Techno-Discipleship -or- Are you friends with Jesus on Facebook?

On several occasions, Jesus preached about “this sinful generation.”

It was a harsh judgement on the behavior of his contemporaries.

Many people in our churches love to pick up on this theme--in many different ways.

In the last few weeks, however, I have heard our youngest generations being casted as the “sinful generations.”  And many believe that technology is to blame.

Recently at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, we have been discussing the effect of technology and social media on morality and ethics in an Christian education series call “What would Jesus Tweet?”

The concern among many is that Facebook, cell phones, iPads and the internet are destroying the moral fabric of our society and inhibiting relationship everywhere.

Etiquette is considered to be among the biggest casualties of our mobile technology.

Cell phones in the car, at school, in church, at the theatre, in the checkout line at stores...at the dinner table.  No one seems to pay attention to, no one seems to care about the living, breathing entities around them.

Furthermore, instead of seeking face-to-face contact, instead of personalizing communication in letters (or even talking on the phone) “young people” are texting, g-chating and Facebooking--hiding behind digital lines, keeping distance from one another.  By replacing faces with Facebook, the allegation goes, we are becoming more inhuman.

I myself am far from being technologically advanced.  And yet, there are times when I find myself shooting off a quick text message while my family or friends are trying to talk to me.  There are times when I would rather just send a text instead of having a conversation in real time--and sometimes it leads to rather egregious misunderstandings. 

But is it our fault?

True, every individual has the responsibility to approach all things in life in moderation.  As soon as our tools craft our lives, as soon as we become the tools of technology, something has gone horribly awry.  A recent study has shown that social media and mobile technology are more addictive than drugs and cigarettes.  I check my email and Facebook several times each day.  I carry my cell phone with me constantly.  And since I started blogging, I have found that I spend a lot of time writing and tending my blog page.  Hi, my name is Ryan, and I am addicted to social media.

And yet...

We must not forget that our youngest generations did not mold the world to include things such as computers, iPods, smart phones and the internet.  These things have been developing for decades now.  And why?  To feed the desire of the whole world, particularly working generations and the generations that are in power; to feed the need for instant information.  We, especially in America, have long felt it necessary to know first, to have first and to react first.  Knowledge is power, at least that is what I was told in school and by G.I. Joe, and knowledge requires raw data--the more the better.

It takes time and work to foster strong relationships--whether one is using social media or not.  Young people have to fight a fast and digitized culture at every turn.  But our youth did not create these circumstances and challenges.  Adults have created the obstacles.  Young people are forced to adapt...and they have adapted well.  

In my opinion, our young generations have done a good job of holding fast to humanity even as our technocratic world foists a plethora of toys and tools on them.  Young people get that relationships are important, we get that face-to-face contact is right and salutary, a duty and a joy.  But there is no turning back the clock.  Technology and social media are a reality.  And young people are the ones who have the most difficult task of integrating human sociability and social media.  And adults are not helpful when they over criticize the job young people are doing.  

Dear Reader, here is the point...I implore you to consider this proposition:

Technology is a natural part of human evolution, and it is the outcome of God’s gift of creativity to humankind.

When Adam was cast out of Eden, he was given the task of farming the land for food.  Our technology is a tool for us to fulfill God’s task.

When Eve was cast out of Eden, she was given the task of laboring in childbirth.  Medical technology is a tool for us to fulfill God’s task.

From the beginning, before the Fall, Eve and Adam were given the responsibility of having dominion over all of the earth and every living thing in it.  Our technology is an important part of our being able to fulfill that task of stewardship.

We were created technological beings.  We were created with the capacity to learn and to grow.  We were created with the capacity to make tools and to invent.

Yes, these inventions, at times, do more to harm the earth (industrialization) and society (social media).  But going back to a “simpler” society is not an option.  The only way is forward.  Better techniques and technologies that do not harm the environment.  More intentional ways of building relationships--using social media as good tools.

God has given humanity the means, power and responsibility to shape the world.  We have created a world with internet and smart-phones and data plans.  These things are not inherently evil or destructive.  Instead, they can be used to deepen human relationships, to deepen our relationship with God.  Our technology can help us find the abundant life that God has promised us.  And our youngest generations have had an awesome responsibility placed on them to figure out how.  Let’s help them figure it out.

We can find the Holy Spirit in technology.  In technology we can grow closer to God.  It is just a matter of finding God in the midst of it all...perhaps we can start with a google search?