Technology—A Substitute for God?

Mankind has accomplished much in the few thousand years we’ve been on this planet. Just the amount we’ve done in the last few decades is astounding and there’s no end in sight. It may seem like we can accomplish anything, that there are no limits. For those of us who love STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) this mindset can be a big temptation. That leads us to the eighth truth in our Truths of Technology series:

One of the greatest temptations we face with technology is to use it as a substitute for God. 

It’s tempting to replace God, and the message that it’s Jesus who redeems us and will ultimately save us from this sin-cursed world, with technology. Especially since technology is a God-given gift to help us fight the immediate effects of the Curse. But technology isn’t a substitute for God. It’s something He has given us that’s under His divine control.

You Shall Have No Other Gods

One of the Ten Commandments is “you shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). As Christians living in the West we might not be tempted like the ancient Israelites to fall into the worship of pagan gods, but we do often substitute things for God.

How often do we place our hope and trust in medical advancement and doctors, rather than our Savior? How often do we seek affirmation from casual acquaintances on social media, rather than turning to the One who knows us intimately and judges us based on the heart, not the external appearance (1 Samuel 16:7)? The sad truth is that many of us replace God, and our need for Him, with technology. When we begin to view the tools we have created as idols, they take away our dependence on our Creator. This is a temptation we must fight against daily.

You can read about the other Truths of Technology at the link provided in this overview article.

Camp Infinity

Where Science & Technology Meet Truth