A TECH SAVVY GOD

What are we talking about? Science

Discovering knowledge Engineering

Designing with knowledge Technology

Appling knowledge

God’s Use of Technology

Clothing Genesis 3:7

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

Genesis 3:21

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.

God’s Use of Technology

Audio/Visuals Exodus 3:2

The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.

God’s Use of Technology Metal and Stone Exodus 31:2-5

“See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in

all kinds of craftsmanship.”

God’s Use of Technology

Writing and Language Exodus 32:15-16

Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets which were written on both sides; they were written on one side and the other. The tablets were God’s work, and the writing was God’s writing engraved on the tablets.

God’s Use of Technology

Writing and Language Daniel 5:5

Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing.

God’s Use of Technology

Pottery Jeremiah 18:1-6

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying, “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on

the wheel.

God’s Use of Technology

Jeremiah 18:1-6

But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are

you in My hand, O house of Israel.”

God’s Use of Technology

Leather Work John 2:15-16

And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop

making My Father’s house a place

of business.”

God’s Use of Technology

Clothing Audio/Visuals Metal and Stone Writing/Language Pottery Leather Work

Technology Changes Things …people are free to choose

how they will use their tools, but that the tools themselves are oriented toward a particular set of uses that will emerge when a large number of people use them.

From the Garden to the City by John Dyer.

What Technology Does

Extends or magnifies something that we do naturally.

Eliminates or amputates something that we used to do.

Retrieves something from the past. Reverses into a more negative behavior

when it’s overused.

Our response

God used technology fully aware of the inherent strengths and dangers.

Because of our sin nature, we need the spirit and the community to guide our use of technology.

The Unchanging in Changing While God’s words are

eternal and unchanging the tools we use to access those words do change, and those changes in technology also bring subtle changes to the practice of worship.

Technology Changes Things When we fail to recognize the

impact of such technological change, we run the risk of allowing our tools to dictate our methods. Technology should not dictate our values or our methods. Rather, we must use technology out of our convictions and values.

From the Garden to the City by John Dyer.

God’s use of technology

helps us understand how convictions and values

shape what we use

in communicating His love.

When you think about communicating the love of God, what are some values we need to hold close?

What are some we can release?

We have applied this concept to technology. What are some other areas where these ideas might be helpful?