Those of you who read this blog are very likely to be somewhat regular in your attendance at worship services at your local congregation. I applaud you for that, and want today's post to reflect how technology has enabled the way we worship together when we have our regular gatherings.
First, you probably go to a building. You might not think about it often, but just think of the technology involved to enable you to have a place to go to worship. Technological innovation in building materials, in structures, in electricity, and in plumbing have all contributed to assist you in the growth of your faith. We so often take these things for granted that we don't even think of them as technologically driven.
Then, think of the area where you worship. Some of you probably gather in a sanctuary, while others may simply gather together in a larger room or in an auditorium. Some sit in chairs, while others sit in pews. Once again, we rarely think of the technological innovation that went into these things. If you sit in a modern chair, it's likely a product of the study of how to best support your body, with materials that have been combined to create strength with a minimum of weight. Others may sit in old-fashioned wooden pews, but even their creation is a product of the innovation of hammers, nails, saws, and then the creativeness of those who first fashioned them.
As you worshiped, some of you may have used hymnals or booklets or paper folders. I've already talked before about these kind of technological innovations, which came into being about 500 years ago and were new technology at the time. Others may have watched and read from screens, with the words and images projected up by fairly modern technologies. (And a few of you may even have watched a worship service over the internet, yet another innovation.) In all these instances, technology is assisting with the growth of your faith.
So technology can be useful in helping us grow in our faith. There can be dangers of these, such as when we make the method of distributing God's Word more important than the fact that it is God's Word of forgiveness, hope, and renewal that we are to distribute. However, when properly used, technology can be a tremendous help in growing us in our faith.
First, you probably go to a building. You might not think about it often, but just think of the technology involved to enable you to have a place to go to worship. Technological innovation in building materials, in structures, in electricity, and in plumbing have all contributed to assist you in the growth of your faith. We so often take these things for granted that we don't even think of them as technologically driven.
Then, think of the area where you worship. Some of you probably gather in a sanctuary, while others may simply gather together in a larger room or in an auditorium. Some sit in chairs, while others sit in pews. Once again, we rarely think of the technological innovation that went into these things. If you sit in a modern chair, it's likely a product of the study of how to best support your body, with materials that have been combined to create strength with a minimum of weight. Others may sit in old-fashioned wooden pews, but even their creation is a product of the innovation of hammers, nails, saws, and then the creativeness of those who first fashioned them.
As you worshiped, some of you may have used hymnals or booklets or paper folders. I've already talked before about these kind of technological innovations, which came into being about 500 years ago and were new technology at the time. Others may have watched and read from screens, with the words and images projected up by fairly modern technologies. (And a few of you may even have watched a worship service over the internet, yet another innovation.) In all these instances, technology is assisting with the growth of your faith.
So technology can be useful in helping us grow in our faith. There can be dangers of these, such as when we make the method of distributing God's Word more important than the fact that it is God's Word of forgiveness, hope, and renewal that we are to distribute. However, when properly used, technology can be a tremendous help in growing us in our faith.
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