Character (Part 1): The Special Challenges of the 21st Century
On August 9th, 1995, Netscape, the first mainstream web-browser, went public; and the world has never been the same. But the incredible benefits provided by the Internet are accompanied by lethal dangers. It took three years for the Internet to even begin to take off, but there were already 14 million pornographic Web pages. From 1998 to 2003 that number jumped to 260 million; a 2,000% increase in just five years.
This post is not about pornography; but it is all about how technology presents tremendous new challenges to Christian character; and about what we need to do about it. I strongly believe that it is foolish for my generation to assume that the next ten years will treat them the same way the last ten have. If we think technology has peaked and that things will remain largely the same with just a few added “conveniences,” we are gravely mistaken. Think of any ten-year-olds you know. The Internet is ten years old.
Technology itself and the challenges it presents are in their nascent form.
Over the next 5-10 years advances in technology will allow pornography and the sex industry to push so far into mainstream culture that they will no longer be generally considered dirty or taboo. Yet this is only one of the challenges our generation faces. According to Marvin J. Cetron and Owen Davies from the World Futures Society, medical knowledge and development are currently doubling every eight years. The speed of change in the medical field is outpacing the public’s opinion on the ethics of things such as stem cell research, genetic engineering, cloning, DNA mapping, surrogate motherhood, infertility solutions, selection of a child’s sex, use of fetal tissue, artificial organs, organ cloning, and life support.
Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington, writes: “Technology will continue to reshape people in such a way that their attention spans will be shorter and they will have difficulty distinguishing truth and lies, and the deluge of information will become so great that separating the useful from the trivial will be laborious. [Furthermore] the tsunami of information and services customized to please individual people will create a culture of self-absorbed, narcissistic people consumed with themselves and unconcerned about serving other people.”
These are barely the tip of the iceberg; but their magnitude and scope are unique to our generation. Which is why you must be aware of them. In a world that continues to celebrate debauchery and advance technologically the moral challenges facing our generation will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen.
I am convinced that as our world continues to change it will become more and more difficult to actually avoid exposure to sin and will become more and more necessary to develop the strength of character to resist it, fight it, and conquer it.
I’m calling you to be the kind of young men and women who are willing to fight the fight against sin. I’m calling you to cut off your hand or gouge out your eye rather than lose your soul (Matthew 5:29-30). Character is a victory, not a gift. It requires war, not diplomacy.
The time for lukewarm Christianity is behind us. This country will not survive another generation of Christians that fit in.
In Christ, Brett Harris
August 16th, 2005 at 4:22 am
Hey Brett,
Do you think that the increase in technology could also open up doors for Christians to step into and take full advantage off an oppertunity to further the Gospel?
August 16th, 2005 at 10:14 pm
Hey Brett,
Do you think that the increase in technology could also open up doors for Christians to step into and take full advantage off an oppertunity to further the Gospel?
In Christ,
Lauren
August 17th, 2005 at 12:38 am
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August 17th, 2005 at 12:43 am
Yes, yes, yes! That is exactly what technology will do. In fact, that point will be a major part of our discussion regarding competence and collaboration. Namely, how can we wield these tools effectively (competence) and in a coordinated manner (collaboration) to further the kingdom of God?
I’m so glad that you’re thinking along those lines! That’s exactly the kind of questions we need to be asking ourselves. How can we take the changes that have created all these challenges and use them to our advantage?
Thank you so much for you comment!
In Christ,
Brett Harris
August 17th, 2005 at 4:22 am
Yes, yes, yes! That is exactly what technology will do. In fact, that point will be a major part of our discussion regarding competence and collaboration. Namely, how can we wield these tools effectively (competence) and in a coordinated manner (collaboration) to further the kingdom of God?
I’m so glad that you’re thinking along those lines! That’s exactly the kind of questions we need to be asking ourselves. How can we take the changes that have created all these challenges and use them to our advantage?
Thank you so much for you comment!
August 17th, 2005 at 4:23 am
Regarding Internet pornography: Did you know that you can report such sites, and have the data forwarded to Federal law enforcement?
See ObscenityCrimes.org for more details.
August 17th, 2005 at 4:24 am
Amen Brett…
keep the faith, and keep it advancing…
August 17th, 2005 at 4:25 am
Hey Brett,
Another question…Do think that if we do start taking advantage of technology to further God’s kingdom…the media will shut it out as soon as we start trying to move forward?
I mean there has been a pattern latley in our culture that whenever Christians speak up the non-Christians blow it out like it were a candle.
I hope that was clear enough…I know what im trying to say better in my head than what i said on this comment.
God Bless!
August 17th, 2005 at 7:33 am
Regarding Internet pornography: Did you know that you can report such sites, and have the data forwarded to Federal law enforcement?
See ObscenityCrimes.org for more details.
August 17th, 2005 at 3:54 pm
Amen Brett…
keep the faith, and keep it advancing…
August 17th, 2005 at 7:54 pm
Hey Brett,
Another question…Do think that if we do start taking advantage of technology to further God’s kingdom…the media will shut it out as soon as we start trying to move forward?
I mean there has been a pattern latley in our culture that whenever Christians speak up the non-Christians blow it out like it were a candle.
I hope that was clear enough…I know what im trying to say better in my head than what i said on this comment.
God Bless!
Lauren
August 18th, 2005 at 4:26 am
Lauren, I’m really happy about the way you’re thinking through these things. You are right. Non-Christians do all they can to keep us from speaking up and speaking out. However, they forget that it’s a free country. They try and reinterpret freedom of religion as freedom FROM religion–namely, Christianity.
What Christians need to do is to become aware of what the laws of the land allow us to do (which is a ton) and then collaborate (this is something else I’m going to address later on) in such a way that we are ready to combat any attacks from the other side.
You see, a problem Christians have is that they start something without the kind of connections they could have (and desperately need to have). Then, they are “squished” because they’re vastly outnumbered by the well-connected non-Christians.
Thanks again, Lauren!
August 18th, 2005 at 9:12 am
Lauren, I’m really happy about the way you’re thinking through these things. You are right. Non-Christians do all they can to keep us from speaking up and speaking out. However, they forget that it’s a free country. They try and reinterpret freedom of religion as freedom FROM religion–namely, Christianity.
What Christians need to do is to become aware of what the laws of the land allow us to do (which is a ton) and then collaborate (this is something else I’m going to address later on) in such a way that we are ready to combat any attacks from the other side.
You see, a problem Christians have is that they start something without the kind of connections they could have (and desperately need to have). Then, they are “squished” because they’re vastly outnumbered by the well-connected non-Christians.
Thanks again, Lauren!
In Christ,
Brett Harris
May 29th, 2011 at 12:05 am
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