Last week I wrote about technology and reflected on whether it’s an enemy or ally to us, especially the younger generations. I seemed to emphasize the negative impact it is having on our diminishing autonomy and privacy, and I don’t rescind my thoughts on that. However, to only emphasize the negative is not fair either. You see, this past week I was extremely blessed by technology: I received especially encouraging e-mails from a couple of long-distance friends, sent out e-mails to friends who needed an uplifting thought, found an old song that I needed for a church event, researched certain information I needed for lesson plans, became friends with people on Facebook who I hadn’t heard from in a while, began planning an event for the young adults’ ministry at church, and spread the word about dogs needing homes and a service outreach for youth. Perhaps much of this could be done without texting, e-mail, computers, or Facebook, but some of it could not…and certainly not in the same amount of time.
While technology certainly has its dangers and is, without a doubt, changing the fabric of our society, how can we say the dangers outweigh the benefits? Isn’t it good to reach out, make new connections, and rapidly spread the word about problems and solutions? Perhaps it is more our perspective which matters. If we say something is bad are we actually resigning ourselves to that fact and succumbing to the negative change instead of rising to the challenging and overcoming the evil with good?
Please tell me what you think.
As Elisabeth Elliott says, the trash can is as holy as the rosebush, or as evil. It is the alter they are laid on that makes anything evil or holy.
So it is with technology. Do we use it for good or evil…the One who sees the heart will determine that Truth.
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That is a powerful quote. In some ways it makes me think of myself – I have the potential for great good or great evil, depending on if I choose to allow God to use me or not.
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