to your thoughts and comments.