Is technology a luxury?
Or is it essential.
First, let’s define how I want to look at this: I’m not talking about convenience points in life–I’m thinking about the use of technology in sharing Jesus Christ with people. Not “Is A/C essential for my life?” (The answer is yes, by the way), but “Is technology necessary for reaching the US?”
That being said, I say that it is essential. We no longer live in a day where we can scrape by doing the things we have always done. The things we have always done worked fine in the past, but they aren’t working anymore. If you think about overall societal progression (in terms of information produced and shifting trends) we live at a time that would have been incomprehensible only 100 years ago.
Every five years, the amount of information in the world doubles, and it seems like the stations in my cable tv guide grow at a simlar pace. Movies have more CGI and special effects that seemlessly integrate with the movie. CDs are over-produced (go to a concert and see the difference–think Ashlee Simpson); and most of the information I could ever want is at my disposal on the internet.
And the church slowly adopts…let’s take the “wait and see” approach.
The church should be at the forefront of using technology. Jesus shared with people in the way that they could best understand: parables. We should do the same. Except modern day parables usually have cinematography, soundtracks and convincing actors. In the end, both tell stories. One told to a first-century culture–the other to a post-modern 21st century culture.
Techonlogy is not optional; it’s mandatory. The sooner we get around to accepting this fact, the sooner we can embrace technology and think of new and exciting ways to use it. Sure, some churches use media well (Fellowship Church, Willowcreek, Saddleback, and Ginghamsburg, to name a few). But sadly, they are the exception, not the rule.