Glory Projectors

I recently started running at the YMCA again.  The main reason is because my son Bryce wants to start working out there in the mornings as he prepares for baseball.  The secondary reason is because I am becoming too much of a wuss to run outside in the cold Nebraska winters.

In the last couple of weeks of mixing in the indoor run I have noticed that there is a common thread on the three large television screens in the cardio room.  On the right is ESPN, it gives me all sports all the time.  In the middle is TNT.  It provides these various daytime dramas of crime, cops, and celebrity.  And on the end we have the talk shows like Dr Phil or The View or Oprah or whatever.  All three of these screens project the image of what our culture finds as glorious.  ESPN is easy.  It shows us what physical and athletic greatness looks like.  We see heroes and zeroes on a daily basis.  Men find out what to strive for and women know what to look for.  The daytime dramas tell  us what to pursue (success), what to reflect (physical beauty), what to desire (glory in victory).  Then we have the talk shows that are the supposed cultural experts and know how to think for us.  They give us the worldview.  They teach us how to process the events of our lives and how to heal and deal with setbacks.

The bottom line here between all three screens is the projection of an image that is appealing or glorious to the audience.  We love it.  We love to be wrapped up in this world, have our minds and hearts calibrated by these images.  As people we value what they are projecting.  This is why it is so popular.  This is why it is in front of me at the gym.

I bring all of this up to say that we are not a culture that is devoid of glory through image.  We crave it.  It is our theme music.  It is our comforter as we try to stay fit.  It is all around us.

This is why it is hard to make Jesus irrelevant to our culture.  It is a bad preacher who fails to see Christ’s relevance and then tirelessly obscure his relevance as the Lord of glory.

Jesus is the image of God (Col. 1.15).  He came on the scene to perfectly reflect and represent God.  “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature…” (Heb 1.3).  Jesus reflects true humanity as he reflects true deity.  In his holy humanity he shows us what to value (Mat. 6.19-21), he portrays true beauty (Mat. 3.17), he is true life (John 10.10), and he is true wisdom (Col. 2.3).  He alone is truly glorious.  As Christians we mustn’t be seduced by the glory projectors around us.  We must see the generic forms of self glory as depraved knockoffs that cannot and will not deliver satisfaction.  We ought to carefully inspect our lives for how we are leaning upon various functional saviors that cannot save.  We must have Jesus Christ at the forefront, the one who alone has the glorious preeminence! (Col. 1.18)

And for unbelievers we must show how only Jesus can truly answer the bell and satisfy the longings of the human heart.  Just as Jesus spoke words of power to the raging and restless sea he says to the restless, worrying, unsettled heart on the waves of the world, “Peace, be still.” (Mark 4.39)

I truly believe that if the church was more convinced of and consumed by the glory of Christ then the starving world around us might see that they are eating the knock-offs and at least ask a few questions.  Let us remember then that it is through the gospel that the glory of Christ is revealed ( 2 Cor. 4.4-6) and by staring at this glory (beholding it) we are transformed by the Spirit ( 2 Cor. 3.18).  To fast from this blessed beholding is to stall sanctification and hide Jesus’ the Savior from our neighbors.  Of all people, it is the church that is to be bedazzled by, convinced of, and proclaiming the glory of Christ!

Possibly Related posts:

1. Pursuing the Glory of Christ at My Own Expense
2. How the Glory of Christ Changes Sermons and Congregations
3. What the Contemplation of Christ’s Glory Brings
4. The Unrivaled Glory of Christ in the Gospel
5. Stamping the Glory of Christ on Your Eyelids (a sermon on Revelation 5)

3 Responses to “Glory Projectors”

1. Dan Smith says:

   October 27, 2009 at 6:39 pm

   This is exactly why I have a hard time listening to those who try to “make” Christ relevant, or the church. We don’t have to work so hard. Christ, and the believing church, is already relevant. We just have to start believing that Christ is the answer to everything already, not that there is something else to do. Humbling post, and I thank you.
2. Eric says:

   October 27, 2009 at 7:47 pm

   Another excellent post, Erik! In the gym at the Christian college near here, there are three tvs up for us to watch as well. The only difference is that they don’t show TNT, but the news instead – other than that all the channels are the same. And, you’re right about how all those tv screens are tugging at us to be wrapped up in this world. I’d never thought of it that way before.

   Your thoughts on the church are also right on. If only we, as a church, kept our gaze on the glory of Christ, then maybe we would better impact culture rather than culture so succesfully impacting us. If only we truly valued the Gospel and the fact that our identity and hope are in Christ alone!
3. Erik says:

   October 28, 2009 at 10:53 am

   Exactly. And this challenge is so real and persistent. Such a struggle but such grace!