Ever since the personal computer achieved mass-market status back in the mid-1980s, there’s been a continuing debate among believers: Is this new technology and the online “world” to which we now connect inherently good, or is it just plain evil?
I’ve been working with, and writing about, computers and related tech gadgets and services for almost 30 years. In thinking about this, I’m reminded of what the brother of Jesus said in his message found in the New Testament book of James 3:8-10:
“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so” (NKJV).*
The tongue, in and of itself, isn’t the problem—it’s the person to which the tongue is attached. If we can bless God and curse others with the same instrument, is the instrument to blame, or its user?
I believe the same can be said of computers, smartphones, tablets, and whatever other device we have or can use to connect to the Internet. “Out of the same network proceed items that bless and items that curse,” our brother James might write—or “tweet”—if he were with us today.
The problem isn’t so much the Internet as the user. And the heart of the problem is the same for tongue and keyboard: those attached—each of us—are sinners. We were born with a sinful nature, and however much we strive, that nature can get the better of us, at least once in a while. (If you don’t believe me, try driving on a crowded freeway during rush hour and count the number of cars with a “fish” symbol whose operators aren’t behaving like their professed Master.)
The challenge online is to stay away from that which hurts and harms, and to point toward the good. For some that might involve paying for an online filter that blocks truly objectionable material. For parents it might mean putting the kids’ computer out where Mom or Dad can see what they’re doing online. For all of us it involves prayer and seeking after God.
Many people, including Seventh-day Adventists, struggle with these issues. Others of us may be hurt or wounded by things sent to us online, or said about us on a site such as Facebook or MySpace or on someone’s blog. Even when criticism may be justified, seeing it publicly instead of privately can irritate the recipient. I know: it’s happened to me several times, and likely will again.
How do I respond? I try to exercise grace, and when I don’t, I quickly repent and apologize. I also try not to “do unto others” when what someone else does rubs me the wrong way.
But most of all I try to look to Jesus. He was tempted in every way that we were, yet without sinning. He was insulted and abused far more, and far worse, than anything I’ve had to endure online, but He didn’t return those insults measure for measure. He is indeed our example of how to deal with tribulation in this life.
When the final keystrokes are typed, when the final mouse-click is pressed, we will be in God’s presence. Earth’s pains will melt away, and the ultimate “network” connection will be made, forever and ever and ever!
__________
* Texts credited to NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
_____________
Mark A. Kellner is news editor for Adventist Review and Adventist World magazines. This article was published October 27, 2011.
