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printThe Face-to-Face Gospel and the Death of Distance
Al Erisman says we need to think about ministry in the digital culture the way missionaries think about the culture of the people they serve.
Technology is changing our lives at breakneck speed and in unpredictable ways. In just one decade, for example, the mobile phone has transformed the daily life of virtually every church leader in the world. Technology also changes the way the gospel gets communicated, whether through PowerPoint slides, websites, or screens at multi-site churches. We sought out a man who has decades of practical experience with technology in business—as well as wide and deep thinking about its significance.
Al Erisman spent 32 years at Boeing, and for the last 11 of those years was director of research and development for technology. He now teaches in the business school at Seattle Pacific University and is co-founder and editor of Ethix magazine (Ethix.org). He also consults and lectures on faith and economic development, most recently in the Central African Republic and Nepal. He recently spoke with Global Conversation editor and CT senior writer Tim Stafford.
What does technology have to do with the gospel?
A lot. Narrowing our scope just to information technology, we recognize it is all about information and communications, a fundamental element of proclaiming the gospel. It is also about what kind of people we become, and how we communicate to people who are part of the digital generation. We could also look at the broader impact of other technology, such as automobiles, nuclear power, or biotechnology—anything that comes from a step-by-step process or the use of tools. But we have our hands full talking about information technology.
I think of information technology in five layers. The bottom layer is the basic technology—the microchip, for example. Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, predicted what is now called Moore's Law: The microchip will halve in size every 18 months. This translates into the chip's performance getting both faster and cheaper at an astonishing rate—a factor of 10 in price and performance improvement every five years. That enables a fundamental, unending churn.
The second layer is the products the basic technology makes possible. Here we are more directly influenced. In the case of the microchip, our computers regularly become both faster and cheaper. This part is fairly predictable, but we also see the unpredictable emergence of new products and capabilities. We have the Internet, Google, social networks, Twitter, digital cameras, the iPhone, and so on. Sometimes we use these devices simply to do what we did before, only faster. But sometimes new products introduce a whole new way of thinking and working.
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Jenifer Manzo
I really appreciated this conversation. I think so often the Christian community gets left behind in major changes happening in the world. We were behind on Abortion and I think we are behind on technology but hopefully not quite as much! I do have one concern though - it has to do with the video. Sometimes creating robots in the image of man (including emotions) can come across as playing god. Maybe that's just my old-school bringing up but it makes me nervous. There is such a fine line between creating things that will help people while at the same time creating something that would be used for destruction. That being said though I really appreciate seeing Christians out there who are working to stay in the fore-front of this rapidly developing area. Hopefully more and more Christians will be willing to do the same in other areas as well.
Shannon
I was struck by what Wha-Chul Son's statement about a paradigm shift. We facing the ramifications of the advances in technology. The advances will not stop regardless of our positive or negative feelings about them. Our thinking should now address what we are going to do. We should also consider how our biblical worldview will influence our use and distribution of technology.
Michael Pavek
This was a great article that is leading me to explore how we use technology at our church. We're discussing doing a video podcast of our sermons and are looking for ways to actively engage people online to spread the Good News of Jesus' Salvation.
Marilyn Adamson, United States
I especially liked the question, "Does real preaching require real presence?" I personally am very grateful for Paul's preaching in Romans, though Paul is not with us. Written form was God's means of getting the gospel to millions, without preachers being face-to-face with millions. Same with Billy Graham on TV. Now we have the opportunity to give the gospel to those searching while in their homes, offices or college campuses. It no longer is only at our choosing....people who do not yet have a relationship with God are searching, taking the initiative on Google, asking questions like "does God exist?" I'm so glad we can provide an answer to the millions whom God is wanting to draw to himself, like at EveryStudent.com. I am grateful there is no distance between our message and those wanting to find it.
Alan Young, Australia
An excellent article. I am struggling with the issue of the use of modern technology in the church. It has now reached the stage where we don't need to take our Bibles to church because the scripture readings are all on the screen. Our young people read from their Ipods and mobile phones. Are we losing the importance of knowing how to use our Bibles? Does it really matter?? Carrying ones Bible used to be a sign of our loyalty to the Lord.
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