Yesterday we started forming the Digital Doxology Choir, and provided the lyrics of their first praise song. Today, we want to add a second verse based upon the second biblical principle for digital technology: Technology is the gift of God.
When we see so much carnage resulting from the digital revolution, we are tempted to view technology as simply the spawn of hell. But just because the devil uses it to destroy, doesn’t mean God never gave it as a good gift to his people. Let’s remind ourselves of the goodness of God in the wonderful benefits that technology has brought us.
Health Benefits: Many of us wouldn’t be alive today were it not for God’s gift of technology in various diagnostics, surgeries, etc. Technology has increased the quantity and quality of our lives.
Family Benefits: Distant families can communicate in voice and video via Skype or Facetime. No wires, no delay, no cost, no hassle. It’s absolutely incredible. We can share photos and news with families with one quick click
Financial Benefits: Online banking, online shopping, online investing, etc.
Administrative Benefits: Digital storage, word-processing, email, scheduling, accounting software, tax filing, etc.
Educational Benefits: Online education, MOOCs, homeschooling resources, access to less-biased media, whole libraries on one Kindle.
Publishing Benefits: Everyone’s a film-maker and everyone’s a publisher.
Spiritual Benefits: Christian sermons books, articles, blogs, podcasts from the best speakers and writers. Connections with other Christians from other backgrounds. Access to current Christian comment on latest moral and ethical dilemmas.
Ministry Benefits: Logos Bible Software, access to books and online libraries, outreach to local and international mission fields via Facebook, internet radio, sermonaudio, etc.
I work at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and sometimes when we are enjoying the beauty of Reformed and Puritan theology, someone will ask, “Don’t you wish you were alive in these days?”
I have to be honest, I don’t. I’m glad to live in our own day with all its technological blessings and benefits. God is so good! We trace all these good gifts to our good Giver. ”Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
Why is it so important to recognize that technology is a gift of God?
When someone we love gives us a precious gift, our affection for that person will make us look after that gift far more than one from a stranger. Therefore the more we see technology as the good gift of our heavenly father, the more we will abhor taking his good gift and using it against him; and the more we will take his gift and use it as he intended.
Like all of God’s good gifts, technology has been perverted and abused by the devil and by sinful men and women. That means we need to exercise great discernment and care in our use of technology. But it doesn’t change the fact that it is a good gift from a good God to underserving sinners.
