Can Theology and Technology Coexist?
Technology elicits various emotions, responses, and thoughts in society, especially when discussed inside Christian circles. Please take a minute to answer the following question: What pieces of technology have you used in the last hour?
Think about the list you just made. I am sure that you left things off. Are you wearing clothes? Have you written with a pen or pencil in the last hour? Are you sitting in a desk chair while reading this? All these are examples of technology created by humans to make life easier, solve a problem, or entertain us. Brittanica.com defines technology as “the application of scientific knowledge to the practical aims of human life…to the change and manipulation of the human environment.” With this definition in mind, how do we, as Christians, think about technology theologically and use it for God's glory?
Technology is a Biblical Concept
When many of us think of technology, we think of smartphones, computers, and other devices that allow us to connect in and through modern digital spaces. However, this is a narrow view that is colored by our current technological moment. By God’s creation of humanity in His image, man possesses the power to shape the world around him. However, it is essential to note that at times in Scripture, God was the originator of specific technologies that led to a particular advancement of man.
God gave Noah the technology of boatbuilding to continue humanity (Gen. 6:14-16), and Paul used letter writing and Roman highways to engage in discipleship at a distance with various churches. Although these are good examples of technology use, there are also times it is used for selfish endeavors, such as the discovery of brickmaking to facilitate the building of the Tower of Babel.[1] As a common grace gift from God, technology is seen in the Biblical narrative as morally neutral in and of itself.[2] The way mankind utilizes these technologies determines their moral value, for better or worse.[1]
Christians must consider the benefits and challenges inherent in using technology to shape people into the image of Christ. Technology exerts influence and power that shapes us into some other image. Think about TikTok for a moment. Yes, it is a platform that we can use to share spiritually formative content. Yes, that content could reach a multitude of people; but what about the theological, spiritual, and personal implications of the other messages being delivered on the same platform?
Youth workers should not shy away from using technology to shape students into the image of Christ, but they must be wary that students aren’t being shaped into some other image in the process.
Technology Pervades our Modern Society
In 2022, Pew Research reported that the “vast majority of teens have access to digital devices such as smartphones (95%), desktop or laptop computers (90%) and gaming consoles (80%). There also has been an uptick in daily teen internet users, from 92% in 2014-15 to 97% today. In addition, the share of teens who say they are online almost constantly has roughly doubled since 2014-15 (46% now and 24% then).”[3] Teens are inundated by technology and connectedness.
Youth ministries today are rooted in the Information Age. Practically anything is a few clicks away. This has led to a “microwave” mentality affecting all aspects of life, where we no longer spend considerable energy or effort to find answers to questions. We can turn to Google or ask Siri to find the information we want. We are less likely to turn to books or our immediate communities for answers; we now crowdsource most things. This is not inherently destructive, but it continues to feed our technology dependence.[4]
Technology and the Church
Some think the church should be averse to adopting the use of technology. However, the church and its connection with technology have been present since its beginnings. I have already mentioned Paul's use of the day's technology to deliver his letters, but the connections did not end there. The printing press revolutionized the widespread distribution of the printed Bible, radio allowed churches to broadcast their messages across regional areas, and television spread Billy Graham's crusades worldwide. Now, the internet lets people connect with the gospel regardless of place, time, or language.
These are just a few examples of how the church has utilized technology to glorify Christ. Now, think about the pieces of technology present within your own church building. If you tried to make a list of every piece of technology, you would get tired before the list was completed. So, how do we faithfully integrate technology and theology?
Technology and Discipleship
God gave mankind the ability to develop technology. He has also given the church the mandate to make disciples (Matt. 28:18-20). These two statements are the central argument for faithfully integrating technology and theology. Technology, as a communication medium, can be used to deliver the life-changing message of the gospel to those around the world and to disciple them once they respond. Churches can use technology to connect with people, share the gospel, and help them in spiritual formation.[5] I am not advocating for an online-only ecclesiology, but rather reclaiming morally neutral technology for the glory of God. In this Information Age, with widespread technology use, the Church must find a way to leverage technology to reach and disciple a lost and dying world.
How do we begin to incorporate technology into our discipleship strategies? First, definitions are important. Dr. Timothy Paul Jones defines discipleship as,
“…A process that includes the personal profession of faith in Jesus Christ, as He was revealed to us in Scripture. Discipleship involves developing perspectives and practices that reflect the mind of Christ. The Gospel, expressed and applied in the context of the community of faith, is the center point of discipleship; conformity to Jesus Christ is the goal of discipleship; 'spiritual development' and 'Christian formation' describe progress toward this goal.”[6]
Jones's definition highlights the importance of community with other believers. It is in a community of faith that discipleship happens best. This hints at a requirement for face-to-face ministry, but Jones defends the use of technology by discussing Paul’s method of discipleship through letters written to churches. Paul's letter-writing ministry is no different from using digital technology to disciple church members today. However, it should be noted that Paul was not completely disconnected from those he was discipling. He had a familiarity with each of these churches, and they considered him a part of their community of believers.
How do we practically do this? I propose four considerations for incorporating technology into your discipleship processes. You must seek to be faithful to Scripture and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in any approach to utilizing technology in your ministries. Churches must use the following four paradigms explained below to understand how best to deploy technology to carry out the Great Commission with those both outside and inside the church.
1. Context is Key
The #1 consideration for integrating technology into your discipleship process is the context of your church. It would be best to consider factors like geography, socioeconomic status, age, gender, and the technology adoption rate in your ministry, among other factors. You may have seen what other churches have done to integrate technology into their discipleship process and thought, "I'm going to do that here." Knowing how technology is utilized in your church is more important than simply copying other churches. Know the areas your people need to grow in, then tailor your technology use to meet those needs to further their discipleship journey.
2. Content Matters
Technology’s goal is to solve problems and ease human existence. Some technologies are designed to deliver messages from one person to another. One specific type of technology, mediating technology, is used to deliver messages and content from one person or organization to another. Heath Woolman and I coined the term technology-mediated ministry (TMM) to help to understand how churches use technology to mediate messages and content in ministry. TMM is defined as,
“…The process of ‘Christian faith and practice’, establishing an ongoing dialogue with "technological modernity."[7] This dialogue between Christian practice and technology exemplifies how the church interacts with and uses technology to deliver spiritually formative content to those inside and outside the church.”[8]
This definition stresses delivering content. However, we are explicitly discussing spiritually formative content to church members. In asking this question, I am talking about more than simply having a schedule for when and what you post on social media, as social media posts are not the only type of content you can deliver.
You could invite people to an online Bible reading plan where they can comment on what they read that day through YouVersion. You might start a podcast for your students or parents, send out your sermon notes each week, or start a Discord channel to discuss various topics or to host a Bible study. There are a myriad of ways to use technology to further the spiritual growth of your flock beyond weekly meetings.
3. Measurement is Important
Context and content matter little if we don't know whether our technology is aiding in spiritual formation. Most churches that post video content use views to gauge how well people connect and grow. However, views alone don’t accurately depict how many people genuinely interact with their content. My suggestion is to consider both the crowd and the individual. You can do this through numbers and stories.
Instead of defaulting to platforms with primarily numerical metrics, attempt to choose platforms that allow engagement through comments. This type of platform, such as Youversion’s group reading plans, enables people to comment each day. These can be a vital measurement metric since it aids in understanding how God is using that content to encourage growth in people's lives. Integrating numerical metrics and individual testimonies helps evaluate whether your content meets the needs of your people.
4. TMM is a Hybrid Experience.
In a 168-hour week, most Christians spend less than 3 hours at church buildings. Teenage non-school related screen time doubled from 3.8 to 7.7 hours a day between 2019 and 2022.[9] As church leaders, we face the reality that only so much spiritual growth happens in that time. Technology allows you to extend your reach beyond that. Technology-mediated discipleship uses a hybrid approach that blends in-person ministry (worship, small groups, etc.) with daily or weekly digital content.
This has made people uncomfortable because it can be perceived as discounting the importance of corporate gatherings in spiritual formation. However, your students are being discipled by other messages delivered through their devices each week. Our ministries must begin to counter this trend by learning to utilize digital content that fosters spiritual growth in our youth, helping them grow into the image of Christ through learning to bring all areas of their life (even the digital ones) under His Lordship.
What’s this all mean for Youth Ministry?
Knowing what to do about technology can be overwhelming for even the most seasoned youth ministry veteran. Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew 10:16 that he is sending us as sheep into a world of wolves. However, he provides hope by instructing us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Even more importantly, he does not send us alone. He has also promised to be with us through the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:18; Matthew 28:20). This stance is how youth ministers should approach technology for the glory of God: with Spirit-given wisdom. I pray that we can all have the wisdom to engage theologically in utilizing technology while remaining harmless as doves.
[1] Genesis 11:1-9.
[2] Boaz Miller, “Is Technology Value-Neutral?” Science, Technology, & Human Values, 2021, 46(1), 53–80.
[3] Pew Research Center, August 2022, “Teens, Social Media and Technology 2022,” https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/
[4] Sherry Turkle, Alone Together, 279.
[5] https://jasonthacker.com/2020/08/12/how-god-is-using-technology-during-a-pandemic-for-mission/
[6] Timothy Paul Jones, Family Ministry Field Guide, 17
[7] Susan J. White, Christian Worship and Technological Change, 129.
[8] Shane Hipps, The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture, 63-83
[9] Nagata JM, Cortez CA, Cattle CJ, et al. Screen Time Use Among US Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. JAMA Pediatr.2022;176(1):94–96, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2785686.