Tech Transparency
For many years, I was a social media snob. I had a Twitter account that required private approval (housing a handful of dust-collecting tweets), I waited forever to finally get Instagram, and I thought Facebook was only for connecting with my real life friends and family.
Those who know me in real life also know I refer to myself as a “turtle tech,” and that our teenage daughter has laughed at my amateur selfie-snapping skills (How, exactly do you get just the proper angle to avoid the double chin, while not resembling a long-necked Llama?)
On top of it all, I already have too many irons in the fire of an already busy schedule with three kids and multiple family businesses. Until recently, I just could not squeeze one more time-zapper (neither energetically nor mathematically) into the 24/7 equation of daily life.
Most of all, I confess I was fearful of “putting myself out there” in such a publicly transparent way. It’s a mad, mad world, full of real life and virtual predators and let’s face it: we all know technology can turn against us. But, the older I get, the more I’m realizing what it means to be “salt and light” in the world as a follower of Jesus.
Did Jesus share His message with only his next-door Nazareth neighbors, hoping they would “pass it on” down the line through a tin can party line? No, He climbed a rocky hillside to tell a crowd gathered in His Sermon on the Mount. Did the apostles run away and hide for the rest of their lives in caves when the threat of being arrested, beaten, and even martyred was their reality? No, they proclaimed the good news of the gospel of the Kingdom even LOUDER!
I’m still a work-in-progress technologically speaking – I haven’t yet “conquered” my turtle-tech limitations. But at least I’ve poked my head out of my turtle-tech shell. For all the harm technology can do in the hands of the enemy, it has far greater potential to do good in the world, if ordinary people like me are willing to use it to reach out virtually… with the real Good news of the Gospel. I’m stepping out, and putting my Faith Forward!
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 5:13-16
You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. - 1 John 4:4 NLT