Is Technology a Tool or a Barrier to Growing Our Faith?

I was speaking to a group of teenagers and when I announced the Bible passage, about 75% of them pulled out their phones. My first instinct was to chide them for not wanting to engage God’s Word. I figured they were pulling out their phone as a distraction while I was reading the Scripture. I said, “Guys, can we put our phones up?!”

Almost all of them quickly retorted with, “Pastor Mike, we’re using our Bible app to follow along.” Many of them turning their phones toward me so that I could see. I realized in that moment that I had a decision to make. Do I embrace the digital age and try to discipleship within it — or do I try to stay vinyl? Rather than running from technology how might we use it to grow in faith?

Leveraging Technology for Personal Discipleship

In a previous pastorate we struck up a friendship with an Amish family. Since we’ve moved, I’ve tried to find them on Facebook, but for some reason they don’t have an account. I hope they haven’t blocked me. (That’s a joke, I hope you got it.) I also had a friendship with a Mennonite pastor. These groups view technology differently than each other and definitely differently than I do. Yet, my conversation with these other faith groups was deeply informative for me.

Those of a Mennonite faith tend to be a little more open to modern technology, but both groups ask similar questions when confronting technology; they ask whether or not a technology enhances community or harms it. For the Amish especially, they ask questions about whether or not a particular technology will foster dependence upon the outside world. In sum, they try to discern how technology will affect their values.

Evangelicals like myself would do well to ask similar questions. And we do well to think through the benefits and the dangers of embracing technology. Is something lost whenever our students are grabbing a phone instead of a hardcopy of the Bible? If so, what? Is something gained?

The digital age does provide many tools that make the Bible easily accessible. Online Bible apps, podcasts, and Christian websites make it possible to have spiritual resources wherever you go. And some platforms allow users to read Scripture, follow reading plans, track their reading, and even reflect on what they are reading via devotional content. Our very own Bible Study Tools is a resource that aims to make your Bible study more accessible. There are plenty of helpful options for Bible reading.

The same can be said for prayer. Prayer content, prayer guides, prayer communities, and devotionals are available for many people. Even deeper theological training can be accessed through digital media. You can take a seminary level course right on your device in the comfort of your own home.

But we also have to consider whether or not there is a downside to this convenience. Will the easy access create a devaluing of God’s Word and times of prayer? Will our time with God be placed on the same level as all the other online content we are consuming? Discipleship requires commitment and intentionality. It also happens through relationship. Will this technology harm community, or help it?

Online Communities: Connection Beyond Borders

In Acts 2:46 we read that the early church met daily in homes. We no longer see believers meeting together daily. Our lives are far more spread out and individualized. Some churches may have a weekly revival service where we once again gather on a nightly basis — but these are increasingly rare and sporadic. Is it possible that technology could bring back Acts 2:46? And in this regard could it even make connecting with believers from across the world possible?

The letters we have in the New Testament were the Zoom calls of Paul’s day. He leveraged the available media in his day to stay connected with churches from across the known world. Why would we not do the same?

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, our missions team began praying about ways that we could help the believers in that area. At one of our meetings, I stumbled upon a tweet from a friend who had connections with Ukrainian pastors. He shared a prayer request about a Ukrainian pastor that he was afraid was going to slip through the cracks. I sent him a message and within moments our mission team was on a path to connecting with this vulnerable pastor.

Fast forward seven months and he and his family were flown to the US, where they spent a couple weeks with us and spoke at area churches before they were connected with other pastors across the US. We have become great friends. And through much of this support they have been able to launch a now thriving ministry to Ukrainian refugees in another European country.

None of that was possible without technology. True, deep, and meaningful community has been built through this online platform. We were able to leverage this for missions and ministry around the globe. We meet frequently through video calls.

This is only one example. Many churches are exploring online small groups, ministering through social media, and even Zoom Bible studies with other believers (some not even in your local area). Our live streaming services have allowed some of our shut-ins to stay connected to the local church as well. Community is possible online.

But there are limitations. We are not Gnostics who believe that we are embodied souls. Our embodied presence is valuable. Technology can allow us to connect in new ways, but there are some human interactions that cannot be replaced. I can tell you that when my dear friend from the Ukraine came to the US, that 15 second hug meant more than hours of Zoom conversation. Digital discipleship should always lead back to meaningful relationships within the body of Christ.

Mentorship in a Virtual World

Mentorship has always been a cornerstone of discipleship, and in the digital age, mentorship can take on new forms. I have some guys where 80% of my discipleship and mentoring happens through Facebook Messenger. If we relied upon face-to-face relationships only, we couldn’t keep those connections going. Technology allows us to meet far more frequently.

I’ve also found that mentorship in a digital space can also be enhanced through shared study resources. We’ve tried collaborative Bible reading plans, discussion boards, and even group book studies to mentor and disciple.

I also think about the opportunities that my writing ministry has provided. Through God’s grace I’m able to encourage and even at times develop mentoring relationships with other believers, as well as fellow pastors, that I would never have known if it were not for an online platform. I’m thankful for that expanded reach.

Yet, there is also a danger here. Sometimes people are able to be “mentored” by someone who isn’t actually in their life. That means they are able to do “curated” mentorship. What I mean by that is that we can Instagram our relationship — only showing the things we want to show, editing our speeches before we make them, and putting a nice filter on everything to make them appear how we want them to. That hinders real ministry.

But it can also aid in things like counseling. People tend to be vulnerable much faster through the “safety” of online. Again, it’s a give and take. There are dangers and pitfalls as well as wonderful advantages of technology.

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Distraction

While technology offers powerful tools for growth, it also comes with significant distractions. The constant barrage of notifications, social media, and entertainment can make it challenging to stay focused on that which is necessary for our growth in Christ. We need to be in control of our devices instead of having them control us. We should be responsible with notifications and have specific times for online engagement — otherwise you can get sucked up into a world that never sleeps.

Some of the apps provided can actually help with this. There are even some apps that can help us by blocking distracting media at certain times. We should consider these as we think through ministering in the digital age.

Technology as a Catalyst for Mission

Finally, technology can and should be leveraged for sharing the good news of Jesus. We are able to reach many more people through social media than we ever could envision reaching in our own local church. There are unprecedented opportunities to share the message of Christ with a global audience. But again, how can we be certain that this precious gospel is not just one message among the multitude of messages that we hear? Are we able to show the unique claims of Christ?

We can involve our whole church in these platforms. Believers can share testimonies, Scripture, and encouragement to people who may not otherwise hear the gospel. But we also need to be certain that as we’re sharing Bible verses, we are also modeling Christ in how we interact with others. How horrible that we share about the love of Christ in one moment and a racist meme in the next?

There are many online evangelism tools out there as well. Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok provide unprecedented opportunities to share the message of Christ with a global audience. In this digital age, we have more ways than ever to fulfill the Great Commission by reaching people in places the church might not be able to physically go.

A Mighty Tool

Discipleship in the digital age comes with both opportunities and challenges. Technology can hurt or harm our walk with Christ. But this has always been the case. People were having conversations about the printing press, automobiles, and a score of other things throughout the years. The digital age is here. Will we navigate it wisely? Will we have the wisdom to know when “vinyl” may be a more effective medium? Can we shut off technology when it is harmful and not become slaves to it? As long as it is a tool to be used, it can be a mighty tool in our hands. But it will make a horrible god. Our anchor must be the gospel.

How have you used technology to further your walk with Christ? How have you seen technology help further the gospel?

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