We found – 103 articles for god's technology

Digital Doxology (3): Technology Reveals God

February 15, 2018 David Murray

The world is the theater of God’s glory. But it’s not just beautiful natural landscapes that motivate our worship; it’s beautiful work as well, even when done by unbelievers.

Who can look at an apple and not worship God? Who can look at an Apple and not worship God. The simplest natural product and the most sophisticated digital product both provoke and promote worship.

Why is that?

It’s because both reveal God in ways that lead us to admire his attributes. Here, for example, are six attributes of God that are revealed in technology,  providing lyrics of praise to God.

Technology makes us worship God’s wisdom: It’s God’s mind that conceived of silicon, radio waves, fiber-optics, light, electricity, magnetism, space travel, rocket fuel, etc. It’s God’s mind that put sufficient general principles in Scripture to guide our use of technology

Technology makes us worship God’s creativity: Behind every good invention and ingenious design is The Inventor and The Designer.

Technology makes us worship God’s goodness: How thankful we should be that we are living in an age of such life-saving and life-enhancing technology.

Technology makes us worship God’s power: It’s mind-blowing to think of the amount of energy that technology uses every day – hundreds of billions of kilowatts – and yet that’s just a little part of God’s great power.

Technology makes us worship God’s patience: What incredible patience and longsuffering that sees such good gifts taken, abused and turned against the Creator and His creatures, and yet He still spares us and our world.

Technology makes us worship God’s grace:  because our overuse and abuse make us realize how much we need his grace of forgiveness for our sins and the grace of his Holy Spirit to deliver us from tech enslavement.

Previous Posts: Technology is Created by God, Technology is the Gift of God. 

Digital Doxology (2): Technology is the Gift of God

February 14, 2018 David Murray

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.

God’s Cosmic Joy Greater Than Grady’s Comet Joy

November 13, 2014 David Murray

The normally staid academic, Professor Monica Grady, erupted in unconfined joy when the Philae probe landed on a comet on Wednesday. It was a moment that Professor Grady and her colleagues had waited 10 years and 4 billion miles for. It’s a wonderful few seconds of unexpected and unbridled celebration that quickly went viral. Watch it and try not to smile – it’s impossible.

But if scientists can rejoice so much over a piece of metal landing on a piece of rock, how much more should Christians celebrate every time a human soul connects with God, bridging an infinite distance through the far greater and far more mysterious technology of the God-man, Jesus Christ. Where is our jubilation? Where is our Grady-like “I-don’t-care-who-sees-me-I-can’t-help-myself” kind of joy?

Well, however much (or little) we rejoice over sinners “landing” on God, there’s no question that God and His angels rejoice far more than we do over every sinner that repents (Luke 15:7); and far more even than Professor Grady. Watch her and get a glimpse of how God rejoices over His people with singing (Zeph. 3:17).

Top 10 Books on Using Technology

June 5, 2014 David Murray

As I’m often asked for book recommendations on various subjects, I decided to put together an online list of my top ten books in various categories. Basically, if I was only allowed 10 books in my library on that subject, these are the ten I would choose. Previous posts include:

Today I’m listing the Top 10 Books on Using Technology. These are the books that I would recommend to any Christian trying to get to grips with this digital age and not be overwhelmed by the digital revolution. These books, though not all by Christian authors, include both warnings about the dangers and practical encouragements for how to use technology in a healthy and profitable way.

After this list you’ll find a poll where you can cast three votes for your favorite books in this category. Click on “View Results” to see what books are most popular.

You can also add any book not on the list by writing the title in “Other” or in the Comments  I’ll add these to the end of the post under “Reader Suggestions.”

You may also want to look at Top 40 Online Resources on Using Social Media In Ministry.

1. The Next Story: Life and Faith after the Digital Explosion by Tim Challies

This book strikes a perfect balance between warning against the dangers of technology while also encouraging a positive approach to using it for personal profit and God’s glory. It also has a good balance between biblical teaching and scientific research. Well-written, well-argued, and well worth reading.

2. You, Your Family and the Internet by David Clark

This is the simplest book on the list. A good starter book for any family that is just beginning to struggle with the Internet and other new technologies. Readable and do-able.

3. Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long by

Not by a Christian author, but it helps us to understand the science of what we are doing to our brains with our current work practices, and guides us to manage our limited mental resources in a healthier and happier way. The author follows a totally stressed-out couple as they try to cope with the digital deluge in their work settings. He analyzes their failings and then suggests alternative scenarios that would help them to work more efficiently and enjoyably. He also shows how knowing how our brains work and respond to pressure enables us to understand others better, resulting in better communication, collaboration, and long-term change.

4. Bit Literacy: Productivity in the Age of Information and E-mail Overload by Mark Hurst

On the same subject as Your Brain at Work, but a bit more basic with more emphasis on the practical. A good place to start if you want to pick up numerous tips on how to change bad the digital habits most of us have acquired into good habits that will improve our work and lives. If you want to learn how to better manage all the “bits” that swirl around your life – email, to-do lists, photos, files, etc., – begin here.

5. From the Garden to the City by John Dyer

A biblical theology of technology and how it interacts with us and our culture by a reliable Christian author. Good companion volume to The Next Story.

6. Digital Leader: 5 Simple Keys to Success and Influence by Erik Qualman

So important for anyone with any leadership role to understand the powerful influence of using digital technology well. Here’s A Digital Dictionary For Leaders and 10 Digital Commandments I gleaned from this book.

7. Ministry in the Digital Age: Strategies and Best Practices for a Post-Website World by David Bourgeois

You won’t agree with everything in here, but it’s a good place to start for some ideas on how to utilize social media and other new digital technologies for ministry purposes.

8. Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other by Sherry Turkle

Written by an MIT science professor, this book majors on the dangers and downsides of technology. Makes a compelling scientific case for much greater discernment in our choice and use of technology. Similar in approach, outlook, and tone to the best-selling book, The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr. Alone Together focuses more on the social impact, and The Shallows more on the intellectual impact.

9. The Social Church: A Theology of Digital Communication by Justin Wise

Back to distinctly Christian books with this good combination of theology and practice. Like #7, you don’t need to embrace everything to benefit from this book, but it will make you think more deeply about social media and also do it more thoughtfully and theologically.

10. iGods: How Technology Shapes Our Spiritual and Social Lives by Craig Detweiller

Traces the history of modern technologies, takes a balanced look at their present impact, and looks into the future to predict where this is all going.

Honorable Mentions

Digital Invasion: How Technology is Shaping You and Your Relationships by Archibald D. Hart

Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman

Now you decide, what are your favorites? You can cast three votes and write a book in “Other” if it’s not on the list and I’ll add it to Reader Suggestions below. Click on “View Results” to see voting results.

Reader Suggestions

Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman

iPod, YouTube, Wii Play: Theological Engagements with Entertainment by D. Brent Laytham.