Christians and Technology
"Christians own and use technologies in ways that are virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the culture," notes the Barna Group's David Kinnaman in a recent article in the United Methodist Church's Interpreter magazine. This means that people in your church are very likely to be actively participating in these broader tech trends [and that] your ability to minister with relevance will be affected by how you and your church embrace technology."
The writer of these words has written an excellent article about the pros and cons (mostly pros) of enhancing ministry through the use of technology. The reality of the matter is that anyone under 40 uses technology (blackberries, laptops, email, IM etc.) as a matter of course in their work and personal lives. The younger the person, the more technology dependent they are.
The church must find ways of using this technology effectively to reach a generation that does not necessarily need face to face contact in order to stay connected. While this may be a radical thought for those over 40 technology has changed our way of relating. The more past 40 you are the more foreign it would seem that a voicemail, email or text message is the equivalent to sitting down and having a cup of coffee.
One valuable axiom I have gleaned in my research of technology use in ministry is this; high tech must result in high touch. In other words, a determination must be made that significant interaction has occured regardless of the medium. For one person a text message from their pastor is a day brightner, while for another it may seem impersonal. Discerning how to use the technology is a must. There is no substitute for prayer and walking in the Spirit no matter what age we live in and what technology we have available.
Personally, I like the new technology. At my age it seems that just about the time I get used to one technology the technology changes. For example, among teenagers email is the equivalent of snailmail because they all have cell phone and text message each other all day long. But if it helps me to stay in touch with people so that I can minister to them more effectively it is worth the effort of adopting it.
The writer of these words has written an excellent article about the pros and cons (mostly pros) of enhancing ministry through the use of technology. The reality of the matter is that anyone under 40 uses technology (blackberries, laptops, email, IM etc.) as a matter of course in their work and personal lives. The younger the person, the more technology dependent they are.
The church must find ways of using this technology effectively to reach a generation that does not necessarily need face to face contact in order to stay connected. While this may be a radical thought for those over 40 technology has changed our way of relating. The more past 40 you are the more foreign it would seem that a voicemail, email or text message is the equivalent to sitting down and having a cup of coffee.
One valuable axiom I have gleaned in my research of technology use in ministry is this; high tech must result in high touch. In other words, a determination must be made that significant interaction has occured regardless of the medium. For one person a text message from their pastor is a day brightner, while for another it may seem impersonal. Discerning how to use the technology is a must. There is no substitute for prayer and walking in the Spirit no matter what age we live in and what technology we have available.
Personally, I like the new technology. At my age it seems that just about the time I get used to one technology the technology changes. For example, among teenagers email is the equivalent of snailmail because they all have cell phone and text message each other all day long. But if it helps me to stay in touch with people so that I can minister to them more effectively it is worth the effort of adopting it.
posted by jawbone at
10:09 AM
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