Gospel Proclamation: The Use of Technology for the Gospel

Since the time Jesus gave the disciples one last command to go and make disciples, the church, for over two thousand years, has been going where the name of Jesus is not known to share with people the good news of the gospel. Pastors, every week, stand preaching and teaching the gospel and proclaim how that impacts our life. Everything the church does centers around the truth of the gospel from every ministry, event, and volunteer team. The goal is always to go make disciples who go make more disciples. 

One of those ministries in the church that helps share the good news is technology. The church today can use technology to get the message everywhere. We have social media, video, websites, marketing campaigns, and many other tools to get our communities to know what and where our church stands. In our services, we have tools for people to hear the preacher and sing along with our music team. 

The list can go on and on. As technology improves, the church can utilize this technology to get the message of the gospel out. This is not news, but I want to walk through some reminders about the use of technology. 

Reminder #1: Technology does not replace the need for physical interaction with the people in our church. 
During COVID-19, the church was forced to go completely online for everything. In the beginning, there was a longing for the church to gather back again in person. The church was never meant to be online and disconnected but to be together. How do we obey the dozens of “one another” Scriptures when the church was all online? We can’t do it permanently. We did that for a time, but the church has always meant to be together with one another. 

Reminder #2: Technology does not replace going out into the community to share the gospel. 
Social media has allowed us to share our church services, videos, and other graphics to get people to see and hear the gospel message online. It is a wonderful tool to have, but it does not replace sharing the gospel with people in person. The joke continues that people can be on social media talking to people and texting one another constantly, but in person, we can’t keep a conversation. We can get angry with someone online, but in person, we struggle to rebuke someone for being in sin. The advancement of technology can be helpful, but also hurtful at the same time. As Christians, we must be aware and think about the issue in our local church context. 

Reminder #3: Remember why you use the technology you use.  
Whether it be the person doing social media, the guy behind the soundboard, or the one operating a camera on Sunday morning, all the technology your church uses and the people who run it are doing it for the glory of God and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is easy to slip into a mindset of growing the kingdom of “me” and forgetting we are slaves of Christ. We share the good news of Jesus and not the good news of “me.” We can get caught up in the stats of how many are watching and interacting with us online, but our goal is to make disciples who go make more disciples to increase thanksgiving to the glory of God. We serve not to make our name known but to make His name known everywhere.

By all means use the technology God has given you to use but remember the purpose of it: to glorify the Lord and make disciples that make disciples that glorify Him. 

Brendan Pratt
Young Adults and Media Director | Crosspointe Baptist Church, Westerville OH