Kingdom Technology

I once heard a speaker talk about what to look for in another speaker; 'someone who can communicate well' is certainly something I think we would all agree on. I heard yet another speaker who was praised beforehand by 'expert' speakers as a great communicator; but when he spoke, I couldn't tell what he was talking about...just a string of thoughts and one-liners and cliches...I couldn't see where we were going.

But from his message I did hear one thing: that words are being replaced by images in our culture. (Maybe he should have stuck to a pictionary style message!)

I'm not sure I agree with him, and for a message I fidgeted through, enduring til the end, I have been ruminating on this all week. What DOES it mean to communicate well in the new millennium? I am no public speaker, but I do have to communicate daily. And I notice when someone doesn't do it well. They are misunderstood. They are frustrated. Their audience starts to nod off. They sometimes start to yell or cry (like in the case of a three year old I know with a lisp trying to tell me what he got for his birthday, and as I asked him to repeat it for the fifth or sixth time, he got louder and louder, and eventually looked to his interpreter - Mommy).

Now the question at hand: ARE words being replaced by images? Certainly ours is an image-driven society. But I had a thought as he was talking about this in the context of how we do church...God left us the written WORD. And throughout the many centuries since it was written, we've had an oral tradition, again - words. Even Jesus, when using an image, did so with words. So images, of the internet/video/photograph variety, are a relatively recent development, and I think they deserve a little more scrutiny. Just because our culture is demanding them doesn't mean we have to cave. Jesus will draw all men to Himself, if we lift Him up. We don't necessarily have to constantly keep up with the cues the world is giving us.

I appreciate facebook. It's interesting how bold we can be on facebook. It's like Paul said to the Corinthians, "I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away!" I feel like I can say all kinds of things in this public platform that I would not have the voice to speak when talking face to face. Firstly, because I can communicate so much better in writing and get tongue tied when I speak, especially to groups. But when I can gather my thoughts, and write them down, I do feel bold.

So I boldly wrote something on my wall yesterday about an observation I made at church, that I saw, for the first time ever (probably not the last) someone browsing the internet during the sermon. Wow. The responses. I deleted most, because I just wanted people to think. But all over the map; in defense of and vehemently against. My friends on remote mission fields were blown away. It was embarrassing, actually.

On the surface, taking notes on a laptop or an iPhone is legit. But the temptation is just so strong to use it otherwise. And the people sitting nearby...they're looking over your shoulder, too, wondering what is going on on your screen. The jury is still out on this. But just like shushing the teens sitting nearby, I am still prone to ask the internet cruiser to shut it down during church please.

It distracts me.
It annoys me.
I think it is disrespectful.

Somewhere along the way of new wineskins, we have lost some of the reverence that for centuries has been a part of corporate worship. I have been to lots of dead cathedrals where the cold stone walls and floors are beautiful, but the warmth of the Spirit is buried with the patriarchs beneath the mosaics.

We attended a church in Rome where if you arrived early, you did your visiting and chatting outside; once you entered the sanctuary, it was quiet prayer time until the service commenced. Then it was a noisy celebration of worship to God amidst vast diversity of culture and language. Our focus was completely on the Lord, having prepared our hearts in prayer beforehand.

I like that idea.

And somehow, courtesy has gone out of fashion. I remember when cell phones made their debut, we called them "electronic leashes" because people felt obligated to answer them every time they rang, as if they had no option. Unfortunately, this is still the case. "Just a second, I HAVE to take this." If I have made the effort to speak with you face to face, do me the courtesy of paying attention to what I am saying, and instead, require the caller to wait for you. It's worse now: emails come blasting in at any moment, interrupting the flow of a good conversation.

So, in this image-driven culture, I am calling for some more scrutiny about the limits and self-control we place on our use of technology.

Can we consider others better than ourselves when it comes to interrupting, distracting and offending?

Is what you have to browse, answer, or respond to more important than setting a good example, being polite, or relating to those around you?

Can we bring respect and reverence back to church with us next Sunday?

Can we leave some of our distractions at home and come into the sanctuary unencumbered by the cares of this world and really focused on worshiping God?

Don't you get tired of your cell phone and computer during the week and look forward to an environment without it on Sunday morning??!!!

I write this inclusively, as I have been known to distract, to offend, to be irreverent, to interrupt a good conversation to take a call, to be rude and selfish.

Let our love for God and for His people be our guide. Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.