Nov
20
2007
Technology and the Gospel
I first read Donald Bloesch’s book Crumbling Foundations (Zondervan, 1984) about 12 years ago. I picked it up again today and started thumbing through it. I have detailed notes on just about every page but on page 19 I found this paragraph underlined and highlighted:
Technology itseld is not an evil–but it certainly poses a continuing and all-pervasive threat to the church because of its alluring temptations. I believe that technology can be harnessed in the service of the gospel, but I recognize that such a venture entails the risk of accomodating the Christian message to technological values. Utility (i.e. practical efficacy and tangible results) rather than fidelity to truth then becomes the criterion for evaluating the program of the church. The gospel is thereby reduced to a product for human consumption, and its capacity to judge human wisdom and achievement is muted.
A wise reminder from Bloesch. We would be naive to think that the medium does not shape the message. As long as we understand the ways in which the medium of technology can effect the message of the gospel, than we can use it wisely–resisting its negative effects. If, on the other hand, we think that it’s all good (i.e. it’s simply a neutral tool that does not impose values) than it will be all bad.