God is NOT an app!

As you may aware I enjoy technology and how it can be a tool for ministry. Whether facebooking or blogging or emailing or skyping, technology has its benefits for communication.

One of the latest developments in technology comes in the forms of applications or “apps” that can be downloaded to your phone or computer. There are thousands of apps to choose from- everything from games to reference resources to calculators and even Bible readings. Nearly every day I read from the Eugene Peterson’s Bible translation that I downloaded as an app a few months ago.

Do you ever feel as if you treat God and His power as an “app?” That is, do you find yourself seeking out God and wanting to download his power and grace only when you think you might need it?

The other day I finished reading a book about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was German pastor and theologian who was executed on April 9th of 1945 for being in involved in a plot to kill Hitler. Obviously, he was not spending time with technology, but he did study the scriptures and write theology to help us live out our life in Christ, even during the last couple years of his life while in prison.

One of Bonhoeffer’s writings addresses the human tendency to “compartmentalize “ God or to keep God at arms length until we really need him. We might divide up our life into work, marriage, family, friends, community, religion, etc. This would lead us to have God part of our life only one Sunday mornings at church or whenever we worship. And, the rest of the week keep God off to the side and draw upon his love in Jesus only when we need it.

Bonhoeffer reminds us that God wants all of our life to follow Jesus. Every part of our life! God is at work in our family life, work, friendship, finances, activities, etc. Yes, after our baptism in Jesus’ name the Spirit is moving through every part of our life, not just one “religious compartment.”

So, whether you download a religious “app” or not, know that God constantly calls on us to follow Jesus- to follow Jesus everywhere we go and all that we do. After all, God wants all of our life- every dimension, not just one or two.

Your Jesus loving and tech loving pastor,

Pastor Durk