Q&A: Technology and Christian concern

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="129a11c3.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to the Heart4God Website!"><U><B><IMG SRC="4b55a500.png" border=0 width="90" height="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin"><U><B>Writings by Date</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin Organized "><U><B>Writings by Topic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm"><U><B>Audio Files</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id690.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Videos"><U><B>Videos</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id323.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Writings of Others"><U><B>Other Authors</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id324.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id339.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Questions and Answers"><U><B>Q&A</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id328.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Heart4God Email List"><U><B>Heart4God E-mail List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com"><U><B>Parables Blog</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id306.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="File Downloads"><U><B><IMG SRC="2b264140.png" border=0 width="100" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <B>Q&A: Technology and Christian concern</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c2827160.png" border=0 width="807" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Dear S.,</div> <div>  </div> <div> I found this post that you forwarded to me on the massive push toward tracking all people and their activities and purchases worldwide to be very interesting. I have heard of a number of these technologies. Some like Digital Angel are receiving a good deal of publicity as many view it as a precursor to the mark of the beast where people will not be able to buy or sell without it. </div> <bR> <div> The author of this particular post on the Internet: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><U>http://www.stevequayle.com/News.alert/03_Tech/030527.future.scenario.html </U></FONT>asks many questions, and draws some conclusions, including the following: </div> <bR> <div> How do you survive in a world, and where do you live in a world... where you have no job, no land/homeownership, no personal property, no ability to engage in commerce or even travel?... </div> <bR> <div> What are you going to do, if you choose to opt out?...<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> You will be unable to hold a conventional job, bank or cash checks or other benefits, make conventional purchases of any type, own or even insure property, carry a driver's license, travel, enter buildings, pay for utilties, get medical care....the list goes on...<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Start thinking about how this affects you and your principals. Start making provisions as where your line in the sand is, and how you plan on surviving once that line has been crossed. Basically, if you opt out of the system, you would become a non-entity. A scrub, a vagrant (incidently, they are issuing I.D. cards to the homeless in many areas) an outcast. Literally, you will be the very lowest of the low....by society's standards. You will also have to be very self-sufficient and at the very least...semi-nomadic. In the beginning, I don't see the government forcing anyone to do anything on the "make the vagrants" comply angle. Everyone would pretty much leave you alone (other than running you off public & private property). Eventually, however; I see government & public opinion becoming very openly negative towards the holdouts that won't conform to the automated, cashless & utopian society...in this scenario. </div> <bR> <div> So. Start thinking about this possible future, and ways to adapt...on your terms and in ways that won't compromise your beliefs. </div> <bR> <div> The old phrase, "living off the land" takes on new significance in this scenario. Better figure out how to barter, the basics of the underground railroad (yes, from what I've read...there is a network), communication (study hobo movement) and etc. and so on. Lotsa topics out there, lotsa information...that should get you started for our future "what-if." </div> <bR> <div> The author is evidently addressing people who hold some sort of Christian world view, and he is exhorting them to take thought about the future and what they will do to survive, and to ensure that they and their loved ones have the necessities of life, food, clothing, shelter, etc.. </div> <bR> <div> My concern is that such a focus on the trends of this world system will lead many saints to harbor fear and anxiety in their hearts. The presence of Christ in the life of the saint will be the same in the future that is depicted as it is today. Also, the character of God will not be changed in the least. He will still love His children. He will still be a just God who cares for those who look to Him. Nothing will be able to separate the saint from the love of Christ in the days depicted, anymore than they can today. We will still be called to live by the leading of the Spirit and to be established upon the truth of Scriptures. These things will not change. </div> <bR> <div> So I would like to contrast/compare this writers words to take thought about tomorrow and how one will eat, what they will wear, where they will find shelter, etc.., with the words of Christ. </div> <bR> <div> Matthew 6:25-34<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?' or "What will we drink?' or "What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."</div> <bR> <div> In a future cashless society where one will be unable to buy or sell without some mark, or implanted chip, the words of Christ will still hold true. Our heavenly Father will still be on the throne. He will still be omnipotent. He will still rule over the kingdoms of men. And He will still provide for all of our needs. As we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, He will bring to us all those things that we need. </div> <bR> <div> I previously spent an 18 month period where the Spirit forbade me to work, and I had no money in the bank. God met every need of myself, my wife, and our two children and two dogs, and we never lacked for food, clothing or shelter. We didn't join any underground movement. We did not study the movements of the hobos, or become members of some barter society. We simply followed the Spirit wherever He led, and He provided for us. </div> <bR> <div> After this 18 month period of complete trust in God for all of our needs, God allowed me to return to part time employment for a period of two years when I requested it. Yet He weaned us off of looking to this employment to meet our needs. My hours were continuously cut from 30 hours a week, to 20 hours a week, then 10 hours a week. The last nine months I had only 10 hours of work a week, and this is quite insufficient to support a family of four, yet once more we did not lack for anything, and we lived very well. </div> <bR> <div> Back in March God called me out from this employment to minister full-time and trust Him once more for all of our needs. I had no savings built up, and no other income than what He sends us. We are once again doing quite nicely as we see His loving care for us. He is a just God, and those who place themselves in His hands need never fear. </div> <bR> <div> So I am concerned about the conclusions of the author of this writing. He is saying, "Take thought for tomorrow, about what we will eat, what we will drink, and with what we shall be clothed." Christ is speaking in an altogether different way, "Take no thought for tomorrow..., You of little faith." </div> <bR> <div> In the end, it does boil down to a faith issue. Do we trust in the character of God? Will He love His children in future days and take care of their needs as He does today? The answer is "Yes, He certainly will, for He changes not." But it is only those who have learned to trust in His character today who will be prepared to trust Him tomorrow. When the need of faith is thrust upon the saints, those who have failed to exercise it in their lives already, will find it hard to stand. Those who have been resting under the shelter of His arms will simply continue as they have been. </div> <bR> <div> So I encourage the saints that now is the time to press into faith in God. Now is the time to lean on Him and not on our own understanding or the provision and methods of this world system. (I am not saying that men should go out and quit their jobs.) Yet God brings all of His children to numerous opportunities to exercise faith in Him. I am currently working on a book that deals with this topic of faith, and I think it will provide valuable instruction and encouragement for many saints. </div> <bR> <div> May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days, </div> <bR> <div> Joseph Herrin</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>