Is anyone in doubt that our forms and styles of communication are rapidly changing? Does it seem possible that technology can continue to change, and phones (can they be called that anymore?) are constantly getting smaller, working faster, and are capable of doing more while costing less?
From the earliest electric telegraph patented by Samuel Morse in 1837, to the development of the telephone in the 1870s by such inventors as Bell and Edison, we have come a long way to today’s current array of iPhones, Blackberries and a Bluetooth for your cell phone. Some like me are just old enough to remember a party line (no, that’s not where a bunch of your friends have a virtual party by using your phones or computers to simultaneously chat on line—if you don’t know, ask someone born before 1955), and a few of us still own a phone that is actually connected to the wall and has a curly cord attaching the phone base to the hand-set! And yes, we still seem able to function in society. Barely.
Increasingly, the way we communicate is not through a home phone that will soon only be found in a tele-communication museum, but now we connect through personal cell phones, e-mail, texting, Skype and Facebook. And before this article is printed, there may be some entirely newer and more exciting way for us to “talk” making current technology out of date before the warranty expires. And it is still to be seen what affect these rapid changes are having on our culture, our relationships, the way we interact and socialize!
So I wonder, what happens to God’s Word, the Bible, in an instant-communication world? As our way of dispensing information becomes less dependent on paper and is more electronic, it is exciting to see all the ways the scriptures are being made available to a cyber society. We have moved past the novel idea of a recording of the Bible so we could listen to it on tape or CD or our MP3 player (how quaint!). Now we have the entire Bible and multiple translations, not to mention Bible helps and concordances, all at our fingertips, with just the click of a button (I think they are called “apps” now), so we can access our scriptural data file or connect to the internet to download to our computer or phone any number of articles or web sites on any and every conceivable biblical reference, opinion or doctrine. Isn’t technology wonderful?
BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO SIMPLY READING GOD’S WORD? Now I’m not advocating that the only way to read the Bible is to have it in book form (though I’m hopelessly a product of the print revolution started by Johann Gutenberg in the mid 15th century). I do acknowledge (even as I write this article on a computer and will send it electronically to our secretary) the equally revolutionary “Google” world we are moving into which has changed the way we access information. So the point isn’t how we access the Bible, but do we? Do we read God’s Word? And not just a few verses that we need for a quick answer or short devotional. And not just to be a starting point into theological discussions on what the Bible means. Do we actually read the Bible?
You see for a culture that seems to pride itself on its communication revolution, we don’t pay much attention to or put much time into accessing God’s communication to us. What God has done, has said, and what He is still communicating to a 21st century world is instantly available to anyone who is willing to apply themselves. In the pages of the Bible you will see the character and heart of God (dare we say it is the original face book?). God has sent a “text” to you where you will find all the answers to all human need, for in spite of changing technology, the human condition and God’s answers to us, are right at our finger tips, and always have been if we’d just take the time to read (and listen).
Every Christian must take responsibility for reading and studying God’s Word. It isn’t simple, but it is life changing. It isn’t instant, but it is of eternal worth. How about you? Continue or start fresh to hear from God, to learn His character, to find your way, by actually reading the Bible (the whole Bible). You just might be surprised at what He wants to say to you!
 

Denis Whittet