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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 ([[FileRevelation 3:CrappyWhore12]], [[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.jpgIn our development and use of tools and techniques, we are co-creators with God. == Metaphoric applications of technology == Many verses in the Bible uses some type of technology as a metaphor for something more spiritual. Examples include:* Winnowing out the wicked ([[Proverbs 20:23]], [[Luke 3:17]])* Job says his days go past as fast as a weaver's shuttle ([[Job 7:6]])* God is a shield around us ([[Psalm 3:3]]and many other places)MAKE SOAP FROM KIKES!!!!!! GLORY TO THE HOLOCAUST!! VANDALISM FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!* God's word is a lamp ([[Psalm 119:105]]) and sharper than any double-edged sword ([[Hebrews 4:12]])* God as refiner ([[Isaiah 1:25]], [[Isaiah 48:10]], [[Malachi 3:2]], [[Zechariah 13:9]])* Jeremiah was as strong as a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall ([[Jeremiah 1:18]])* God uses Israel to 'test the metal' of other nations ([[Jeremiah 6:27]]ff)* The tongue is like a bow, shooting lies ([[Jeremiah 9:3]], [[Jeremiah 9:8]])* Paul instructs us to put on the armour of God ([[Ephesians 6:13]]ff)* Jeremiah is like a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall ([[Jeremiah 1:18]])* God's heart laments for Moab like a flute ([[Jeremiah 48:36]])* God's arrows can discipline us ([[Psalm 38:2]]), even the deadly arrow of famine ([[Ezekiel 5:16]])* A [[yoke]] symbolises a burden or oppression or a bond, often in the context of God relieving that burden (e.g. [[Genesis 27:40]], [[Exodus 6:6]], [[Leviticus 26:13]], [[1 Kings 12:3]]ff, [[Psalm 106:28]], [[Matthew 11:28]], [[2 Corinthians 6:14]], [[Galatians 5:1]])* The hearts of unrepentant Israel are like hot ovens, fired by intrigue, lust, wine and passion ([[Hosea 7:4]] - [[Hosea 7:7]])* A plumb-line provides a standard reference point against which our conduct can be judged ([[Amos 7:7]] - [[Amos 7:8]], [[Isaiah 28:17]])* Our bodies are like clay jars ([[2 Corinthians 4:7]]) and like tents ([[2 Corinthians 5:1]])* The Laodiceans are advised to buy salve for their eyes ([[Revelation 3:18]]) Jesus makes powerful metaphoric use of technology to draw his audience from something that they know well towards some new spiritual concept. This is both great communication and tacit approval for the use of technology. Some examples are: * The kingdom of God is like a fishing net ([[Matthew 13:47]])* Don't hide a lamp under a bowl ([[Mark 4:21]], [[Luke 8:16]], [[Luke 11:33]])* Vineyards and wine-presses (e.g. [[Mark 12:1]]) The frequency of metaphoric references indicates a broad acceptance among the Biblical writers of the technologies of their time. If the writers were in any way opposed to technology, we could expect them to avoid these types of metaphors, or to use technological metaphors dismissively or scornfully. But none of that is evident.
== God's use of technology ==
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]].
