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Many verses throughout the Bible assume a degree of technology and technique: that is, the existence of tools and the processes for their manufacture and use. Common examples include [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=iron iron], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=bronze bronze], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=gold gold], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=silver silver], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=refine refine], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=metal metal], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=tool tool], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=instrument instrument], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=wheel wheel], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=cook cook], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=wine wine], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=craft craft], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=build build], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=cloth cloth], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=city city], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=shield shield], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=helmet helmet], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=armor armor], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=arrow arrow], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=sword sword], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=weapon weapon] [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=spear spear], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=chariot chariot], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=boat boat], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=ship ship], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=door door]. Each of these imply that people created technologies to augment their abilities, to control the environment, to improve their lives, to communicate, etc.
* The altar is made from the earth – natural materials, not manufactured.
* Should be unadorned: no symbols or images that might detract from the worship of God alone, and perhaps lead to superstition
* Jesus is a cut stone, formed not by human hands ([[Daniel 2:34]], [[Daniel 2:44]] - [Daniel 2:45]]). On the other hand there was nothing amazingly attractive about him ([[Isaiah 53:2]]) and he was rejected by the builders ([[Psalm 118:20]], [[Luke 20:17]]).
See also [[Deuteronomy 27:5]].
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| [[Psalm 118:22]]
[[Luke 20:17]]
| "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone."
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| [[Matthew 7:24]] - [[Matthew 7:27]]
[[Luke 6:46]] - [[Luke 6:49]]
| Wise and foolish builders
| An engineering metaphor. Every wise builder understands the need for a solid foundation, just as every software engineer needs a solid development platform, every scientist needs a well-formed experimental method, every mathematician relies on the axioms of set theory, every mobile phone carrier needs a solid infrastructure, etc. Do we build our worldview with the same attention to the foundation?
| [[Matthew 9:16]] - [[Matthew 9:17]]
[[Mark 2:21]] - [[Mark 2:22]]
[[Luke 5:36]] - [[Luke 5:39]]
| New cloth to patch old clothes; new wine in old wineskins.
| I don't know if there is any spiritual lesson here about technology, but the principle is certainly still true: don't try putting new software onto an old computer!
| The disciples are sent out, without money or luggage or shoes or walking stick.
| Christians do not ''need'' technology or any other baggage to carry out God's work. Like the birds and the lilies in [[Matthew 6:26]] - [[Matthew 6:30]], all we need is supplied by God. That does not mean that accessories such as technology are not helpful: just not necessary.
And note that later on, [[Luke 22:36]] records Jesus telling his disciples that they should now take money and a bag and even a sword.
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| [[Matthew 26:51]] - [[Matthew 26:53]]
[[Luke 22:50]]
| During Jesus' arrest, one of his companions cuts of someone's ear with a sword, but Jesus rebukes the use of the sword.
| Like the comment on Matthew 10:9 (above), Jesus does not need technology to achieve his goal.
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| [[Mark 4:21]]
[[Luke 8:16]], [[Luke 11:33]]
| Metaphor: you don't put a lamp under a bowl.
| Jesus draws on his audience's knowledge of common technology. Here and elsewhere he seems happy to accept our attempts to make life easier via technology. It is also testament to his communication ability that he makes such effective use of concepts with which his audience is familiar to draw them towards a new idea.
| No building (or anything else built by people) is as magnificent or as sturdy as God. From [[John 2:19]] we see that it is only the Temple of Jesus' body that can be destroyed and yet remake itself.
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| [[Luke 1:63]]
| Zechariah uses a writing tablet
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| [[Luke 2:1]]
| Roman census
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| [[Luke 2:7]], [[Luke 2:16]]
| Manger
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| [[Luke 3:17]]
| Winnowing fork used metaphorically for sorting wheat from chaff
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| [[Luke 5:1]]-[[Luke 5:11]]
| Boats and fishing nets
| Jesus honours the work of Simon and other fishermen, but calls them to leave their technology in order to follow him. Jesus is happy to make use of boats for his own purpose of teaching. Jesus also shows that nets and boats are not enough: not even enough to catch fish -- you also need knowledge and, by implication, spiritual insight.
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| [[Luke 5:31]]
| Jesus likens himself to a doctor.
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| [[Luke 9:62]]
| If you put your hand to the plough, don't look back.
See also [[Luke 14:28]] - [[Luke 14:30]] about the need to plan before building a tower.
| Don't start working for God if you aren't committed to the long haul.
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| [[Luke 12:16]] - [[Luke 12:21]]
| The rich fool who builds big barns to store his wealth but then dies
| A lesson in priorities: spiritual wisdom over wealth. But also a comment that technology (barns) cannot satisfy life's real needs.
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| [[Luke 12:35]]
| Keep your lamps burning
| Metaphor for being alert and prepared. But also an acceptance that it is quite appropriate to use artificial light sources. Thus nothing earth-shattering, but it is one of many examples where God accepts and even commends the use of technology. God does not expect us to just take the world as it is, but encourages us to create technologies to help us.
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| [[Luke 13:4]]
| A building accident causes 18 to die, but it is not because those people were evil.
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