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One of Perhaps the pitfalls most significant risk of technology is that it by allowing some degree of control over our environment, technology can draw our sight away from God and in the end makes lead us think to assume that we can do without have no need for God. That leads to idolatry and brings a new kind of enslavement.
Honest measures: Jesus also makes it clear that the ''victims'' of technological accidents are not to blame, as though the accident was punishment for their personal sin ([[Leviticus 19Luke 13:354]]).
== Trust God rather than People in positions of power have additional responsibilities in their use of technology ==:
In many waysAs technology advances, the temptation to believe that we can solve all our problems via technology grows stronger, and the perceived need to trust God diminishes. The tendency to overstate our independence from God is inadequate. * evident from as early as [[Luke 12:16Genesis 11]] - [[Luke 12:21]]* .., when humanity sought to "make a name for ourselves" by building a city and a tower that reached to heaven.
==Technology before In good times, it becomes easy to fool ourselves into thinking that we achieved technological Utopia by our own cleverness. [[Deuteronomy 6:10]] - [[Deuteronomy 6:12]] and after The Fall==[[Deuteronomy 8:10]] - [[Deuteronomy 8:14]] warn against forgetting the Lord in such times of prosperity. Perhaps more than ever, humanity in the 21st century thinks that our technological creations are making a perfect life for us. But in reality, we accept something far inferior to the abundant life that God intended. This is exactly what God said of the Israelites in [[Jeremiah 2:13]] -- God offers a spring of living water, but we are content with broken cisterns of our own creation.
Prior As Job tells his friends ([[Job 28]]), our many achievements do not lead to The Fallreal wisdom. Humanity mines for silver and iron, refines gold and copper, turns dark into light, digs deep for sapphires, tunnels through rocks, and explores the sources of rivers (vv1-11). But do we find wisdom (v12, v13, v20)? It cannot be bought (vv15-19) and it is hidden from the Bible does not mention eyes of any toolevery living thing (v21). "God created a world in which technology was not requiredunderstands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells" (v23). Food was readily at hand, natural shelter was provided"The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and health was assuredto shun evil is understanding" (v28).
Added section on innovation
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 ==
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]].
The same materials can have different technological applications. Indeed, the same technology can be used for both war and peace, for good and for evil. For example, the prophets Isaiah and Micah both looked to a future peace in which people will beat their swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks ([[Isaiah 2:4]], [[Micah 4:3]]). On the other hand Joel saw a time when the reverse would be needed ([[Joel 3:10]]).
Paul refers to our bodies as weapons that can either be instruments of wickedness or of righteousness ([[Romans 6:13]], see Vine's ''Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words'' on the interpretation of "instruments" as weapons). People are like tools that, in the cosmic war, are used to advance one side or the other. Our bodies, as technology, are not neutral, nor mindlessly forced into service: Paul calls us to choose the purpose to which purpose we will offer ourselves. Paul repeats a similar message in [[2 Timothy 2:20]] - [[2 Timothy 2:21]]. It is unimportant whether we are made from gold and silver, or from mere wood and clay. In either case we can choose to become an instrument for either noble or ignoble purposes.
The New Testament writers present a more non-violent attitude than the Old Testament, undermining any belief that God's kingdom should be imposed by military force.
== Idolatry ==
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".
== Responsibility ==
Tools are subservient to their user: an axe cannot raise itself above the one who swings it ([[Isaiah 10:15]]). In this context, God is wielding Assyria as a weapon against Israel and it is inappropriate for Assyria -- as the tool -- to think that they acted independently. A similar point is made in several places (e.g. [[Isaiah 29:16]], [[Isaiah 45:9]], [[Deuteronomy 22Romans 9:821]]) about the relationship between a clay pot and the potter. As a more general saying, however, this verse points out that no technology is greater than it's wielder, but merely a tool in the wielder's hand. (As a side note, Jacques Ellul has argued that technology in the modern world has taken on a substantially different mode of operation in which human control plays virtually no part.)
Nevertheless, the Bible accepts that accidents will happen with technology ([[Ecclesiastes 10:9]]) 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.
On the other hand, we cannot simply divorce ourselves from the damage that technology may do. Israel's first OH&S policy is recorded in [[Luke 13Deuteronomy 22:48]]: people should build a railing around their roof to prevent anyone from falling off. From this verse and [[Leviticus 19:16]], we could infer a general principle that people have a responsibility to pre-empt technological dangers. Modern legal interpretations of negligence and duty of care reflect the same idea.
* Tower of Babel The responsibility to use measuring instruments and standards fairly ([[Genesis 11Leviticus 19:35]]* - [[Exodus 20Leviticus 19:436]]* , [[Deuteronomy 625:1013]] ff, - [[Deuteronomy 825:1016]] ff* , [[Job 28Proverbs 11:1]]* , [[Psalm Proverbs 20:710]]* , [[Proverbs 1820:1023]] f* , [[Isaiah 31Amos 8:15]]* , [[Jeremiah 2Micah 6:1311]])* The responsibility to not deprive others of the technology they require to make a living. For instance, [[John 10Deuteronomy 24:16]] - [[John 10:13]] Consider technology playing the role of thief in this parable. Technology cares nothing for the sheep. People who look points out that one should not take someone's millstone as security for a technological shortcut into paradise will be disappointeddebt.
== Trust God is greater rather than any technology == I guess that is true by definition since God is the creator of all there is, but here are a few specific examples: * [[Hebrews 4:12]] God's word is sharper than any double-edged sword
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]]
