If somebody labeled me a luddite, I might be hard-pressed to fight their assertion. I’m an exegete so I desire scrolls somewhat than screens; I worth parchment greater than processor pace. But my phrases confess my enjoyment of know-how. Scrolls and parchment are technological improvements of a former age. Screens and microprocessors are technological improvements of our age.
A cursory studying of church historical past reveals the imprint of know-how. The primary-century unfold of the Gospel occurred partly because of the technological marvel of Roman roads. The sixteenth-century unfold of the Reformation occurred partly because of the technological marvel of the printing press. And so, it goes. Know-how is a primary article reward that has been, is, and will likely be a boon to the church.
But, like all different first article items, know-how has been, is, and will likely be misused by the church. It has been this fashion for the reason that days of Noah and his offspring. God calls Noah to construct an ark and particularly instructs him to cowl the within and out of doors with כֹּפֶר “bitumen, asphalt” (Gn 6:14; sure, the Hebrew time period invitations theological reflection past the fabric reference). Waterproofing know-how rightly utilized in service to God’s plans. However then Noah’s descendants use חֵמָר “bitumen, asphalt” in developing the tower at Babel (Gn 11:3). Waterproofing know-how misused in service to man’s sinful plans.
On the coronary heart of our conversations about know-how and the church is concern that we neither uncritically reject know-how nor that we uncritically settle for and/or apply know-how. It’s far simpler to look again upon earlier generations to guage how know-how was used effectively or poorly. It’s far tougher to think about current and future utilization of know-how. But knowledge requires us to try this very factor. To that finish, on September 17–18 the thirty fourth Annual Theological Symposium will take into account Know-how and the Church: Promise and Peril. Sure, know-how holds each promise and peril for the church. How will we maximize know-how’s promise to serve the Gospel? How will we mitigate know-how’s peril to the church and our work? Come and be part of the dialog.
