Should You Embrace Facebook and Twitter?

from Patrick Morley

Volume 326
June 15, 2009

Technology is on the move again—this time advancing from “communication” technology (Technology 3) to “connection” technology (Technology 4).

Technology 1 is industrial technology—mass production, systems, processes. Technology 2 is information technology—computers, copy machines.
Technology 3 is communication technology—email and the Internet.
Technology 4 is connection technology—Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Caring Bridge, Flickr, etc.

Of course, former technologies don’t go away. Instead, like amoebas they divide and expand. .

Not everyone, of course, will be drawn to technology at all, much less the “connections” of Technology 4. However, many people are tilted in that direction, and especially younger generations.

What is the ultimate purpose of technology? God has given us technology to both a) tend the culture and b) build the kingdom. The ultimate purpose of technology is to fulfill the Great Commission.

For example, using Technology 3, Global Media Outreach (a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ) led 600,000 to Christ in 2006; 1,500,000 people in 2007; and 3,000,000 in 2008. Now, using Technology 4, Crusade is partnering with Northland, a Church Distributed to “connect” each of those converted people to a trained online missionary (discipler). Pretty amazing, isn’t it?

In the end, people, churches, denominations, and ministries that fail to make a place for Technology 4 may well be marginalized (e.g., think about the Christian radio shows that seem stuck in a time warp).

The first step is always to understand. Personally, I’ve make a commitment to understand Technology 4 by the end of 2009. I want to be in the mix, not stuck in time. In fact, I think Jesus would “tweet,” so I’m experimenting with Twitter, too—type in “patrickmorley” to follow me :-)

Yours for changed lives,

Patrick Morley, Ph.D.