What do we do now that technology has enveloped society? At this writing, McLuhan felt the domination was closed a half century ago, but even he seems not to have perceived the depth and length of the seizure. We have moved somewhat from the guidance of the specialists to the opinions of our in-group. I am informed that some young people buy garments only after they have taken pictures of themselves in the try-on room, sent it to a group of friends, and gained their opinion through the iPhone. The sale is decided by the opinions of the groups, the favored, the generational members, the party-liners. We have become disappointed in the leaders, specialists, politicians, business people, even proven authorities in this or that field – including religion. That generality of negative response is partly from the way the technology has accented the weaknesses and underplayed the benefits of this or that context and personnel. There has emerged another, often shallow context for personal belief, decision making and action.
Further, it has speeded up processes so that we may bypass careful thought. The process seems easy, modern, and dramatic in the invisible transmission of language and images. Checking cell phones, we are told, is the first thing a person does on rising from bed in the morning and before turning off the light at night. Face to face conversation and identification have given way to electronics, with the assumption that what I hear from the persons I talk to through media will be the strong influence in my belief and conduct. This is all done without realizing that the current system is not leading us into deeper, more profound consideration of life, but into a play time with expensive toys that get us away from some of the important things we must do to meet modern life problems. It has reduced interest in reading meaningful materials (substantive books, magazines and newspapers managing themes in depth are fading); interest in listening to persons focus on both human and spiritual needs (sermons have become short homilies, and oratory has become flashes of ideas, dressed in short, dark statistics or stories). This listing may be expanded.
We may be shouting at the world: I won’t take that substitute context for the truly good life. Building family in multiple generations; learning that expands the competency of mankind; quietness of devotion that touches the eternal; understanding for truth, beauty and justice with the time it takes to absorb and apply them; and, righteousness (right) – offer life balance for persons following the pattern. The newer approach may not strengthen the weak, or offer aid from the strong for the care of those in need. Some strong seem to get stronger in ways that lead to selfishness and self-aggrandizement. The worst of it is that writing this I haven’t much hope that I or anyone else will change it. The deed is done. There seems no turning back, unless great tragedy of nature or warfare takes current habits from us. The answer comes back adapt or die. We likely will find a way to adapt until death. That is not a choice, but a compulsion brought on by the mass that really doesn’t catch the meaning of human life as God would have it. So it is that we adapt because there is no other survival choice. Here is a place for insightful Christian leadership – to find ways in an excitable, fast moving society that emphasizes massive sounds, pictures, and distractions from serious and meaningful life. Many churches have missed it in believing that joining the opposition is to drop vital beliefs given of God that if not kept makes faith meaningless, except as a minority wish or charade.
We would do well to approach the world activity with some careful study of what works for benefit, and what does not. How do we: engage ‘em if we can’t lick ‘em? We can use the aids well in daily lessons from the pastor, in programs that enlarge the meaning of the pulpit, in creating interesting and meaningful contexts that take the greatest concern and treat it so that the results can be measured, and teachings about how we do things reflect that magnificence of the faith we cherish and are committed to advance. We do this so that our children are not left to tinsel gods reducing values. What we are on earth relates to some impulse related to what we become in the hope of immortality. We dare not let it pass. We were created to go higher. We are God’s representatives for earthly transition to destiny. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020