One of the ways Christianity thrives in every age is through employing the emerging technological paradigms to foster faithful inculturation.
The apostles used the written word delivered through the flows of the cursus publicus (Latin for “the public way”), which was the courier and transportation service of the Roman Empire. The first disciples used a complex web of older and emerging technologies: oral tradition, written word, road systems, and mail courier.
Christians have always adapted the emerging technologies for the expansion of the faith. Paul’s uses of these technologies helped the first scattered churches communicate and multiply. Early Christian adoption of the codex preserved and spread the Gospels. Johannes Guttenberg’s printing press fueled the Reformation. Billy Graham’s use of stadiums, microphones, and speakers in his evangelism crusades, gave birth to the first modern megachurches.
The traditional church utilizes multiple layers of technology that would have been considered strange or even idolatrous to generations past (electricity, projectors, microphones, PowerPoint slides, etc.) It is hypocritical to judge emerging technology while gripping tightly to our own. Critically evaluating the technology of a new generation and the technology of our own inheritance is essential.
Like the great cloud of witnesses before us, we have utilized technology to sustain our churches throughout the pandemic. We have discovered how to reach people across the United States whom we would have never reached before. Even as the vaccine begins to outpace infection rates, many of us will continue to connect in this way.
Yet, very few have gone far enough. We need to think of digital technology less as tools to livestream our services and more as a new missional frontier to be explored. Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment