On Gadgets and Godliness (2)

So, how should we think about the various technological innovations available to us? This is nothing like a comprehensive approach, just some guiding questions.

As I stroll through my little Southern California home looking for gadgetry, I think first of the kitchen. Fridge, range, microwave, mixer, toaster, bread machine, blender, and dishwasher. And that's just what I can see without opening cabinets. As I walk through my study and the bedrooms in the house, I find three computers and an astonishing assortment of devices related to hairstyling (I have 3 daughters and a wife). Daughter #2 has a sewing machine, #3 has an electric guitar and amp. We have a home phone and 4 cell phones. Our environment is made comfortable with central heating and air conditioning units and assorted fans. I have two aging Hondas, a lawnmower, and an amateurish assortment of power tools in the garage, all accessible by means of an electric door opener. But the central room in my house, the family room, speaks volumes. Except for the large sectional sofa, the biggest piece of furniture in the room (maybe even in the house) is – gulp – the entertainment center. It holds an LCD TV, Tivo DVR unit, cable box, receiver, CD/DVD player, and WiFi router. We have video on demand, music on demand, and information of all kinds – on demand. And we're average at best by today's standards.

Now, I have a certain amount of angst about all this, but I will keep that in the family for now. What I want to do here is ask a series of questions that might help us be more measured and kingdom-oriented in our decisions about technology. Before adopting a new piece of technology (including software applications), I plan to ask the following questions about it:

1. Will it save time? More importantly, will I actually use it in such a way that I will have a net gain in time available?
   
2. What does it eliminate? Remember Postman's point: there are costs to technological innovation.
   
3. Will this deprive me of participation in creation or community?
   
4. In what ways might this promote self-centeredness in me?
   
5. Will this help me serve/minister to others?
   
6. Am I seeking happiness or status in this?
   
7. How will the patterns of my life change after I've adopted this?
   

How about a couple examples? First, our dishwasher just broke for the severalth time. Should we buy a new one? No brainer, right? I mean, we're talking basic household equipment. Well, consider this: we had a medium-size crowd at our house for Resurrection Sunday (a.k.a. Easter) dinner. We got out grandma's good crystal and set quite a table, which resulted in the need for an epic cleanup session. After our guests left, I marshaled the forces and all five of us pitched in. The result? The whole thing was done in about 20 minutes (loading the dishwasher would have taken at least 15) – wash, dry, put away, store leftovers, all of it; we had a rather enjoyable time as a family, talking and joking during the work; we used less energy than the 96-minute dishwasher cycle would have consumed. So we gained family time and saved money. A modest new dishwasher would cost about $700 or so, maybe more with installation. We'd spend more money operating it, and we'd miss out on the family time. It won't advance our ability to minister to others and would not contribute to healthy patterns in our family or ministry. It isn't looking so attractive after all. Sure, there'll be times we miss it, but we judge that the benefit is not worth the total cost.

I need to give an example that's a little more painful: I would love to have an iPhone. My public mocking of all things iPhone (and Mac, for that matter) is really cloaked admiration. I could afford an iPhone, so should I get one? As I run down the list of questions above, I realize that it won't really save me any time; in fact, it will keep me more connected to things that take up my time (email, Twitter, internet in general); it will divert attention from other things as I go surfing for the next killer app; it will totally appeal to my flesh since I'll be a part of the "in" crowd; it will not likely enhance my ministry to others; and so on. In the end, it's not worth it to me. I'll stick with my Blackjack II with no data plan because it serves my needs – I can make calls, send text messages, and I can carry my Outlook calendar with me. These things are family and ministry oriented and will in fact save me some time if I am disciplined in my usage of them.

And then there's the entertainment center with the gear it holds and meaning it portends. I need to take a break before I talk about that.