Static Noise
When I see our young (and older) people engrossed with their mobile devices it reminds me of the Eloi of H.G. Wells "The Time Machine." Are they disengaged from reality? Technology can be a blessing and a curse. It can be addictive and pull you away from what is really important.
This makes me wonder how much technology we have allowed in our collective worship. How does it change what we should be doing in true worship?
Here are some examples of distracting technology:
Sound system that picks up passing emergency vehicles
PowerPoint song sheet with the wrong song
1000+ song hymnals that are too heavy to hold when standing
Reading glasses that need cleaning
People with squealing hearing aids
Cellphones that go off
Now if you add instrumental music, the technology demands increase:
Setting up the lights
Running cables and wires
Getting a generator to support the extra power needed for the lights and amps
Connecting to the sound board
Sound check
Practice sessions
How much of this interferes with our communication with God and each other?
Many times technology can become a distraction. Is it really necessary? Does this improve our worship or is it a novelty that we have made into a necessity?
It is possible that this technology interruption is not really a new thing, but just more apparent. It may have started with Isaac Watts in the 1690s when he wanted to write his own lyrics instead of using the psalms. Or maybe it goes back to Gutenberg and his 1439 printing press. If we didn't have the press, Isaac Watts would have difficulty making song books.
So is technology wrong? Do the Amish have the right idea in their simplicity of worship (not mentioning all aspects of life)? Consider the early church. They did not need temples, synagogues, priestly attire, altars, or musical instruments to worship.
It's like the story of Mary and Martha. Martha's technology of the day got in the way. "But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.' But the Lord answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'" (Luke 10:40-42)
Martha was doing a good thing with her tools and gadgets, but they got in her way. They were "distractions." We can be doing good things as well with our gadgets, but have we "chosen the good part?"
Put your technology down and listen to the Lord.
-Jay Crook