I have a friend, John. John does some really cool things, he’s super smart, and he’s been very helpful in terms of thinking through technology. He wrote a book that you should read. I’m telling you this, because historically I haven’t thought about technology as broad as I do now. What I mean is that, by John’s definition, anything that was created by cultivating something else is defined as technology. This draws a point about grace when you think through the biblical narrative in Genesis.
You see the story goes something like this:
Adam and Eve sinned –> Adam and Eve realize they’re naked –> Adam and Eve cover themselves with leaves
Now when I hear most people preach on this, it’s contextualized for now and we’re told that this was bad. There’s probably some truth that hiding your sin is bad, that’s not my point so let’s move on. Do you know what happens next?
God makes them better clothes. It’s really interesting. He doesn’t condemn them for their use of the leaves. They’re reflecting Him. Cultivating the garden into something useful. He doesn’t condemn that, instead He affirms the creative act by giving them an upgrade. How interesting. God gives them clothes 2.0. I didn’t think of the story this way until reading through John’s book. I’ve always thought of God as less interested in our clothes, in our technology, and condemning of the creative act. The reality is that He feels differently about me than I do, and sometimes it’s shocking. He cares far more deeply than we give Him credit for. He wants to upgrade our lives. Will you let Him?