The Special Challenges of the 21st Century
On August 19th, 2005, Brett posted the first part of a four-part series on character. Over the next week, we’ll be going through that series, both for the many who have not read it, and for the others who cannot be reminded enough about the critical importance of biblical, principled character.
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.
April 7th, 2006 at 2:11 pm
Thanks for the post. I’ll defenitely keep that in mind.
April 7th, 2006 at 2:34 pm
“This country will not survive another generation of Christians that fit in.”
That is so true. We are called to be different! The very nature of God demands that we show to this world how different we are. Thank you for a very timely post!
April 7th, 2006 at 5:29 pm
Thank you for this post. It really is a war to have and maintain Christian character.
April 7th, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Thank you, for this good use of the internet. I enjoy reading your blog a lot.
April 7th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
Awesome post!! Thanks a lot!!
April 8th, 2006 at 4:31 am
This is a very true post.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
April 8th, 2006 at 5:05 am
This I think is one of your best posts. It hits the nail right on the head.
April 8th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
Excellent post, Alex.
April 9th, 2006 at 3:40 am
What a powerful post.
Suzanne Eller
April 9th, 2006 at 5:53 am
Wonderful post; timely reminder.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:37 pm
WOW. That was a powerful message against conformity. Sometimes when I hear the truth, I feel a little intimidated, but fear is the opposite of what God has in mind for us. This post was really encouraging! Thanks
January 9th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Wonderful Post. Indeed, it is a timely reminder.
January 16th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
The article read “The time for lukewarm Christianity is behind us”.
I’m sorry to say it, but I must disagree. I realize that’s not how you meant it, but I don’t think there ever was a time for lukewarm Christianity. Jesus puts it best:
Rev 3:15 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
V.16 “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.”
Thank you for your article and your desire to exhort others in the faith!
July 12th, 2007 at 10:18 am
That article is very prophetic! Thank you for helping my eyes to open on the real seriousness of seperating ourselves from the world. Thanks
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
The technological advancements are both a blessing and a curse… a blessing because there are better ways to preserve life and help those who are sick, and a curse because the scientists dont know how far is too far in regards to experimentation with life, and new tehnologies are providing easier ways for sick-minded and sinful people to circulate porn and promote the sex industries.
That is a very strong verse/challenge… that if parts of our body cause us to sin or stumble, it is better to enter heaven without them than lose our soul.
by the way… great post!
`Elisabeth J. Gruber
April 14th, 2008 at 7:21 am
my peers make me sick. I am ashamed of them. but what can I do? I am a minority.
April 19th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
We are supposed to be “One Nation Under God.” it is up to us (the next generation) to keep it that way!
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Awesome post! Very inspiring. That quote from Mark Driscoll was great! His sermons are really great too.
June 17th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
whoa, scary thoughts, but so true. thanks for the reminder to actively fight to live in a way that pleases only God. Godly character does require war against sin.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
“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.”
Wow… The whole thing shows us that we need to step out of our comfort zones so that we could really live. This is inspiration to step out of my comfort zone so that I can really live life.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Great job. Keep up the good work!