Chapter 1 covered by Susan K. Stewart as part of our Group Blogging Project discussing the book Flickering Pixels by Shane Hipps. If you need a quick overview to what Flickering Pixels is about, please go here.

Christianity is fundamentaly a communication event.

This statement from the Introduction of Flickering Pixels by Shane Hipps not only was a light bulb for me, but it also illuminated what was to come as I began reading this book.

Chapter one, “Mr. No-Depth Perception,” begins with the tale of a man who has no depth perception and the trouble he gets into because of it. (Like knowing when to pull the ripcord on his parachute based solely on what he sees.) We, too, get into trouble because we don’t really understand what we see.

Hipps tells us that culture shapes our faith. Our culture is based on images (what we see) all around us. Words are giving way to pictures. Hipps uses the Nike swoop as an example of an of brand recognition without words. Stop to think how many other things we recognize solely on the image without words attached.

I wonder how many people see a spider web and think Internet.

Our all-knowing God was not caught be surprise at this world of images, and our lack of perception with these images. His second commandment, which I believe to be in order of importance, is not to have graven images. As Hipps states, “.  .  . God is concerned about the things we use to communicate and make meaning.”

If you’re like me, you didn’t think about the graven images as the technology we use to communication. Few Christian would build an altar and light candles to their television or computer. But, after even a short time of thinking, I have to admit that the technology can, and does, easily become an idol as we sit in front of it daily.

The medium becomes the message.

Like Mr. No-Depth Perception, we get into trouble because we see the technology (the medium) rather than the message. Technology can be a tool for communicating God’s message. But, do we sometimes only use the tool because it is there? Do we use the tool to impress the folks we’re trying to reach? Does the tool become the gospel?

I’m old enough to remember writing without a computer; speaking without a PowerPoint, and traveling without constant connection to the rest of the world. I’m challenging myself, and you, to reflect on what is good about not always using technology. I’m going to speak this upcoming weekend and leave my computer at home.

Will my message change because I won’t have technology? I certainly like to think it won’t. Will my audience hear it differently without the distraction of technology? That remains to be seen.

Consider: Are you using technology because it’s there (an idol)? Or, because it is the best way to communicate the message (a tool)?

[Image from Josef]