Mismatched ingredients
Posted: August 11th, 2009 | Author: James Duncan | Tags: Power, Technology | 15 Comments »A quick question from a PN post today: What do these two elements have to do with each other?
When you combine the potential of technology WITH THE SUPERNATURAL HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD…DANG!!!
Does God need our technology? How do you combine the two in any way that makes sense?
It’s like saying that the combination of a nuclear bomb and a butterfly sneezing in a South American jungle is going to destroy a city.
Except that that would be giving too much credit to the butterfly.
Haha, very true.
PN twatted a while back about the same thing with Paul and how awesome he would have been had he had access to the Internet. It was funny then too.
The Scripturse are sufficient in and of themselves. The church with no technology, money, talent, resources, etc. but with Spirit-filled members who preach boldly the Gospel has more power than all the churches in the world who are relying more on technology than the sufficiency of Scripture. Why? well, which makes Jesus look better? The church who boasts in the combination the Holy Spirit and technology, or the church that boasts in nothing else but Christ and Him crucified?
yeah, this is a really dumb statement. Nothing against technology, but it adds NOTHING to the work of God.
I think I’ve said this previously here at Pajama Pages, but here it goes again:
On multiple occasions, I heard Jerry Falwell preach pretty much the same thing as Noble is saying. Here’s the scripture Falwell used on those occasions: John 14:12–14.
Falwell’s argument was that we are able to reach more people with the gospel in the 21st century than at any point in history.
I’m not saying that God needs our technology. But He commanded us to fulfill the great commission, and He has chosen to use us.
Duncan, you say, “How do you combine the two in any way that makes sense?”
Ummm… isn’t that what this blog is all about?
The irony in this post (and the follow-up comments) is colossal! For all of you who think technology is not important for spreading the gospel, please disconnect your Ethernet cable at this time.
The apostles didn’t have ethernet, and did just fine.
JT, the weasel word is “combine.” Why does God need anything combined with himself to make his work more powerful? If I build a house, for example, would you say that I combined with the hammer? Except when I hit my thumb, the hammer is not combined with me, but it is my tool of choice for the task at hand. Thing is, I can’t build a house without a hammer, but God can build a universe with nothing but his word.
Sure, God uses technology. I happen to teach a class (during my day job and in Sunday School) that specifically points out how he has used contemporary communication technologies to reveal himself to man and advance his kingdom. (I am relieved that you think that PP is a part of that. Thanks.)
When God chooses to use a technology, he infuses it with his own power to such an extent that the power of the technology is quite irrelevant, kind of like the sneezing butterfly.
JT,
Duncan’s right.
The biggest problem I see with statements like this (and Copper’s recent one) is that they try to bring God down to our level. Like Duncan said, it gives way to much credit to the butterfly (or humans in this case). I think the root of the problem here is an attitude problem. The attitude expressed by saying these things is essentially thinking that human’s can bring something to the table when it comes to the work of God.
J. Duncan,
I’m confused.
If “the power of the technology is quite irrelevant,” then why do you “happen to teach a class (during my day job and in Sunday School) that specifically points out how he has used contemporary communication technologies to reveal himself to man and advance his kingdom”?
The second quote sounds like you are agreeing with Noble.
Or are you trying to say that Noble is putting the Holy Spirit and technology on equal footing?
You also bring up an interesting question: Do butterflies sneeze?
JT, I’m happy to try to help you out of your confusion.
There’s no contradiction. The hammer has no power, yet it is a useful tool when I add my own power to it. When God uses something or someone, he’s the one that brings the life and power.
I’m not saying that Noble is trying to put tech and the Holy Spirit on equal footing (though his statement doesn’t exclude that possibility); I’m saying that you can’t even put them on unequal footing. Once we consider God’s footing, there’s no room for anything else.
I don’t know if butterflies really sneeze. But that suggests another interesting question: Do pastors save the lost?
Albert,
You said, “The attitude expressed by saying these things is essentially thinking that human’s can bring something to the table when it comes to the work of God.”
…and you are saying that we can’t?
Yes, I know that I am a worthless, vile worm. Yes, I know that my best works are like menstrual cloths. Etc. Etc.
However, I think it is a common mistake for Christians to recognize their depravity and then wrongly equate that somehow to a belief that they are worthless in the cause of advancing God’s kingdom.
God does not need me. However, He chose to us me. He likewise chose to give me talents and resources. One such resource just might be my Ethernet cable.
Answers to important questions: Yahoo! says that they don’t sneeze.
So my analogy was more perfect than I knew. Awesome.
JT, God gives us strength and we are expected to use it in his service and as a means of worship.
Does your church sing the Chris Tomlin song, Indescribable? Do you agree with the lyrics (which come from Job)? In part they say that God is “all powerful” and “incomparable.” If you sing it and agree with it, aren’t you acknowledging that if someone is all powerful, there’s no power that can be added to him. If he’s incomparable, there’s nothing that can share a footing with him.
Some breathtaking perspective from Isaiah 40:12-18:
J. Duncan,
You said, “But that suggests another interesting question: Do pastors save the lost?”
Only when they give them directions to the interstate.
JT: Applause.
JT,
I think you answered your own question when you said,
“God does not need me. However, He chose to us me. He likewise chose to give me talents and resources. One such resource just might be my Ethernet cable.”
I did not mean that we are useless before God with our technology. I meant that God gives us these tools and talents to use for His glory and to further His kingdom. I believe that Pajama Pages is one such tool and talent.
My problem with PN’s statement is that it makes it seem like he (PN) is responsible for the said technology. I would him have worded it something like, “Praise God for giving us such great tools like technology and great talent like people who know how to use it to advance the Kingdom!” ( though that may not be 140 characters, haha).