Communications Technology And Scripture

Developing technology continues to provide our modern world with remarkable communication systems, their combined facilities often refereed to as the world of cyberspace.

Familiarity may well cause us to lose any sense of wonder at the immediacy of the communication at our disposal. We dial the number of friends on the other side of the globe, and within seconds hear them speaking to us as if they were in the next room. Or we feed a sheet of paper into our fax machine, and shortly receive a signal that an identical copy of the message has been printed out at a destination thousands of miles distant. The newest and fastest growing area of communications is at present the digital cellular network, bringing all the advantages of the cellular phone.

Human inventiveness has devised these modern marvels of communication, but Scripture reveals that from the earliest ages of human experience God-fearing believers have had available a much more remarkable and far-reaching means of communication with Him. Through faith, those who have come to God' believing that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him, have known through prayer immediacy of contact with the God of heaven.

This truth is reflected in Daniel's experience, when he had poured out his heart in confession and supplication on behalf of his people Israel:

Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation... and said... At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment went forth, and I am come to tell thee; for thou art greatly beloved (9:21-23).

Similarly in chapter 10:

And he said unto me, 0 Daniel, thou man greatly beloved ... from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard... But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days (vv. 11-13).

Assuming then that there is a right attitude of heart on the part of the suppliant, prayer immediately reaches the heavenly throne. Delay there may be in God's perceived response, according to His perfect wisdom, but let there be no doubt that this communication transcends in wonder the most ingenious human achievement. 'And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear' (Is. 65:24).

Associated with the personal computer boom, there has been a phenomenal expansion of Internet usage. Internet is the term used to describe the global web of some 50,000 interconnected computer networks. By hooking one's personal computer through a modem to the telephone, connection is made with an access provider'.

The Internet not only facilitates electrically transmitted messages, but also opens up the possibility of access to electronic libraries throughout the world. Thus vast information sources are made available to those who are 'on wire'. Hence the term 'information superhighway', and widely publicized schemes to link up schools with the Internet for educational purposes. Sadly the system is open to abuse for the promotion of such evils as pornography. For no one owns the Internet, and no single organization controls it.

'It crosses national boundaries and answers to no sovereign. It is literally lawless'. The god of this age will ensure that it is used to further his aims. Yet equally it may be harnessed for the spread of scriptural teaching. In nature the bee will seek out nectar, but the bluebottle locates corruption; so with those who 'surf' the Internet; their motivation will determine the topics to which they relate.

'Knowledge shall be increased', we read in Daniel 12:4, a feature identified with 'the time of the end'. The 'information superhighway' may well contribute to this increase of knowledge; just another significant strand of the evidence that conditions are ripening towards the scripturally revealed state of affairs immediately preceding the coming of the Son of Man to earth. But we wait for His Son from heaven (1 Thes. 1:10).

Of the Antichrist, featured as 'the beast' in Revelation chapter 13, we read: 'and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation' (v.7). This indicates world-wide authority and control. How relevant the speed of modern communications will be to the implementation of that control. Is not this also a potent of the near approach of 'the time of the end'? Alerting us, who are believers awaiting the Lord's coming to the air for His Church, that 'He is nigh, even at the doors'.

unknown | Nov 1996
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