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Christianity Today, May, 2009 |

From the Printing Press to the iPhone

Shane Hipps urges Christians to discern the technology spirits.

Interview by Mark Galli | posted 5/06/2009 09:55AM

Shane Hipps was a former strategic planner in advertising, and is now a Mennonite pastor. In both vocations, he has learned a great deal about how technology quietly shapes people, for good and for ill. ...

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John Murdock (republicantreehugger.blogspot.com)

Posted: May 12, 2009 4:58 PM

Lots of good stuff here. Those interested in the impact of technology would do well to read Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death. If a work from 1985 can be called prophetic, this is it. The final answer is somewhat disturbing, though. Calling technology as inevitable as the winds and tides buys into a view of "progress" that can be at odds with eternal truths. Frankly, there are some technologies that we should indeed oppose, not just "understand." One of Russell Kirk's canons was a "recognition that change and reform are not identical, and that innovation is a devouring conflagration more often than it is a torch of progress." In short, perhaps we'd all be better off without our cell phones (and in-vitro clinics, and the internet, and atomic bombs . . . ). It is indeed difficult to put the genie back in the bottle, but that doesn't mean we don't pay more attention to the next genie trying to squeeze his way out of the lamp. Perhaps we even stick a cork in it.

GardenGirl

Posted: May 11, 2009 8:39 PM


Not an enlightening article, mostly hot air. The reader response that stated "Technology is a tool, not a way of life..." had it right. Technology IS a tool that God is using to pouring out his goodness and his spirit all over this world in amazing ways, in places that human bodies cannot go, but thoughts and ideas can. God is taking back the airwaves over this planet, through his people.

Jim	Posted: May 11, 2009 12:07 PM

Technology has helped western "pastors" (and "christians" in general) mostly in negative ways though. 1) They spend their time watching tv instead of praying 2) They download their sermons from the internet rather then hearing from God (It's kind of hard to hear from God when you are so busy watching tv) 3) Close to 40% of "pastors" and 70% of "christians" use the internet to view porn (1 Cor 6:9-10) www.fleebabylon.com

Matt	Posted: May 08, 2009 10:56 PM

The thing that is key in understanding technology is how utterly isolating it is. People are so plugged in all around me that they don't realize other people are even in the same room. Church is about community, so care is needed that the technological inclination to be independently mobile and not rely on others is a lie that we need to resist. We were created for community and that really can only happen person to person.

AdamT

Posted: May 08, 2009 9:49 AM

Technology is a tool. So had this article existed a "really" long time ago - The interview would have read that we should hesitate to pick up a hammer because it makes the family house-building fellowship shorter and therefore adds an element of de-structuralization to the family. The author advocates a wariness of new tools, but I believe that we should jump on opportunity. The history of the protestant church is in great part an answer to the question, "How do we remain relevant to our current time?" I mean - after all - surely we all saw the irony to reading a caution against technology on a blog. I think we should pick up the hammer without delay, learn how to use it, and then ask God where to drive the nail.

homebuilding

Posted: May 07, 2009 10:21 PM


The old hymn says it best: Rich in things....... and poor in soul HBG PS the author raises VERY legitimate questions about what we have accepted as normal and "needed," pointing out clearly that many will work very hard to justify the status quo--with no regard for what has been lost in our worship of things, progress, and efficiency.

pete Benson, editor UNITYINCHRIST.COM

Posted: May 07, 2009 7:05 AM

Over the period encompassed by the ongoing Church Age, from Pentecost 31AD to present, the body of Christ has engaged new technology to spread the Gospel of Christ. First, the four Gospels were written, hand-written in an international language understood by all in the Roman Empire, Greek. Then Guttenburg invented the printing press, and Bibles went everywhere around the world! Now in the early 20th century with the invention of radio, Christian radio came into being. In the late 1960s I became a believer as a result of listening to Christian radio, whose program had started as early as 1934. Now the Internet spreads the Gospel of Salvation and an immense volume of Christian material, making it readily available in both open and closed societies. Like everyone man invents, technology can be used for good or evil, for war or peace. The body of Christ must embrace the tools technology gives us to continue to promote the Gospel of Salvation until the Job Jesus gave us is finished.

Simon Travers

Posted: May 07, 2009 4:42 AM


On the one hand, yes, technology can be used to depersonalise and alienate, locking us all up in little virtual boxes. Text, like this text, is no substitute for conversation. On the other hand, who is surprised when human beings behave like human beings on facebook or twitter or wherever. Ultimately, it's not the technology that's the problem, it's the fallen nature of the operators.

MonkeyBoy

Posted: May 06, 2009 6:26 PM


One could argue that the printing press destroyed much of the church in the time of its introduction. Before the press, Bibles were rare and costly and one had to go to a church to hear one being read from. After individual people could own bibles and read them at home and no-longer was church to only way to receive the word.

Graham UK

Posted: May 06, 2009 4:25 PM


Good discipline is at the heart of good living. Technology is a tool NOT a way of life; if it becomes an obsessive daily 'fix' we know we're in trouble. God bless our discernment each day and may we choose wisely.

Matt Stephens

Posted: May 06, 2009 4:04 PM

Yvette, perhaps you need to look a little harder at the assumptions that make having a "dynamic pastor" at five locations seem like a good idea. The point of this article, and presumably of the book, is that something terrible happens when our relationship with God (and others) becomes a fast-food, instant-gratification relationship. It's anti-biblical, and it's the direction our society is going at lightning speed. The church has to sprint in the opposite direction, Internet and cell phone in hand.

Josh Yates

Posted: May 06, 2009 4:00 PM


Great article. We do have to be careful about what we use and how we use it! It can be a help or a hindrance! Tyler, thanks for posting. I downloaded the Spurgeon app. I'd LOVE to see My Utmost For His Highest amongst some other devotional apps!

John L

Posted: May 06, 2009 3:55 PM

Shane, where do you get this stuff? The mechanical clock did not "give birth to the Industrial Revolution." The industrial revolution emerged mostly from access to, and understanding of, concentrated forms of energy. We can easily trace human leaps in progress by the energy we harnessed -- wood / dung ... coal ... liquid fossil -- and how this energy opened the door to new invention. The Internet "creates a permanent puberty of the mind" ?? Sigh...

Yvette

Posted: May 06, 2009 3:04 PM

Since we live in the 21st century, the question shouldn't just be about how technology damaged our relationship with God 100 years ago, but instead about how to leverage our new tools for His glory. I love what it has done! It has given my church the ability to worship simultaneously in 5 locations with one dynamic pastor. And, that's just the beginning. Since my phone has an fantastic Bible app, I have 4 translations and full commentary with me at all times. Traffic standstill? There's a verse for patience at you fingertips. Need the Word in the workplace for times with that difficult cube mate? It's always there when you need it. Having trouble fitting in daily dedicated quiet time? You'd be surprised where you can find it when God's word is always in your pocket! And don't even get me started on how many men and women of God can help you through the day on Twitter... In fact, the tweet from CT brought me to this article to type this comment on that same phone.

Tyler Cutshall

Posted: May 06, 2009 2:25 PM

As a software developer, I'm faced with this dilemma every day. I currently develop iPhone applications in which we are attempting to bridge the gap and create technology that complements the Christian faith. Any human invention can be used for good or ill and I believe that technology is no different. A lot of the latest trends: smartphones, social networking, complex media, etc. can be both a help and a hindrance, depending on how they are used. The key, in my opinion, is to make technology subordinate to the need and not get wrapped up in the Wow! factor of the latest trends. The technology should serve our purposes, not the other way around. If you're interested in how we are attempting to do that, you can see our work at www.43rdelement.com.

Bev Murrill (Registered User)

Posted: May 06, 2009 1:35 PM

I appreciate this view point in its thoughtfulness and understanding, but it's important that it doesn't become a measuring stick in any way for Christians to relate with the world through. One of the great things about Jesus was that He related with the world He occupied, not the world He wished He occupied. We are in the 21st century, whether we like it or not. We are in the Information Age, whether we wish it or not. This culture is the one we are called to reach, not one which used to exist. Our context always dictates our approach because the amazing properties of the Gospel give it the capacity to meet the needs of whomever it aims at. Praise God for that!

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