Deliberately Digital

Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D. C. offers insight on the unparalleled current opportunity for Christians to steward technology (see “Cultural Mandate” – Jack Hayford). Mark is a great example of an innovative pastor who is embracing technology as a tool both for spreading the gospel and for discipling purposes. He utilizes many forms of electronic communication including emailing several thousand subscribers each week. Mark is also a blogger and podcaster. He is allowing me to re-publish a portion of his article “I love technology".

"I’m not a technophile. I’m not even tech-savvy. But I love technology. Here’s why: technological developments have presented our generation with an unprecedented opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” And technology has brought most of the civilized world to our doorstep. Our generation has witnessed the death of distance. The world is a mouse click away.

I don’t think there’s ever been a more interesting or more exciting time to do ministry. The technological tools at our disposal have totally reshaped my portfolio as a pastor. We’ve got to be good stewards of technology. The church should be in the business of redeeming technology and using it to serve God’s purposes.

Isn’t that what Johann Gutenberg did? The Bible was unchained from medieval pulpits, copied on his printing press, and put into the hands of the average parishioner. It was the democratization of discipleship.

In his book, God’s Secretaries, Adam Nicolson says, “The old church and new technology were the closest of allies.” And it was that new technology that fueled the Protestant Reformation. Nicolson calls Martin Luther “the first genius of mass communications.” One German printer estimated that he had sold 100,000 Lutheran Bibles.

Here’s the bottom line: a revolutionary message plus a revolutionary technology packs a powerful one-two punch. The Printing Press marked the transition from oral to analog. Our generation is witnessing the transition from analog to digital. And just as the church led the way in the analog revolution, the church needs to lead the way in the digital revolution."

Mark has additional comments on emailing, blogging and podcasting that will follow in future posts. He has also written a chapter in the soon-to-be-published book The Blogging Church.