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On the page [[Biblical references to technology]], we have tried to catalogue and comment on specific verses that mention technology of any kind. That catalogue provides the raw data for the more thematic comments on this current page.
Although no definition of technology is offered here, it is worth noting that the term includes both physical tools and techniques.
There are no passages in the Bible that explicitly prescribe a Christian response to technology. Nevertheless, a close reading of the Bible can inform Christian attitudes in several ways:
In the end, there is no fundamental difference between how Christians should decide about the use of technology and how they should decide about most of life's questions. When there is no definitive Biblical statement on the topic, we apply core principles of Christian discipleship such as the call to stewardship over creation, the Great Commandments ([[Matthew 22:37]] - [[Matthew 22:40]]), a desire for holiness, a total reliance on God, a commitment to the community of faith, and an expectation that God will give us wisdom ([[James 1:5]]).
==Innovation==
Fundamental to the Biblical narrative is that God is innovative. God creates new things and acts in new ways. This is not just true of the Creation passages in Genesis, but reflected throughout the Old and New Testaments.
Even in the book of Revelation, God's gives people a new name ([[Revelation 2:17]], [[Revelation 3:12]]), there is a new Jerusalem ([[Revelation 3:12]], [[Revelation 21:2]]), a new song ([[Revelation 5:9]], [[Revelation 14:3]]), new heavens and new earth ([[Revelation 21:1]]), and a declaration that God is making all things new ([[Revelation 21:5]]). William Barclay points out (''The Daily Study Bible - The Revelation, vol 1'', p. 176) that "Greek has two words for ''new'', ''neos'', which means ''new in point of time'' but not necessairly in point of quality, and ''kainos'', which means ''new in point of quality''. ''Kainos'' describes a thing which has not only been recently produced but whose like has never existed before." It is the second of these words that is used in Revelation.
Whereas most of the comments in this article relate to physical ''tools'', in the Bible we also see an evolution of ''techniques'' -- new forms of government and law, methods of communication ([[Hebrews 1:1]]-[[Hebrews 1:2]]), approaches to ethics, and new mechanisms for salvation -- often actively promoted by God.
A significant aspect of being made in God's image is that humans share God's innovative nature. In our development and use of tools and techniques, we are co-creators with God.
== Metaphoric applications of technology ==
==Technology in relation to Redemption==
Prior to The Fall, the Bible does not mention of any tool. God created a world in which technology was not required. Food was readily at hand, natural shelter was provided, and health was assured. So is technology just the result of sin and if so, should Christian's avoid using it?
In [http://donteatthefruit.com/2009/11/four-questions-for-technology-from-the-biblical-story Four Questions for Technology from the Biblical Story] and [http://donteatthefruit.com/2009/07/from-the-garden-to-the-city-technology-in-the-story-of-redemptive From the Garden to the City: Technology in the Story of Redemption], John Dyer suggests that:
* All technology has the potential to be used for sin. Technology is inseparably tied to humanity’s rejection of God and God’s grace toward humanity in allowing us to continue. ('''Rebellion''')
* Technology is almost always designed to overcome an effect of the Fall. It, therefore, can function redemptively and yet simultaneously represent the inadequacy of our attempts to live without God. ('''Redemption''')
* When technology fails, rather than causing us sadness and grief, they offer us a chance to reorient our hope away from our technology and toward Christ’s return. So when you get a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Screen_of_Death blue screen of death ] or an iPhone lockup, rather than curse in disgust, it should be an opportunity to say, “Come, Lord Jesus, Come!” ('''Restoration''') ==Technology before The Flood==There have been numerous discoveries of pieces of technology that dates back to the time of [[Noah]] and before. These include:*a battery in [[Egypt]]*evidence of radio and telecommunication capabilities*evidence of world travel and advanced transportation None of these are mentioned in the Bible, but are not disproved by the Bible either.
== Musical instruments ==
== Metal refining ==
The first mention of metalwork in the Bible is quite early: [[Genesis 4:22]] describes Tubal-Cain as a forger of bronze and iron tools. Silver money is first mentioned in [[Genesis 20:16]] and gold jewellery in [[Genesis 24:22]]. These Similar references to refined metal and metallic objects are spread throughout the Bible. Such references imply the existence and acceptance of mining, refining, furnaces, and weighing.
[[1 Kings 7:46]] indicates that bronze was fashioned into many ornate shapes by casting it in clay moulds.
According to the story about the Tower of Babel ([[Genesis 11]]), God deliberately caused people to have multiple languages so we would not understand each other. Some may say that if God has imposed that restriction on us then we ought not work against it by developing better ways to communicate. But an approach with more Biblical support is one that parallels our response to the curses in [[Genesis 3]]. Although God says women will have pain in childbirth and men will have to toil hard to gather food, we do whatever we can to reduce that pain and toil. Correspondingly, it is completely in line with God's process of redemption that we seek to overcome barriers to communication. It's interesting that in the early Christian church, God used the opposite strategy from what he employed at Babel: empowering the apostles to speak ''multiple'' languages so that all people would understand the news of the risen Christ ([[Acts 2]]).
The first reference in the Bible to writing is in [[Exodus 17:14]], where God instructs Moses to write on a scroll so that the defeat of the Amalekites would be remembered. Moses also writes on stone -- the second copy of the Ten Commandments in [[Exodus 34:28]]. About 1400 years later, Zechariah uses a writing table tablet ([[Luke 1:63]]) and Paul requests Timothy to bring his scrolls and parchments ([[2 Timothy 4:13]]). Job wishes that his words could be written on a scroll or engraved so that they would endure forever ([[Job 19:23]] - [[Job 19:24]]).
Trumpets are used for communication, especially for signals during battle or to sound an alarm. Moses was specifically instructed to make two silver trumpets to call the community together in [[Numbers 10:1]] - [[Numbers 10:10]]. Paul makes reference to this type of signalling in [[1 Corinthians 14:8]] and [[1 Thessalonians 4:16]].
== Medicine ==
An important aspect of Jesus' mission was to heal the sick, and although he tended to do so by supernatural means, the Bible reflects a positive attitude to towards doctors and medical treatment. For example,
* Physicians and embalming, concepts that Joseph learnt from his time in Egypt ([[Genesis 50:2]], [[Genesis 50:26]])
* A poultice of figs is used to heal a boil ([[2 Kings 20:7]], [[Isaiah 38:21]])
* The use of a splint for a broken arm ([[Ezekiel 30:21]])
What doctors cannot heal, Jesus can! -- the women who had bleed for 12 years is a good example ([[Mark 5:26]]).
== Agriculture and biology ==
* Jesus turns water into wine, avoiding all that tedious growing and harvesting and brewing ([[John 2:1]] - [[John 2:10]])
* Jacob (which means "deceiver", and perhaps that has some relevance to the story) uses selective breeding to make his flock better than his father Laban's ([[Genesis 30:29]] - [[Genesis 30:43]])
* Grain storage facilities are used to minimse minimise the effects of a famine ([[Genesis 41:47]] - [[Genesis 41:49]])
* It is a law in Israel that land should lie fallow every seventh year ([[Exodus 23:10]] - [[Exodus 23:11]], [[Leviticus 25:1]] - [[Leviticus 25:7]])
* Boats and fishing nets (e.g. [[Luke 5:1]] - [[Luke 5:11]])
* God will make Israel into a threshing-sledge to thresh, crush and winnow their enemies ([[Isaiah 41:15]])
* A winowing winnowing fork is used metaphorically for sorting people ([[Luke 3:17]])
* If you put your hand to the plough, don't look back ([[Luke 9:62]])
* The rich fool who builds big barns to store his wealth but then dies ([[Luke 12:16]] - [[Luke 12:21]])
* Putting bits in horses mouths ([[James 3:3]])
The Old Testament also provides an intersting not interesting note about early science. Solomon's wisdom was not only in the fields of politics, leadership, literature, spirituality etc: he was also famed for his scientific work in botany and zoology ([[1 Kings 4:33]])
As with other areas of technology, the Biblical authors portray an acceptance of agricultural technology, and a respect for those who use that technology. In [[Luke 5]] for instance, Jesus honours the work of Simon and other fishermen, and in several incidents recorded in the Gospels he is happy to make use of boats for his own purposes. On the other hand, Jesus calls the fishermen to leave their technology in order to follow him. Nets and boats are not enough for true life: sometimes not even enough to catch fish! You also need knowledge and, by implication, spiritual insight.
In a passage encouraging generosity, Paul notes that it is God who provides both seed to the sower and bread for food ([[2 Corinthians 9:10]]). The first is fairly obvious: seeds are part of the natural order whose creator is God, and for that we should give thanks. But what is less obvious is that God is the provider of bread as well. Although people harvest the grain, process it into flour and cook it to make bread, the grain, the wood for the fire, the iron for the baking tray, and our creative ingenuity were all provided by God. Regardless of the role we play as co-creators, and regardless of the control we can impose over nature using our technology, in the final analysis, all things come from God.
== Military technology ==
== Idolatry ==
Perhaps the most significant risk of technology is that by allowing some degree of control over our environment, technology can lead us to assume that we have no need for God. That leads to idolatry and brings a new kind of enslavement.
Old Testament warnings against idolatry frequently include comments on the technological origin of idols. For instance, in the incident when Israel grew impatient waiting for Moses and started to worship a Golden Calf, it is clear that Aaron gathered gold jewellery, melted it, cast it into the shape of a calf, and fashioned it with a tool ([[Exodus 32:2]] - [[Exodus 32:4]]). When confronted by Moses, however, Aaron denies the use of tools ([[Exodus 32:24]]). This may imply a belief that what occurs naturally is good, but that manufactured goods are not. But more likely, it is simply a denial of responsibility, like a child's "I didn't touch it, it just broke".
[[Psalm 115:2]] - [[Psalm 115:8]] describes the futility of worshipping idols of silver and gold, made by human hands. In the modern world we rarely see this kind of superstitious approach to idols, and yet passages like this remain powerful as commentary on a materialist worldview. The materialist atheist cannot see God in the world and asks us where he is, blind to the fact that God is sovereign. They can manufacture all manner of goods, even computers and robots. But such creations are a poor imitation, not really seeing or speaking or hearing or smelling. Of course, in this age, the manufactured goods are far more sophisticated than the idols of old, and computers can indeed perceive and respond to the environment. Nevertheless, they are mere machines, lacking the inner life of humans. Those who believe otherwise end up suggesting that we too are mere machines: perfectly fulfilling the prediction in [[Psalm 115:8]]. And even if they were to succeed in making machines with human powers, they would be no closer to understanding the God who made heaven and earth nor being open to God's blessing ([[Psalm 115:15]]).
Isaiah adds to this by explicitly posing the question of whether any idol could be greater than God ([[Isaiah 44:6]] - [[Isaiah 44:20]]). Yahweh is the first, last and only God. A blacksmith or a carpenter may fashion an idol, but so what? The blacksmith still gets hungry, tired and thirsty like anyone else. The carpenter uses the same wood as his carved idol for kindling a fire to cook on! Can't he see that the wooden idol he created is a lie? (A sub-text here is that craftsmen and technologists should have a sense of humility about their work.)
Jeremiah uses a humorous picture to say much the same as Isaiah: A craftsman shapes an idol with a chisel, adorns it with silver and secures it with a nail to stop it falling over -- but it is no more powerful than a scarecrow in a melon patch! ([[Jeremiah 10:3]] - [[Jeremiah 10:5]]). Furthermore, every goldsmith should be shamed but their idols: their images are frauds; worthless objects of mockery ([[Jeremiah 10:14]]), as is everything that seeks to displace God from the centre of our worship.
== Measurement ==
Measurement is an essential component of technological development and requires its own forms of technology.
The Old Testament frequently warns against dishonest instruments or standards of measurement ([[Leviticus 19:35]] - [[Leviticus 19:36]], [[Deuteronomy 25:13]] - [[Deuteronomy 25:16]], [[Proverbs 11:1]], [[Proverbs 20:10]], [[Proverbs 20:23]], [[Amos 8:5]], [[Micah 6:11]]). Fair measurement is a pre-requisite for a just economy.
Measuring lines and plumb lines are mentioned in both literal and figurative contexts (e.g. [[2 Kings 21:13]], [[Isaiah 28:17]], [[Amos 7:7]] - [[Amos 7:8]], [[Revelation 11:1]])
Nevertheless, the Bible accepts that accidents will happen with technology ([[Luke 13Ecclesiastes 10:49]]) and that nobody may be at fault. One purpose of the designated "cities of refuge" was so that people could escape retribution for such accidents. [[Deuteronomy 19:5]] describes, as an example, how an axe head might fly off and kill someone. As long as there is no malice in the act, the user of technology is not to blame for unintended negative side-effects.
We might imagine that our money makes us impregnable like a well-built castle ([[Proverbs 18:10]] - [[Proverbs 18:11]]) or that military superiority will protect us ([[Isaiah 31:1]]), but in the end security only comes from trusting God. Israel often found that by trusting God they could overcome enemies who had superior technology: walled cities ([[Deuteronomy 3:4]] - [[Deuteronomy 3:6]]), chariots ([[Judges 4:13]] - [[Judges 4:16]]) and giants with swords ([[1 Samuel 17]]).
The Lord has a day planned when all human arrogance -- lofty towers, fortified walls, trading ships, idols or silver and gold -- will be be brought low ([[Isaiah 2:12]] - [[Isaiah 2:22]]). Although this is a condemnation of arrogance rather than of technology, how often does humanity show its arrogance by seeking power and control through technology? In the end, humans are an insubstantial breath (v22).
There should be no doubt that God is greater than any technology. Everything was created by the power of God's Word. That divine Word is sharper than any double-edged sword ([[Hebrews 4:12]]) and provides the cornerstone of our faith. "Some trust in chariots [i.e. human technology] and some in horses [i.e. the natural world], but we trust in the name of the Lord our God" ([[Psalm 20:7]]).
{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Christianity and technology]]