What are your feelings about technology?
Sometimes I find myself looking around at this technological world we live in and long for something different, for times gone by. I think about flip phones from my childhood and how much less time people spent on them. I listen to stories from my parents’ and grandparents’ growing up and how much less screen time they had than we do today and think life must’ve been a lot simpler and more relaxed than today.
But then I have to stop and think about how technology has blessed our lives. After all, I wouldn’t be writing this blog post and you wouldn’t be reading it without the technological advancements available to us today. It’s because of technology that I can write and self-publish my books, something that wouldn’t have been available for me fifty or a hundred years ago. Technology allows me to drive my car long distances, to have electricity in my home, and to record podcast episodes. I’m thankful for the technology of heating and air conditioning and robotic surgery. Technological advancements can be a blessing.
I must admit that I am not anti-technology. While sometimes I would like to think I am, I’ve come to realize that technology is a tool that can be used for good or evil, and that my theology of technology will impact how I choose to engage with these tools.
We need a theology for all aspects of life, including technology. We need to know what we believe about God and His Word and how our beliefs about God and His Word affect technology creation and use.
God gave us minds to think and create like He does. Genesis 1:27 tells us that we are all made in the image of God. And one of the many attributes of God is that He is our Creator. He’s the one who spoke galaxies into being and formed the intricacies of DNA helixes. He causes the sunrise and sunset day after day. He created colors and textures and tastes and sounds. He did all these things because He delights in them. He made this beautiful world for us to delight in, too, because He loves us and He delights in us.
God is the one who created the order of this universe, and science is the study into that order that God has created, or as Johannes Kepler once said, science is “thinking God’s thoughts after Him.”
God has given us the ability to study and learn and invent as a common grace to mankind. It is something that is meant to bless all of humanity, but the goal of these common graces that God bestows is that we would acknowledge the Creator and praise Him.
However, because of our sin nature, humans often turn the tools that God has gifted us with into opportunities to do evil.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Romans 1:18-25 (NASB95)
Anytime we start worshipping and serving what is created instead of the Creator, we become fools. And as people pursue a life apart from God, evil reigns.
as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving,” “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”; “Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths, And the path of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:10-18
This is why we need the gospel. Apart from Christ, we do not pursue what is good and right. Apart from God’s grace, none of us would seek God. Our sinful, human nature is to pursue the destruction and misery of a life in rebellion against our Creator. But God in His grace sent Jesus Christ, the Holy Son of God, to pay the price for our sins on the cross and restore our relationship with God the Father. Those whose faith is placed upon the finished work of Christ for our redemption from sin are saved and given the Holy Spirit as a seal of our inheritance, which is eternal life with Christ.
But not only does Christ redeem us for the life to come, He also offers restoration for this life. He makes us new. He sanctifies us, or makes us holy and more like Himself over the course of our lives through the power of His Spirit working in us. And through the power of the gospel, our work, our research, our scientific and technological pursuits can be redeemed to glorify God.
This takes us back to technology. Technology is not bad when it’s used to the glory and praise of God. Technology is evil when it’s used to the glory and praise of another. So, whatever technology we are engaging with, the question is, “Is God being glorified through the use of this technology?”
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
This verse is a good filter for us as we engage with technology. Is the time we’re spending on our smartphones or computers being done for the glory of God? How can I glorify God through driving? Am I stewarding my home’s utilities to the glory of God? Am I engaging with technology so that I can be lazy or so that I can use my time more effectively to bless others and honor the Lord?
Technology can be used for good or evil, for the honor and glory of God or to honor ourselves. And it’s important that we know what we believe and why we believe it when it comes to technology, because our actions follow our beliefs.
With love,
Kelsey
P.S. Want to take this topic deeper? Tune in to my latest podcast episode, My Messy Thoughts on AI as a Writer here.
