By Jill Miller
Reading this article means you’ve already tapped into the spiritual side of technology and have tasted its sweetness.
But how did you get here?
Were you intentionally searching for edifying spiritual content or mindlessly scrolling and the graphic caught your attention?
Technology is like fire.
Fire can do many good things—keep you warm, cook food, refine metal, and create glass. However, if it is not kept under control, devastating effects can occur.
The same is true for technology.
If technology is used properly, it can be beneficial. If used without restraint and discernment, technology can have a harmful impact.
4 Benefits of Using Technology for Spiritual Growth
1 – Overcome resource limitations.
Most Bibles have an index, small concordance, and maps. A study Bible also has footnotes, cross-references, and study notes.
These resources are wonderful, but have limitations.
Let’s say the conversation around the dinner table turns to whether or not angels have wings and you get nominated to do the research.
You could start by finding the word “angel” in the concordance, then look up the references.
But the concordance in the back of your Bible is not exhaustive. With a select number of entries, you may not be able to get a definitive answer.
However, if you visit a website such as Bible Gateway, you can search for every reference to the word “angel” in more than 50 translations and paraphrases.
As each verse is displayed on the screen, you can quickly scroll through the lengthy list to find your answer.
Curious about the answer? Use Bible Gateway as a tool to find out!
2 – Enjoy new resources in various formats.
Many people struggle to spend time reading God’s Word daily and don’t know where to begin. A Bible app called YouVersion can provide a starting point and an excellent example of using technology for spiritual growth.
You can read or listen to a specific passage in your preferred version of the Bible, follow a reading plan, enjoy a daily devotional, or watch a teaching video.
You can even join a community to receive encouragement from others who are working to be more disciplined in this area.
3 – Gain a deeper understanding.
The Bible was written a long time ago for an audience whose culture is likely different from your own.
Free online study tools—like Blue Letter Bible or Manners and Customs in Bible Lands—can help you better understand what it was like to live in Bible times.
Understanding the culture during New Testament times can give you a whole new perspective.
For example, Luke 6:38 NIV says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Using the resources above, you’ll uncover a deeper understanding of the truth communicated in this verse. Go for it!
4 – Feast on spiritually healthy media alternatives.
You can purchase Bible software and get your own personal copy of all the tools mentioned above. Multiple companies offer Bible software, but Logos is one good option.
You can use technology for spiritual growth and to study the Bible more thoroughly and deeply.
But sometimes, you need someone to do the hard work and feed you spiritual food that is easy to digest.
Here are a few solid organizations with websites and/or apps with podcasts, audiobooks, sermons, and a variety of other offerings that are spiritually-healthy alternatives to TV, movies, and mindless scrolling for adults and kids:
Pitfalls to Avoid When Using Technology for Spiritual Growth
Technology has potential pitfalls if used without restraint and discernment.
As you delve into spiritual content, algorithms are at work behind the scenes and shift with your clicks. Posts and ads for sites you’ve never heard of before may appear.
Click carefully!
Anyone can post and publish anything they want. Not everything out there is accurate and true.
Some sites may appear solid on the surface but as you look more closely, their beliefs, doctrine, and theology may not match up with your own.
If you have kids using technology, thoroughly check out any site you let them use—even if it seems biblically based.
If this is one of your first tastes of online spiritual content, please take another bite!
If you’ve been eating at this table for a while, try some new things. An entire buffet of resources is waiting for you to dig in and taste!
Jill Miller
After using her math and computer skills in the health insurance industry for more than 30 years, God granted Jill’s desire to retire early. This gives her the freedom to use her God-given skills to pursue volunteer ministry opportunities. In her spare time, Jill likes to be physically active to balance out her love for cooking and baking. She also enjoys crossword puzzles and watching birds and other critters God brings to her feeder.
