Jesus v The Robots?

Recently, I spent a week at an international tech conference, learning about all the latest advances in tech. What’s new and what’s about to come.

It’s a pretty strange world for a non-techie but, I learned about Artificial Intelligence and how computers are now teaching themselves faster than humans can. How the domestic robot is coming soon and even flying cars are set to arrive in the near future.

Of particular interest to me, were the predictions on how our normal daily behaviour is set to change. Our daily average of connectedness to the Internet will rise from the current 4 hours a day to 12 hours a day. Our whole existence becoming an “augmented reality”.

It’s hard to imagine, but not too long ago would you have believed we would be using our mobile phones to navigate, bank, email, purchase, book hotel rooms and entertain the kids?

Silicone valley seems to be in a constant, relentless pursuit of the new god that is tech. There seems little thought of the moral and spiritual implications to our future lifestyles.

Spending a week immersed in this future world made me consider a great deal the challenges we face and will face as Christians sharing our faith.

Relevant Faith

How do we introduce Jesus, who lived on Earth 2000 years ago, to a people who’s faces are so set towards the future?

How do we start a spiritual conversation with someone who is in a constant state of connectedness and not quite “in the room”?

Indeed, how do we make church really relevant to people, as we hurtle along at break-neck pace towards future advancements in tech?

In CV, our whole strategy is to utilise the very latest platforms to reach people for Christ. Yet these questions are still intimidating to me. Maybe even a little depressing.

But, let’s be encouraged! It is still the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a person that brings them to faith. God is certainly not intimidated by our clever little inventions!

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

(Ephesians 2:8)

What can we do?

Let’s also be pro-active. One of the major challenges we face as a ministry is that often in church outreach strategies, the web is overlooked as a place to be active.

But, if it is a place that people will soon be constantly connected to, it’s more important than ever to make sure the Good News is present and available for people to find.

We can do a couple of key things ourselves. First, use our own platforms in a proactive way to share our faith online.

Second, encourage our home churches to have a strong online strategy to reach people with the Gospel.

Remember, the Apostle Paul went to great lengths to make the Gospel relevant and available for people:

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.

(1 Corinthian 9:20)

Let’s make sure we are in the marketplace of today and tomorrow sharing the way, the truth and the life.