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== Christians should not act as though technology developed by "us" is any better, either technically or morally, than that developed by other cultures. The Bible contains several examples of God's people appropriate approving of and appropriating technology from other cultures ==:
various
* 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]])
* 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]])
===Walls===
Many of the cities in Biblical times were encircled by walls. When the Israelites spies returned from Canaan, they reported "walls up to the sky" ([[Deuteronomy 1:28]]). The people were daunted, but God empowered them to destroy all 60 walled cities in Bashan alone ([[Deuteronomy 3:4]] - [[Deuteronomy 3:5]]). Putting aside the problematic theme of such a violent God, one lesson from this is that God's people need not fear the technology of their enemies. That point is made explicit in [[Deuteronomy 20:1]].
The Israelites themselves spend a lot of time constructing walls, for example when they returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon -- that's one of the main themes of [[Ezra]] and [[Nehemiah]].
Other references to construction include:
* [[Exodus 5]] - While in Egypt, the Israelites were given a quota on brick making([[Exodus 5]])* Hezekiah built a tunnel to bring water into city ([[2 Kings 20:20]], [[2 Chronicles 32:30]] - Hezekiah )* Solomon built a tunnel houses, and reservoirs to bring water into city.* his gardens ([[Ecclesiastes 2:4]] - [[Ecclesiastes 2:6]] - Solomon built houses, and reservoirs to water his gardens), but realised that it was meaningless (v11[[Ecclesiastes 2:11]]).
== God's people appropriate technology from other cultures ==
* The process of embalming was used by the Israelites as a result of Joseph's exposure to Egyptian practice ([[Genesis 50:2]], [[Genesis 50:26]])
* Solomon imports a foreign craftsman to assist in the building of the Temple ([[1 Kings 7:13]] - [[1 Kings 7:14]], [[2 Chronicales 2:13]])
* Solomon imported chariots from Egypt and resold them to other nations ([[2 Chronicles 1:17]])
== Communication 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 ([[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]].
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 doctors and medical treatment. For example,
* [[Genesis 50:2]] -- mentions physicians Physicians and embalming, probably concepts that Joseph learnt from his time in Egypt* ([[Genesis 50:2 Kings 20:7]] and , [[Isaiah 38Genesis 50:2126]] -- a )* A poultice of figs is used to heal a boil* ([[2 Kings 20:7]], [[Ezekiel 30Isaiah 38:21]] -- the )* The use of a splint for a broken arm* ([[Luke 10Ezekiel 30:3421]] -- the )* The Good Samaritan used bandages, oil and wine to treat the victim of a mugging([[Luke 10:34]])* Jesus likens himself to a doctor ([[Colossians 4Luke 5:1431]] -- )* Paul refers to Luke as the beloved physician* ([[1 Timothy 5Colossians 4:2314]] -- )* Paul advises Timothy to "use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses" * ([[Revelation 31 Timothy 5:1823]] -- )* God recommends that the Laodiceans buy salve to put on their eyes([[Revelation 3:18]])
The Biblical view, however, is that medical technology and techniques are not the whole story.
* [[2 Chronicles 16:12]] -- King Asa is criticised for not praying about his illness, but only seeking the advice of doctors.* ([[Jeremiah 82 Chronicles 16:2212]] -- )* Surely there are doctors and medicine in Gilead, but none of them can heal the spiritual/emotional wounds of Israel.([[Jeremiah 8:22]])
What doctors cannot heal, Jesus can! -- the women who had bleed for 12 years is a good example ([[Mark 5:26]]).
