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<\/a><\/p>\nIn 2011, I had an opportunity as a youth pastor to do something extraordinary. \u00a0I could provide a complete Bible school education on an electronic device called a Kindle. \u00a0I have raised money for all kinds of things, sound systems, computers, buses, a bicycle, a Land Rover (that cost a pretty penny) and all kinds of cars and trucks and buses. \u00a0 For thirty years, I have been a part of providing our missionaries around the world with equipment that would connect them to their own local culture and to their outside world. \u00a0Our “networked theology” is that teenagers do the work of providing these essential tools for our missionaries, but this opportunity was different. \u00a0For simply $149 per unit, a student in a closed country could have access to acquire a Bible school degree. \u00a0It took off like crazy… \u00a0I had students doing everything that they could to raise the funds. \u00a0 Do you remember the birth of this technological wonder: \u00a0Go Fund Me? \u00a0One of my students posted online (which was seriously frowned upon because of the sensitivity of the country) that he wanted people to “go fund him” to provide for students (and he named the country.) \u00a0So much for being covert!! \u00a0I experienced the surge of people gravitating to this project and we provided hundreds of kindles. \u00a0 The rest of the story is that the country has become open now!! \u00a0But since that time hundreds of students have taken this little tool of technology, loaded with theology and has exploded their knowledge to let them be prepared at this pivotal transition time in their country. \u00a0Their education could not have happened traditionally instead it had to happen covertly because bringing a piece of technology into the country was so much easier than bringing a Bible or a stack of textbooks. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Overview<\/p>\n
I completely identified with Heidi Campbell and Stephen Garners book, Networked Theology. \u00a0 What a detailed history of the progression of technology and theology. \u00a0I have lived this book in so many ways because I have stayed in youth ministry for\u00a0so long.\u00a0 I have seen all of these trending products (bought\u00a0a bunch of them)\u00a0and ideas come and go that the authors have so intricately described and detailed in their book. \u00a0 This book is very intriguing and has drawn a detailed picture of our culture as it has developed and then they have taken the subject of theology and how it is integrated into the future and the present. \u00a0 There is no escaping the changes that have happened and there must be a way to continue to capture the platforms that are created and cause them to have a spiritual thrust. \u00a0 How they said it more clearly was ” we argue that theology can and must engage technology and new media to offer a holistic theological response to new media culture.” 11 \u00a0Their purpose was to constructively explore the theme of the network considering the intersection between contemporary media culture and the Christian faith. \u00a0 I believe they have done a stellar job of writing a book about this very crucial topic.<\/p>\n
Summary<\/p>\n
The shift for the church into this new arena of platforms has not been easy or seamless but it has been accomplished. \u00a0It has been challenging and it has cost time and money. \u00a0It has forced the message of the gospel to go from mustard seeds, the yeast in bread, a treasure in the field, a pearl in a field and a net cast into the see to “the kingdom of God is like a smartphone with endless battery life and unlimited data or the kingdom of God is like a wireless network connecting all kinds of people.” 13 \u00a0This example and illustration is what was so fresh about this\u00a0book. \u00a0 \u00a0They took the time to define technology and then looking at the path that the church has taken to interact with it. \u00a0They defined the new media theory and clarified language so that anyone could understand what they were talking about. \u00a0The look they took at the impact of technology on our values and behaviours in our daily lives. \u00a0This has only increased as the years have progressed. \u00a0How does this advancement engage and shape our areas of theology? \u00a0Redefining who our neighbor is within this new “community.” \u00a0How can all of this give us a framework for religious communities that exist and operate within this “new theology of new media?” \u00a0There must be a strategy to do this. \u00a0 Their conclusion has to do with the church and the wider public. \u00a0How can you develop a “robust, theologically informed appropriate technology? \u00a0It is possible and their presentation of implementation is really well thought through.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n