Here in Abuja, as on any given evening, the glow of screens illuminates our faces. We scroll through social media, stream videos, and connect with loved ones on WhatsApp. Technology is not just a part of our world; it is our world. In this fast-paced, algorithm-driven age, it is easy to feel a disconnect between our digital lives and our spiritual lives. The timeless, sacred truths of the Word of God can seem a world away from the latest app update or viral trend.
But must these two realities be in conflict? Is technology a threat to faith, or is it a tool waiting to be redeemed? The truth is that the Word of God has a profound and necessary place in our technological world. It is not an outdated relic to be kept separate from our modern lives, but a living guide meant to serve as the very foundation, filter, and focus for how we engage with the powerful tools we have created.
The Unprecedented Pulpit: Dissemination and Accessibility
First and foremost, the most obvious place for the Word of God in technology is as the message to be spread. Never before in human history has it been possible to disseminate the scriptures and faith-based teaching so far and so fast. The Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations” is being fulfilled today through fibre optic cables and satellite signals. With a few taps on a smartphone, anyone from a banker in Lagos to a student in a remote village can access the Bible in hundreds of languages through apps like YouVersion.
Churches in our own city of Abuja can live-stream their services, reaching thousands who are sick, travelling, or seeking answers from across the globe. Daily devotionals are shared in family WhatsApp groups, and podcasts deliver profound theological teaching during a morning commute. This is a divine appointment. Technology has provided an unprecedented pulpit, a digital marketplace of ideas where the gospel can be preached, taught, and shared with an immediacy our ancestors could only have dreamed of. Its place is on every platform and in every downloadable format, ensuring the Word is not just preserved, but accessible to all who seek it.
The Anchor in the Algorithm: An Ethical and Moral Compass
While technology can be a powerful tool for good, it is not without its perils. The algorithms that drive social media are often designed to prey on our insecurities, foster comparison, and create echo chambers that amplify division. Misinformation spreads like wildfire, and the pursuit of online validation can lead to anxiety and depression. Technology is a tool, and like any tool, its impact depends on the heart of the one who wields it.
This is where the Word of God serves as our essential moral compass. It provides the unchanging ethical framework needed to navigate the digital world. When faced with online envy, the Word reminds us that “the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). When tempted to join in digital mobs or divisive arguments, it calls us to pursue peace and speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4). For the Christian tech creator, developer, or CEO, the Word provides a higher calling: to build platforms that promote human flourishing, connection, and truth, rather than simply maximizing engagement for profit. It acts as an anchor, holding us to what is true, noble, and right in a sea of digital chaos.
The Call to Stillness in a World of Noise
Perhaps the most subtle but critical place for the Word of God in technology is as a counterbalance to the culture technology creates. The digital world is a world of noise, speed, and constant distraction. It pulls our attention outward, fragmenting our focus into a thousand tiny pieces. Our spiritual health, however, depends on the opposite: stillness, silence, reflection, and deep meditation. As Psalm 46:10 commands, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
How can we be still when our phones buzz with endless notifications? How can we know God on a deeper level when we lack the quiet space to hear His voice? The Word of God calls us to discipline our use of technology. It invites us to deliberately unplug—to close the laptop, put the phone down, and open the scriptures not just to read, but to meditate. It reminds us that our souls need silence to thrive. Its place, therefore, is to help us manage our technology so that it does not manage us, ensuring that we remain masters of our tools and servants of our God.
