Are You A High-Definition Christian?

Are You A High-Definition Christian?
John R. Petrilli

The campaign to roll over to high definition television gains more momentum with each passing day. As of February 19, 2009, the Federal Communications Commission will require all television stations to broadcast their programming signals exclusively in high-def format. That requirement means that we, the viewing audience, will need to own a television that can receive the digital signal, as the current analog signal reception will no longer be available. Although most new televisions on the market are digital, many may opt for a conversion kit that will make their outdated analog T.V. sets capable of receiving the digital signal and programming.

High definition television makes use of cutting edge technology which greatly increases the amount of “pixiles”, or dots per square inch that are projected onto the back of the T.V. screen. That increase produces a picture of superior quality, clarity, color, and ability to accurately depict high-speed action. High def programming allows viewers to enjoy their favorite programs at a substantially higher level of visual precision than ever before. The whole idea behind this upgraded technology and revised public broadcasting policy is to vastly improve the kind of picture delivery available to the American consumer.

There are some very striking parallels between living the Christian life and being a television set. Both are about transmitting a medium as well as a message with the greatest clarity and optimum quality. Interestingly enough, many New Testament passages and verses use terms that find easy parallels to our Christian faith walk.


HIGH DEFINITION CHRISTIANS TRANSMIT A HIGH-RESOLUTION PICTURE OF JESUS CHRIST TO A WATCHING WORLD. Phil. 1:20

Everyone picks up a hobby at some point in their life, some last a few weeks while others may well last an entire lifetime. As a teenager I met a fellow student who was really into radio astronomy, the science of plotting star compositions, locations and movements via radio signals emitted by the distant objects.
It wasn’t long before I owned and operated three optical telescopes of my own. I’d spend my days devouring astronomy magazine articles, and my nights delighting in observation the wondrous heavens that declare their mighty Maker. This passage is couched in the setting of an individual doing some heavy-duty prison time for sharing his faith in Jesus Christ with others. His name was Paul, and it wouldn’t be the only time he did some hard time for the Lord. Yet, what one marvels at the incredibly resilient attitude he has as he finds himself in prison and perhaps a candidate for death row. Instead of playing the games of blame or self-pity, Paul declares his intention to allow Christ to be “magnified” in his body, whether by exoneration or by execution. Now that takes a lot of faith. The word for “magnify” carries the idea of enlargement. Paul wanted Christ’s love and grace to be so enlarged in and through his life so that people could get a close-up view of His wonderful Savior. We all enjoy getting a good close-up shot of our favorite musician, celebrity, family member or close friend. That’s what Paul wanted his life to accomplish. To bring what to many is a fuzzy image of Christ into clear focus, much like a telescope brings far away objects into plain view. Personally speaking, I find no greater joy that to point my telescope into the heavens and uncover the intricate beauty that exists out there. That’s what just a smidgen of magnification can accomplish. And as a Christian, it’s my greatest honor and delight to know that I’ve somehow succeeded in letting Christ be magnified, enlarged in my life to the degree that others may see His exquisite beauty.

In practical terms, we magnify the Lord through vibrant corporate worship (Psa. 34:3), allowing Him to have His way in our life (Luke 1:46), responsibly exercising our spiritual gifts (Acts 10:46), crediting God for our ministry success (Rom. 11:13), and leading others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (Acts 19:17).


HIGH DEFINITION CHRISTIANS PROJECT A LIFE-LIKE IMAGE OF WHAT REAL LOVE LOOKS LIKE TO A WATCHING WORLD. John 13:34-35

What is love? The world seems on a never-ending search for true love that began in antiquity and continues to this very moment. Countless songs have been composed, poems written, plays scripted, and romance novels penned in an effort to describe and define the nature of love. While man is locked in an endless struggle to come up with a satisfying solution to this human mystery that drives so much of who we are and what we do, Jesus has an answer that is sublime, yet at the same time, easy to understand. He says that believers have the answer, and possess the capability to demonstrate that answer to a watching world. His definition of love starts out with the example He gave of it in the way He loved and served His very first followers. And, so He says, as these followers demonstrated that same kind of to each other, a watching world would not only be captivated by it, but would also recognize Christ as their Master and Source of such giving and forgiving love. This same principle and practice holds true some 2,000 years after its inception. As we love and serve those around us, we give them a golden opportunity to see real love at its very best. It’s what they so desperately want, what they urently need, and what their empty hearts most truly long for.


HIGH DEFINITION CHRISTIANS GRAPHICALLY DISPLAY THE TRUTH OF JESUS CHRIST TO WATCHING WORLD. 2 Cor. 3:1-3

Nothing quite makes my day than reaching into my mailbox and finding a personal letter from a friend or loved one. There’s something warming and affirming when such a correspondence arrives. In the early days of the church, the disciples used letters of recommendation to introduce visiting representatives to a receiving church. Some in Corinth had difficulty believing hat Paul was the real deal, and questioned his apostolic claims. He replied to them that the proof of his ministry legitimacy lay in the people he had won to the Lord and discipled. They were his letters of recommendation and reference. Paul goes so far as to call his new converts “living letters”, implying that their very lives acted as proof positive that his ministry was genuinely of God. As these new believers lived out their growing faith, others could “read” the gospel by simply observing their gentle and sincere attitudes and behaviors. Believe it or not, this kind of “testimonial evangelism” was one of the key factors that led to the stunning success of the early church. As the old saying goes, “For some people, the only gospel they’ll ever read is the ‘gospel according to you’ ”.


HIGH DEFINITION CHRISTIANS BROADCAST A CLEAR SIGNAL TO WATCHING WORLD. 1 Thess. 1:8

I recently had a one-man battle going on in my apartment as I tried to tune in to the Beijing Summer Olympics. Nothing seemed to work as I jockeyed my antennae into every position imaginable. Finally I found the right spot on my window sill, and sat back to enjoy the games. But not before enduring twenty minutes of audio and visual distortion. Until I got it right, the picture and sound was distorted, blurry, broken-up, and largely unintelligible. What a difference a clear signal makes! I could see Mike Phelps race to the finish line in world record time, then hear the athlete’s comments in the
post-victory interview. When it comes to broadcasting, clarity isn’t a good thing, it’s everything!

The same holds true in our gospel witness for Christ. The believers at Thessalonica had earned a reputation for sending out an unmistakably clear signal to everyone around their region. Their “Christian programming” reached far and wide to connect with the ears and hearts of millions in their sphere of influence, and many thousands entered the kingdom thanks to their faithful and clear delivery of the gospel of Christ. So how’s our witness? Is it clear and consistent, or distorted and broken-up by habits and attitudes that diminish its impact? This requires some serious soul searching.


HIGH DEFINITION CHRISTIANS DELIVER A WIDE SCREEN IMAGE OF CHRIST THAT ATTRACTS A WATCHING WORLD. Titus 2:10

The cosmetics industry is a multibillion dollar cash cow. Companies such as Avon, Clinique and Helene Curtis offer products and services that can turn the plainest face into a stunning beauty. Makeup is like that. Applied with just the right measure of skill and good taste, it can transform the average consumer into a charming beauty that attracts the eye and wins the approval of all who se her.

Believe it or not, this is the kind of picture Paul paints of the Christian disciple. He explains to his protégé Timothy that the godly attitudes and good works of the believer act like a magnet, irresistibly attracting those around them. People’s hearts are always drawn out toward the life that consistently displays love, joy, peace, and unselfish service.

Like a wide screen T.V., a Spirit-filled life provides a panoramic view of the beauty of Jesus Christ. Even as a wide screen fills the periphery of one’s eyegate from one extremity to the other, even so the obedient Christian’s lifestyle allows others to catch a full and sweeping view of all that God can and will do in the lives of all who trust in Him.


CLOSE

So what kind of signal will you broadcast this New Year? Will those within viewing range be able to see Christ clearly and with high resolution? Will they see the demonstration of authentic love in your actions and hear it in your choice of words? Will they be able to read the gospel as it is spelled out in your life each day? Will they receive an undistorted signal from your life that allows them to hear and see the truth of Christ in an unhampered, unhindered manner? Will they get an eyeful of Jesus as they observe the manner in which you grow in your faith and love for others?

While the onset of digital T.V. is an exciting development in this New Year, a Christian life that possesses superior clarity and definition is even more so. I would encourage us to take any steps necessary to improve the spiritual signal that we broadcast to a waiting and watching world.