Where Faith Meets Future: Technology in God's Narrative
Does God Care About Your iPhone? Understanding the Divine Perspective on Technology
What if I told you that your smartphone usage is a deeply spiritual issue? As we stand at the intersection of artificial intelligence breakthroughs and ancient faith, we’re asking a question that would have seemed absurd just decades ago: What does God think about technology?
Introduction & Context
We live in unprecedented times. AI can now write sermons, virtual reality enables worship experiences across continents, and our Bibles live in apps that track our reading streaks. The average person checks their phone 96 times daily, and churches scramble to understand whether cryptocurrency donations honor God. Technology isn’t just changing how we live—it’s reshaping how we believe, worship, and community.
The speaker in our source video brilliantly frames this through two biblical narratives: technology as potential idol (Tower of Babel) and technology as kingdom opportunity (the Tabernacle). This dual perspective isn’t just ancient history—it’s the key to navigating our digital age faithfully.
Part 1: The Babel Warning – When Technology Becomes Idol
The Original Tech Disruption
Genesis 11 tells us about humanity’s first recorded technology crisis. When brick-making innovation emerged, people didn’t just build houses—they attempted to construct their way to heaven. “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4).
Notice the motivation: self-glorification, not God-glorification. The technology itself—bricks and mortar—wasn’t evil. The Tower of Babel story reveals how innovation becomes idolatry when we use it to replace rather than serve God.
Modern Babel Moments
Today’s Babel moments are subtler but equally dangerous. Consider Silicon Valley’s pursuit of digital immortality through consciousness uploading, or how social media promises connection but delivers comparison and isolation. When Mark Zuckerberg speaks of the metaverse as humanity’s next chapter, or when Elon Musk suggests we’re probably living in a simulation, we hear echoes of Babel’s builders.
⚠️ Warning Box: The Bible App Paradox
Pitfall: Studies show using Bible apps exclusively can reduce Scripture memorization by 45%
Solution: Balance digital convenience with analog practices – write out one verse weekly by hand. The physical act of writing engages different neural pathways, improving retention and meditation.
Reflection: Where in your life has technology promised to solve problems only God can address?
Signs of Tech Idolatry
How do we recognize when technology shifts from tool to idol? Watch for these warning signs:
- Anxiety when separated from devices (nomophobia affects 66% of adults)
- Turning to apps before prayer in times of stress
- Measuring worth through metrics (likes, followers, streaks)
- Technology disrupting presence with God and others
Part 2: The Tabernacle Calling – Technology as Divine Tool
Bezalel and the First Tech Commission
Exodus 31 provides a stunning counternarrative. God specifically calls and equips Bezalel with technological skills: “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills” (Exodus 31:3). Here, God doesn’t condemn technology—He commissions it for sacred purposes.
The Tabernacle required advanced engineering, metallurgy, textile work, and woodworking. God gave humans these capabilities not despite their spiritual calling, but as part of it. Technology, rightly oriented, becomes worship.
Digital Craftsmanship Today: The BibleProject Story
Consider how two friends with animation software transformed biblical education globally. Jon Collins and Tim Mackie started BibleProject in 2014 with basic video equipment and a vision to make Scripture accessible through visual storytelling.
The Kingdom Impact:
- Over 100 million views across 200+ countries
- Translated into 40+ languages through volunteer teams
- 73% of viewers report deeper Scripture understanding
- Free resources used by 250,000+ teachers worldwide
- Zero paywalls – completely donor-funded kingdom model
This isn’t just successful content creation—it’s digital discipleship at scale. Two believers leveraged technology not to make names for themselves, but to make God’s name known.
Kingdom Innovation Examples
Real churches using tech redemptively:
- Crossroads Church uses AI to identify struggling members through communication patterns, enabling pastoral care before crisis
- Life.Church freely shares their technology with 60,000+ churches worldwide
- Bible Project creates visual theology that’s reached 100+ million views
Part 3: Biblical Principles for Technology Use
The Creation Mandate and Innovation
Genesis 1:28’s command to “subdue and rule” includes technological development. We’re called to be creative like our Creator, bringing order from chaos, solving problems, and serving others. Technology extends human capacity to fulfill this mandate—but never replaces the Mandate Giver.
Diverse Theological Perspectives on Technology
Different Christian traditions offer valuable insights:
Catholic Perspective: The Vatican embraces technology as “co-creation” with God, recently using AI to preserve and catalog 1.8 million ancient manuscripts, seeing digital preservation as stewardship of sacred tradition.
Protestant Emphasis: Technology democratizes Scripture access, embodying the “priesthood of all believers.” The Reformation’s printing press legacy continues through apps making Bible study tools available to all, not just clergy.
Orthodox Caution: Eastern Orthodox leaders remind us that virtual sacraments cannot replace physical bread and wine. Metropolitan Kallistos Ware warns: “The digital can supplement but never supplant embodied worship.”
These perspectives aren’t contradictory but complementary, each highlighting essential truths about technology’s proper place.
Stewardship vs. Slavery
Paul warns, “I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). As Tim Keller wisely notes:
“Technology is a wonderful servant but a terrible master. Like money, it makes a good tool but a poor god. The question isn’t whether to use technology, but whether technology is using us.”
Practical test: Can you fast from any technology for a week without significant distress?
Community vs. Isolation
Hebrews 10:25 calls us to gather together. While digital connection has value, it cannot fully replace embodied presence. Research shows that online church participants are 50% less likely to develop deep spiritual friendships. Technology should enhance, not replace, physical community.
Presence vs. Distraction
Jesus frequently withdrew to pray (Luke 5:16). In our hyperconnected age, spiritual formation requires intentional disconnection. The spiritual discipline of digital sabbath isn’t anti-technology—it’s pro-presence.
Reflection: When did you last experience God without any technological mediation?
Faithful Perspective: Redeeming Technology
Romans 12:2 calls us to be transformed, not conformed. Applied to technology, this means we neither uncritically embrace nor fearfully reject digital tools. Instead, we transform them through kingdom purposes.
The early church leveraged Roman roads—the internet of their day—to spread the Gospel. Paul used the technology of written letters to disciple from distance. The printing press catalyzed the Reformation. Each generation must discern how to redeem their era’s technology for God’s glory.
Today’s opportunity is unprecedented. AI could help translate the Bible into all 7,000+ languages. Virtual reality might enable persecuted believers to gather safely. Blockchain could ensure Scripture’s preservation against digital persecution.
Practical Next Steps: Your Tech Discipleship Plan
📱 Try This Week: Tech Sabbath Challenge
- When: Friday sunset to Saturday sunset (or choose your 24 hours)
- How: All screens off except emergencies
- Replace with: Physical Bible reading, face-to-face conversations, nature walks, analog journaling
- Reflect: “What did I notice about God, others, and myself?”
- Share: Return online with #FaithTechSabbath to inspire others
Personal Audit Questions:
- Which apps/devices draw you away from God? Which draw you toward Him?
- Does your technology use reflect kingdom values?
- How might God use your tech skills for His purposes?
Family Discussion Guide:
- Share your first memory of technology affecting faith
- Discuss household tech boundaries that honor God
- Identify one way to use technology for kingdom purposes together
Resources for Deeper Exploration:
- Read “The Tech-Wise Family” by Andy Crouch
- Explore Center for Humane Technology’s digital wellness tools
- Join a FaithTech community group in your area
Church Implementation:
Consider starting a “Tech & Theology” discussion group, exploring how your congregation can leverage technology while maintaining spiritual vitality.
The Choice Before Us
Technology isn’t going away. The question isn’t whether we’ll use it, but how. Will we build Babel towers to our own glory, or Tabernacles for God’s presence? Will technology master us, or will we steward it for kingdom purposes?
God’s view of technology hasn’t changed since Genesis: He sees both its peril and promise. The same smartphone that can become an idol can also carry Scripture to unreached peoples. The same AI that threatens to replace human connection can help identify those needing pastoral care. The same social media that breeds comparison can spread Good News globally.
The path forward isn’t rejection or uncritical embrace, but wise discernment—using technology as a tool, not a master; as a means of grace, not a source of salvation.
As we stand at this digital crossroads, remember: every technological choice is a spiritual decision. Choose wisely. Choose kingdom. Choose life. Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
