There’s a lot of debate about what kinds of technology are appropriate for church, and how those technologies should be used. Opinions vary widely on the topic, and discussions can get heated quickly. My purpose here is not to categorically tell you what kinds of technology you should or should not be using in your church. Instead, I would like us to think together about the theological underpinnings of the choices we make. Does the Bible have anything to say about worship settings? Is technology helpful in creating an atmosphere conducive to worship?
Is There a Chapter and Verse About Technology?
Since the Bible was written several thousand years ago, it does not specifically talk about bluetooth, microphones, or music tracks. However, it does give us specific principles on which we can base our choices. I’d like to discuss two of those principles here.
- Everything we do should glorify God. I Corinthians 10:31 teaches us that everything we do—eating, drinking, singing, using a screen—should be done for God’s glory. If it doesn’t glorify God, don’t do it.
- Music should help the word of Christ dwell in us richly. Colossians 3:16 says that one purpose of music is to help us meditate on God’s Word. It follows, then, that anything associated with the presentation of that music should also help us focus on God’s Word.
Now, let’s see how we can apply these principles to our technology choices.
Let’s Talk About Worship Styles
Anyone who knows me knows what I believe about worship styles. In a nutshell, music carries morality. Worship styles can either glorify God or not glorify God—they are not all equally acceptable. When technology comes up for discussion in Christian circles, the discussion often centers not on the technology itself, but on how it is used. For example, many people believe that a microphone is okay if it is on a stand, but it’s not okay if the singer is holding it in his or her hand. Why is that? It’s because one of the hallmarks of contemporary style is that the singer holds the microphone very close to the mouth, creating a breathy, sensual sound.
But let me ask a question: is the problem that the microphone is held in the hand? Or is it the way the singer is using that microphone? I know for a fact that a close microphone can be used in a non-sensual way, because I do so in my concerts all the time. See, when we talk about technology, it can be very difficult to separate the physical object from the way in which it is being used. But I believe this is an important distinction. The question we should be asking is not whether or not we should use hand-held microphones. Instead, let’s ask whether the song and the style in which it is being sung 1) glorifies God and 2) helps us meditate on God’s Word.
Can Technology Play a Role in Biblically Appropriate Worship?
In our conservative culture today, many types of technology receive a bad rap. Articles have been written about why churches shouldn’t use screens, hand-held microphones, dim lighting, or other technology options. Maybe in a future article I’ll talk about some of those in more detail. But the point I want to make here is that technology is a tool. Just as you can use a hammer to build a house or to smash a window, so technology can be used to help us create music that glorifies God or music that doesn’t.
Let me be very clear. This is not the same as saying all musical styles are equal depending on how you use them. Music as an end product carries morality. The physical object—the microphone, the screen, or the piano—remains neutral until a person uses that tool to produce something. It’s not about the tool; it’s about how you use the tool. Let’s not blame the tools for bad methodology.