Reviews

"[Scharen] provides a useful template for believers to evaluate their favorite forms of entertainment from a spiritual perspective."--John D. Leatherman, Christian Retailing

"[Scharen] provides thoughtful readers with a relatively brief, but probing framework for understanding popular culture and the degrees to which the divine may be reflected therein."--Jamie Lee Rake, CBA Retailers + Resources

"Scharen shapes Broken Hallelujahs into a progressive argument, building each chapter on what has preceded it. . . . While the whole of the argument is significant, there are points in the midst of it that shine. . . . Although Broken Hallelujahs is about music and the search for God in our broken world, deep down it has much to do with language and the power it has over the way we see the world and live within it. Scharen excellently highlights the danger in placing our own manufactured labels on things within the world--all of which can be considered as creations of our almighty Creator. . . . The words he uses add clarity to the discussion, while never straying away from the brokenness that every fallen being has in common."--Sam Edgin, Englewood Review of Books

"Scharen examines why popular culture is often disdained by the Christian church and suggests that by entering this paradoxical world, the church will find God's mercy and grace in rich supply. . . . His theology of popular culture is written in a minor key, as is his theology of the cross, and both are ultimately hopeful."--Kristine Morris, ForeWord

"Scharen's book is well-written, thoughtful, clear, and provocative. It offers a needed corrective."--Matt Edwards and Walker Sherman, Jesus Creed blog

"Scharen's book may be understood as a theological-cultural exploration of imagination. . . . Scharen's remarkable blend of being both poetic and profound--and everywhere theologically minded and informed--comes out nowhere more prominently than in his choice of Leonard Cohen's lyric 'broken hallelujahs,' from Cohen's song 'Hallelujah,' as a focal point. Arguably one of the most frustratingly enigmatic songs, you simply can't ignore it. But you also can't merely enjoy it either. The song is in the end perhaps a bit like beauty itself. It remains elusive. And as such it compels a listen (and the tune has a way of sticking with you anyway). Someday we will arrive at the final verse of Cohen's song. The broken will fall off and the pure, true, righteous, and just 'hallelujahs' will be sung. But for now we need to hear the broken hallelujahs. For now we live in some ambiguity and perplexity. King David, also a musician, lived there himself and sung about it. So did Luther. So, Scharen commends, should we."--Stephen J. Nichols, Themelios

"[This book] can help us reflect on popular music from a Christian perspective. . . . I recommend Broken Hallelujahs as worthy of careful reading, discussion, and reflection. Engaging it thoughtfully will sharpen our skill in cultural discernment, even at the points where we may disagree or see things a bit differently."--Denis Haack, Critique