Summary

  • God created us in His own image
  • We rebelled, inviting death and evil to corrupt all human endeavor
  • Jesus provided the path to rescue, restoration and reconciliation with God
  • Through Christ, work, creativity and human endeavor can be redeemed for God’s good purposes
  • Technology can be developed, utilized and leveraged for Christ’s Kingdom, including the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Expanded View

“This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.” – Ecc 7:29 (NIV)

Those schemes led to open and willful rebellion against God.  Sin was welcomed into the world (Genesis 3), severing our bonds with the Author of Life (Heb 12:2), in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3) .  Untethered and self-exiled, all humankind’s  creative and noble aspirations became ghostly corruptions of of their original Divine potential.  The original, creative imprint of God on humankind, the Imago Dei, remained within each individual (Gen 1:27), but was exposed to sin’s nature to serve selfish and destructive purposes.  Humankind had opted for a temporary and deceptive self-mastery in exchange for eternal death and separation from God (Rom 1:25).

Via God’s long-suffering love, however, rescue and restoration was provided solely in the person of Jesus (Rom 5:8).  Being fully God and fully human, Jesus alone provided the bridge required to reconcile God and humankind.  The rescue plan provided both immediate and eternal restoration for all voluntary recipients.  Thus restored, Jesus enables followers to again lay hold of hope, noble work, love and creative potential (Acts 17:28).  All that is good comes from Him (James 1:17).

God’s creative nature is declared and celebrated in the opening lines of Scripture.  This nature, His nature,  is imprinted on all of humankind.  Artists, scientists, inventors, engineers, etc take their charter from the original and divine spark of creativity.  Human endeavor and discovery, including the development of technology, are understood to be sanctioned by, and acquire purpose from, God’s original design (Gen 1).

Therefore, while technological development is inspired by God, it attains nobility and God infused purpose only when subjected to and redeemed by Him.  The human creator willingly releases the creation to the Creator for His purposes (Prov 16:3).

Among those purposes are God’s declared desire for His followers to take the good news of Jesus to every nation & tribe, and to make disciples of all people (Matt 28:19). Technology holds unique and powerful promise as a tool in this service to Him.  The portals for the Gospel made available through technology are facilitating its spread. Information & community building resources are available to growing disciples as never before.

Our world awaits the final return of Jesus and the complete restoration of all things.  Until that time, technology will carry the potential for both nobility and evil.  As examples, transportation technology will be used to deliver medical supplies to a mission field as well as carry a man to an illicit affair.  Medical technology will be used to both extend and prematurely end life.  Information technology will distribute both truth and falsehood. Unintended consequences will surface that challenge the discernment and wisdom of learned leaders.

Notwithstanding these tensions, God continues to call us in times such as these.  He continually extends the invitation to partner with Him in unveiling His love and exposing the majesty of His created order to a waiting world.  The call is to a deep, thoughtful and reverent exploration of the world He has created and expressing this creativity for His glory.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” – Col 3:23-24 (NIV)

Q:  Do you believe a “theology of technology” is necessary?  How do you subject your involvement with technology to Christ?

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