The Blessings of Technology by David Giarrizzo

Posted by deangonzales on November 13, 2009

DavidGiarrizzo David Giarrizzo, member of Grace Covenant Church in Gilbert, Arizona, coordinator of the yearly Building Tomorrow’s Church conference for Reformed Baptist young adults, and one of the contributors to the blog Ardent Cries, has written a helpful article on how the Christian and the church can employ technology for the glory of God. Enjoy! And feel free to leave a comment.

When I was ten years old,
I remember thinkin’ how cool it would be,
When we were goin’ on an eight hour drive,
If I could just watch T.V.

And I’d have given anything
To have my own PacMan game at home.
I used to have to get a ride down to the arcade;
Now I’ve got it on my phone.

Communication Technology

apple_iphone_keyboard …So go the words of a silly song by Brad Paisely about the changes in technology over the past couple of decades. It is true that so much has changed about the way humans communicate in modern times just over the past one or two generations. As if a cordless telephone with PacMan on it wasn’t enough of an ingenious invention, it is almost mind-blowing to think about the infinitude of the World Wide Web.

Of course, as is often noted within the Christian community—and rightfully so, — with such a vast storage of information as the internet is, there are also many dangers. The sins of lust and adultery are commonly mentioned when discussing the dangers of the internet, and again, rightfully so. Additionally, the dangers that online communication and social networking pose to modern day believers have also been well documented. I agree with many of these identified problems that virtual communication presents. But while I understand that the use of modern technology presents potential concerns for Christians, I likewise believe that technology offers many wonderful opportunities. So I want to take a different approach in this post and briefly examine a few blessings that technology—especially communication technology such as cell phones, email, and the internet—provides for Christians today.

Consider for a moment the positive attributes of the internet with all of its wonderful means of communication and social networking: e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, blogs (like Ardent Cries), church and ministry websites, audio and video-recorded sermons, Christian book and music dealers, conference advertising, etc., etc. If you are reading this blog, you probably surf the web everyday and you already understand its many good uses. But allow me to illustrate a few simple examples of how communication technology can benefit believers.

Formal and informal online education – Hundreds of thousands of people are now getting perfectly valid college educations via accredited online universities every year; in fact, more and more theological seminaries are beginning to look in the direction of the internet as a means reaching more people and increasing their student counts. The possibility for a lay-elder or church member to better his understanding of theology or the Bible languages is a wonderful prospect that our generation can hope to see more of through the increase in formal seminary classes offered via the web. Already we can observe the hunger of many Christians for the truths of Scripture as seen through the success and popularity of websites such as SermonAudio.com, Spurgeon.org, and the thousands of theological websites that comprise the Christian blogosphere. So for those who are serious about gaining a better understanding of theology or nouthetic counseling skills or Greek and Hebrew, may more seminaries offer this form of distance learning via internet courses as they remain firmly planted on the truths of God’s Word [editor: e.g., Reformed Baptist Seminary].
Email and Blackberries [editor: and iPhones] – Just today I was reminded of one of the blessings of technology when I received an email to my Blackberry. The email was from our church elders asking for prayer on behalf of some church members with urgent needs. I don’t get these kinds of emails often because, thankfully, medical emergencies of this kind aren’t common. But when I received this email today on my phone, I was able to stop what I was doing and lift up my brothers and sisters in prayer. Sure, our elders could have called everyone in the church to update them; but because of the technology of email, and in my case, the technology of email direct to my Blackberry phone, the elders were able to alert the congregation of these urgent prayer needs more efficiently. As silly as it may sound, I thank God for blessing me with the luxury (as opposed to necessity) of a cell phone with internet and email capabilities that allows me to pray specifically for the brethren on a moment’s notice.
Facebook and Twitter – Every time I attend a conference I inevitably make new friends. Thanks to Facebook, I have been able to stay in contact with those brothers and sisters months and years after those conferences are over. Facebook was designed for the purpose of social networking. For the Christian, however, social networking includes more than making new friends; it is fellowship, mutual encouragement, and a visible representation of the unity of the saints. Christians are more than friends; they are family members in the household of God. This is one of the reasons I appreciate Facebook: while I sit here in Mesa, Arizona, I can stay in touch with brothers and sisters in Ontario, California or Bremen, Indiana or Jackson, Georgia or even in Toronto, Canada! Twitter, like Facebook, allows me similar opportunities. But even more so, as John Piper pointed out [Why and How I Am Tweeting], these networking devices can actually be a means of evangelism, not narcissism. May we use Facebook, Twitter, and similar sites wisely, making the most of every opportunity to point others to Christ.
Everything else – I am an avid news junkie. I was speaking to my grandpa about two weeks ago about the news. He asked me, “Do you get the newspaper at home?” to which I replied, “Yes. But we get it on the internet, not our front porch.” Just like my grandfather who reads his morning newspaper with a cup of coffee and toast and fruit, I check out the Drudge Report and my Christian blog lineup in Google Reader almost every morning with my cup of Joe. Again, this attachment to the outside world isn’t a need, it’s a blessing. Through the internet I can stay connected to far-away friends, register for an upcoming conference, watch James White contend for the Faith on YouTube, order Calvin’s complete commentary set, read Al Mohler’s insightful weekly postings, and stay in touch with current events on the other side of the world. These are some of the blessings God has given believers living in the 21st century. May we seek to glorify Him as we utilize the gifts and tools with which He has graciously supplied us.