I feel compelled to throw my thoughts into this conversation. 

As a pastor and someone in ministry I’m convinced that technology’s soul purpose is to aid in the furthering of the gospel.  Kind of a big statement, I know.

Without trying to seem preachy, I’ve thought about theses two scriptures as “book ends” to ministry, for me.  You know the whole principle,  “Begin with the end in mind.”

Here’s Christ kick off for ministry:
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Mark 16:15 (NLT)

Notice He did not give them methods.  Just a command. I think sometimes we get so hung up on method and are we “doing it right” way not just make sure we are “doing” ministry. 

Then he defines the goal with this:
And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 (NLT)

Hasn’t that been the main goal the whole time.  Okay the preach is over.

I heard Mark Driscoll (whether you agree with him or not) say it this way once, “the message is a close handed issue but the method is open handed.” That’s my paraphrase but you get the point.

Something as simple as a washing machine, saves you a lot of time.  You’re not having to go down to the creek to wash your clothes.  If it helps you, saves you time then you are freed up to stay on the mission of reaching more people…

If technology makes it easier and gives us the ability to reach more people then I think that it’s something the church should use and use it wisely.  Not the “wholesale club” mentality, but is this a tool that will allow you to share the gospel?

I’m so thankful that I don’t have to ride a horse to the church office in the morning.  I don’t know how my mocha would fit in the saddle holder without spilling. 

On things like social media, internet church/campus, and new technology like that, use it.  Why not.  What’s the worst thing that could happen.  Only one person hears the gospel for the first time?

I am fully willing to admit I was a skeptic at first.  But when you see or here stories of 2.3 million people being mobilized for a cause, or someone in a “closed” country being reached with the gospel doesn’t that fit within the mission of “Going into all the World..” or “preaching throughout the world?”  How could it not.  How is that not Matt 24:14?

My take, use technology and use it wisely.  If you are doing it to be cool, relevant or to keep up with the “Ministry Jones’s” then check your heart.  It’s not a game we are playing we’re on mission to do what Christ commanded. 

I believe that the local church is the greatest agent for change and spreading the Gospel message.  I believe that technology is a tool that will help us do the “spreading” or “going” or “preaching. If that’s the case then it’s an open fisted issue.

Thanks for the contribution Steve! I can see you on the horse with mocha in hand, you could make that work!

The upside of technology as an amplifier, catalyst and connector is absolutely tremendous.

I think the rubber meets the road is that the real power is in the message, and Jesus is the message. That is where our hope lies, that is where our help comes from, that is where we can run in desperate times of need.

When any method becomes so glamorous so as to be more of a distraction than attraction to that message…or let me phrase that as a question….what balance of distraction to attraction is acceptable?

What’s really interesting here is that our culture derives so much identity from the stuff we own and buy. Can technology is so changing how we live, that our culture thus rises and falls on the latest consumer trends. Advertisting and Marketing sells a brand, an identity much more than an actual product. Most purchase decisions are made based on brand and convenience, not the actual product or features (because most are so similar and prob made with the same parts).

In the church’s effort to maintain cultural relevance, there’s a risk of selling a brand and an identity via marketing that is not biblical, that cannot fulfill on the promise sold. As a Christian, Jesus is our identity. We are to understand that our deepest self is to be found in relationship with God and nothing else.