Let’s praise God for digital technology!
“What? Have you no idea how dangerous digital technology is? Don’t you know that even many secular studies are warning about the peril of our digital devices? I mean, even Facebook directors and shareholders are sounding the alarm. And you want to praise God for digital technology?”
Yes, I do, and so should you, because, as I’ll show you in a minute, it’s right to do so and we have plenty reason to do so. But I also believe that by starting with positive praise, we have a better chance of getting a hearing for our later negative critiques. So, yes, I’m going to warn and caution, but not before I appreciate and praise.
So let’s now turn to the Bible.
“What? The Bible? What’s the Bible got to say about smartphones and snapchat?”
Nothing specifically, but everything in terms of general principles of guidance and direction.
“What do you mean?”
Well, you’re right, the Bible does not give an specific rules about digital technology. However, God has placed sufficient general principles in the Bible so that with the help of prayer and the Holy Spirit we can identify the relevant general principles and then apply them to today’s specific technological challenges.
“Right, hit me with it then. What does the Bible teach about technology?”
The first general principle we find in the Bible is that technology is created by God.
“O, come on, be serious, technology is of the Devil.”
No, the devil did not create technology, neither did Apple, Facebook, Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerburg. The devil may abuse technology but God created it. Tech companies, and tech-titans may discover technology, but only because God had already created it.
“OK, so where’s the iPhone in Genesis 1?”
It’s there alright, not in finished form of course, but God created all the physical elements that manufacturers use to produce technology and he did it knowing that all these things would be required to make the iPhone. He also created the forces and powers that we need to make technology work: magnetism, electricity, radio-waves, and so on. And his creative work continues in the sense that he creates and directs the human minds that discovered and invented the silicon chip, the internet, fiber optics, and so on.
God is the ultimate Inventor of everything. He just allows men and women to discover what he has already invented. And that’s the first reason why I say, “Let’s worship God for digital technology. Because God created its materials, its forces, and its inventors brains and skills.”
And if you want a verse for that, try this one: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Col. 1:16). Or “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3).
I’ll give you a second reason to amp up the praise tomorrow.
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