A Christian World View and Technology - Part I

[Note: I use the term "technology" to apply to the general area of mankind's craft and ability to use and make tools for various purposes. While I do not limit the term to high-tech devices like computers and mobile phones, I believe it completely encompasses modern electronic-based technology.]

A world view is the framework of foundational beliefs through which one interprets the world around them. Everyone has one, it is typically developed in one's youth [Proverbs 22:6], and it is seldom suddenly changed except by extraordinary events (say, being struck down on the road to Damascus [Acts 9]).

One with a Christian world view essentially regards everything in the light of Christian faith. Or rather, one should. I have to say "should" because of the relentless and pervasive warfare we have in life to adopt other world views as our own. Secular forces in America have done a pretty good job of co-opting the world view of public education and media, so that if one attempts to interpret anything (fossils, age of the world, sanctity of life, purpose of mankind) in a Christian world view, one is met with a condescending grin at best. It was not always this way, and it has not reached a 100% saturation in the educational and media "worlds", but a non-Christian (and perhaps even anti-Christian) world view is very prevalent.

What, then, does it mean to have a Christian world view concerning technology? First, it means deciding whether or not the existence of technology is inherently sinful or not. If it is sinful, then the consequences of a consistent world view means not using any technology at all. While there are some who have come to some degree of this conclusion (such as the Amish), I maintain that it is not an automatic outcome of Biblical belief.

While we are commanded to be a separate people unto the Lord, the Christian disciple was never commanded to leave the world in order to do it. In fact, we are expressly told that we are not expected to depart from the world [John 17:15, I Corinthians 5:10, Titus 2:12]. While in this present world, we are expected, however, to keep ourselves unspotted from the world [John 17:14-17, Titus 2:12, James 1:27]. More can be said on this, and far better than I could attempt, but for now let's look at how this impacts our view of technology.

Excepting the Providence of God, technology is the craft of man. Being the craft of man, it must then of necessity bear the marks of its maker. Part of this is the fact that, due in no small part to the fall of man, no technology is perfect. The inherent limitations in man's intellect and imagination will forever prove an insurmountable wall around what can be accomplished. And, while this barrier may lie so far beyond what is possible today that it would boggle the average mind, the limits are nevertheless there. Mistakes can and will be made, and no technology can then be without fault. Any tool that is used must then be held suspect at some level.

Still, does this inherent limitation of imperfection then automatically merit labeling technology as "evil" or sinful? I do not believe so. Being error prone or limited does not in and of itself mean that it should not be used. Else, nothing would be usable given the inherent fallibility of man and his crafts. Added to this the precedent of godly (or at least, not-unrighteous) use of men's technology, and imperfection alone should not be the excluding factor.

Such examples of God honoring the use of the craft (i.e. technology) of man:

• Noah's Ark [Genesis 6:14-19]
• The Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat [Exodus 25:10-22]
• The tabernacle and its furnishings [Exodus 26, 27]
• Ships [Matthew 8:23, 14:13]
• Fishing Nets [Luke 5:4, John 21:6]

Perhaps these instances may be argued as special cases, and may be types and shadows of the true figures to come. Or perhaps the technology is trivial or extremely "inferior" to today's level of craft. They nevertheless demonstrate that God is not unwilling to use or honor the handiwork of men, as imperfect as it may be, when it is done for the proper reasons.

To be continued...
A Christian World View and Technology - Part II