Jesus asked the question. “To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?” (Luke 7:31). On another occasion, Jesus noted that the religious leaders knew how to read the weather, but they didn’t know how to read the signs of the times (Luke 12:54-56).
In the Old Testament we read about men from the tribe of Issachar who understood the times and knew what Isreal should do (1 Chronicles 12:32).
What about us? How should we describe our generation? Do we understand our times? Do we know what to do?
Surely most people would agree that our generation is influenced by rapidly advancing technology, especially in communications. The internet has created a virtual world that competes with the real world. Social media gobbles up more and more time and attention. Are we controlling it, or is it controlling us?
Social media can be a great blessing. It enables us to stay in touch with people who are far away, family and friends we would otherwise struggle to keep up with.
Ironically, social media can also isolate people and diminish personal contact. I can still remember the first time I saw two people sitting at the same table in a restaurant texting one another instead of talking with each other. Social media tempts us to replace personal contact with electronic communication.
This is all probably changing dramatically at this very moment. The astounding advances of Artificial Intelligence (AI) promise another great leap forward in how we communicate with one another. It seems that just as we are realizing the dangers of social media, we are being flung into the confusing world of AI.
Many aspects of technology are bewildering, but some things are crystal clear. First, advances in communication technology do not come with advances in human ethics. Bad people still exist, and they use new technologies with old evil intentions. This fact should be acknowledged and people must be warned.
Second, parents who do a poor job navigating social media will not be very effective at helping their children do so. If parents fail their kids, then that failure will likely be passed on to the next generation. We may be hopelessly falling behind.
In addition to social isolation and money scams, social media and AI have an even darker and more sinister side. AI is already being used to produce new versions of pornography. Why is it that every new communications technology is almost immediately used to produce pornography and promote sexual immorality?
Why does the world seem so hostile toward healthy marriages and families? God’s design for family is fundamental to godly life. God is faithful to his people and he wants husbands and wives to be faithful to one another, reflecting and promoting godly living. God is the loving Father to his people and he wants mothers and fathers to be loving to their children, reflecting and promoting godly living.
Our generation has changed the legal definition of marriage and doubled down on destroying unborn babies. Our generation makes it a badge of honor to say “No” to children and to say “No” to God’s design for family. Our generation is so confused and deceived that many people refuse to acknowledge the obvious natural distinction between boys and girls, men and women.
What should we do? First, we must reject pornography in all its forms and promote healthy marriages. God’s design for marriage is one man and one woman freely and fully committed to one another for life, raising their children together and enjoying their grandchildren. Christian marriage is designed by God to be a living parable of the love Jesus has for his church.
In addition, we should set healthy limits to our use of electronic communications. Personal contact with other people is normal and necessary. Church is the perfect example. There is no such thing as an online church family. Church services made available online are a blessing for those who cannot get out. They should not be a crutch for those who can get out.
Christianity has always used technology to promote the gospel, from the printing press, to radio, to TV, and now the internet. But the gospel message still needs a personal touch. Jesus didn’t sit in heaven and live stream his message to earth. He came in person. Like Jesus, we must go and interact with others.
Finally, we must remember that any media can be used to corrupt God’s truth and promote deception. Media can give the false impression that God’s Word is obsolete. It is not. Jesus assures us that heaven and earth will pass away (including the internet and smart phones), but his word will not (Luke 21:33).
We can be certain that technology will continue to change. We must also be certain that God’s Word will not. Let us contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all.
May God inspire us and enable us to build strong families, communities, and churches,
Brother Richard Foster
brotherrichardsblog.com 