13 Schizophrenic Impacts of Modern Tech (video)

Technology has always caused cultural angst.  The first time a farmer hitched a plow to a horse instead of hand-shoveling his field, someone had an anxiety attack.  In the early 1800’s, petitions were started against steam engines that were racing through the countryside at breakneck speeds of 15 m.p.h. Change has always been uncomfortable.  The more a new technology affects our day-to-day lives, the more it tends to produce a backlash born of unease, fear and resentment.

In the midst of such cultural upheaval, its tempting for Christians to spiritualize our discomfort.  You know:  it’s not just that I’m scared to get on one of these new-fangled aero-planes…it’s that such things are an affront to God.  If the Good Lord had meant us to fly, He would have given us wings!  But spiritualizing our nervousness or fear of change just makes Christians seem hopelessly old-fashioned and out of touch with contemporary culture.  More importantly, it tends to obscure or inhibit important discussion about real issues related to technological innovation.  Change isn’t necessarily bad…but it’s not always good, either.    All technological change is a mixed bag and having a thoughtful, discerning discussion about both the positive and negative impacts of technology is critical for Christians who want to be able to speak into their culture without being overtaken by it.  Keeping our voice in the marketplace requires a willingness to adapt to – and even adopt – certain positive impacts of technological changes…but having something to say requires an awareness – and even avoidance – of certain negative impacts of that very same technology.

It’s not always easy to find that informed middle ground, but it is what we are called to seek as the people of God.

So in the interest of helping Christians thoughtfully engage the culture in which we find ourselves, here’s some food for thought:

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