Technology and Worship

Introduction

Technology is not a new thing, though, by its very nature, it always feels new.

Some are smitten by every advance of technology and never see any harm.

Others are annoyed by every advance and rarely see the value.

The last couple of years have caused lots of questions about the value and harm of technology as it interacts with our worship to God.

Are there lines to be drawn over which we should not step? If so, how do we discover them? Etc.

A Defense of Technology

Any element between you and something you are doing is technology (Gen. 2:15; 3:17-19; 4:22)

Every advance is simply a more complex version of what came before it.

Morally, if we can justify using a stick to dig dirt, we can justify the modern marvels that plow entire fields in two passes.

Technology doesn’t educate us about its usage (Job 28:1-12).

God commanded the usage of “modern” technology to record God’s word (Ex. 34:27).

Technology has often been used to further advance the spread of God’s word.

The Value of Presence

There is an incompleteness to distanced communication (2 Jn. 12; 3 Jn. 13-14).

There are purposes in our worship that cannot be completely accomplished over distance (Eph. 5:19).

Together is part of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:33).

There are elements involved in gathering that are not tangible (Heb. 10:24-25).

Physical greeting is considered essential (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Pet. 5:14).

Trade-Offs

Distance is sometimes unavoidable (2 Jn. 12; 3 Jn. 13-14).

Blessings can be curses (Deut. 8:11-14; Jas. 3:5-6).

Some may avoid technology because of the dangers (Jer. 35:8-10).

In any evaluation, we need to think clearly about all of the concerns.

Conclusion