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Technology in the Bible

24 bytes added, 04:16, 9 May 2010
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Moral neutrality
* Philip ministers to an Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot ([[Acts 8:26]] - [[Acts 8:40]])
===Moral neutrality?===
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). We as people 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 to which purpose we will offer ourselves.
The New Testament writers present a more non-violent attitude than the Old Testament, undermining any belief that undermines any concept of spreading God's kingdom should be imposed by military force.
* When Peter uses a sword to protect Jesus, Jesus rebukes him ([[Matthew 26:51]] - [[Matthew 26:53]], [[Luke 22:50]], [[John 18:10]]). (This seems a bit strange in Luke's account because he records Jesus as asking for two swords to be brought along -- [[Luke 22:36]] - [[Luke 22:38]].)
* Paul is clear that the weapons used by Christians are not the weapons of the world ([[2 Corinthians 10:3]] - [[2 Corinthians 10:5]]). We are to put on the spiritual rather than physical armour of God, and that includes only one offensive weapon -- "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" ([[Ephesians 6:13]] - [[Ephesians 6:18]]) and that is "sharper than any double-edged sword" ([[Hebrews 4:12]]).

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