THE EFFECT OF TECHNOLOGY IN CHURCH DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study
Each day the wheel of progress continues to turn bringing about significant changes in human endeavours. Man, the rational animal on the face of the earth, has from crude methods of communication developed highly sophisticated ways of communicating. The new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) or Technologies are rapidly changing our old ways of sending, receiving, storing and analysing messages and data. Many barriers that militated against effective communication are day-after-day being dismantled. Technology as understood, is much talk about and almost an indispensable part of today’s society.1
Technology has given Christianity a voice to reach a world-wide audience. Historically there have been advances for Christianity when there have been advances in technology. Not all Christian groups have reacted to it as have the Amish. In many cases the Church has been one of the first entities to adopt or profit from technologies. In the mid 1400’s Gothenburg set up the printing press and published the first mechanically printed Bible. This was, to a large part, a factor in the start of the Reformation. The printing press enabled ideas to flow rapidly and in large quantities to very large audiences. William Tyndale translated the Bible into English and had it printed and distributed in the early 1500’s. During the same time period, Martin Luther was printing pamphlet after pamphlet in order to explain his views to an interested Europe. He also translated and had printed the Bible into German. It remains the standard German work to this day. In 1644 the English Parliament sought to censor printing because they felt it was necessary to repress certain dangerous ideas, especially regarding religion.2
John Milton argued passionately that ideas, even heretical ones, needed to be exchanged. Even 600 years ago the effect of technology on Christianity was a topic for discussion and debate. Jacques Ellul mentioned that technology always has bas as well as good effects. He also asserts that technology develops a dynamic of its own. Neil postman observes that technology has displaced traditional culture, to our great harm. It is quite possible to see how technology has displaced the traditional culture of Christianity, especially in the way that worship and church work is conducted. Thomas Corts, writing in an article in the most recent Southern Baptist Educator Journal of 2005, says “I had hoped that the billions we have spent on Sunday Schools, day schools and vacation bible schools would produce a generation that has its values correct. I would have thought the vast sums spent on television preaching might have turned the tide. I wish all the church buildings and church going had made a consistent and measurable difference. But we are left to admit: the divorce rate is about the same among those who attend church and those who do not. The 70 percent of men between the ages of 18 and 34 who visit a pornography web site at least once a month includes believers and church goers. The ranks of the high and mighty, white collar elite who have bilked us for billions include those Bible-carrying, church-going, God-talking criminals who will escape jail only by legal slight-of-hand, if they do escape. As the Barna organization has concluded, “Peoples’ faith does not make as much of a difference as might be expected.”3
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have a wide field of application today than it was fifty (50) years ago. From mobile communication (audio and video) to digital tracking and very importantly among the younger population today is Social Media.4
These developments in the world of ICT does not leave out the Church in its quest to reach the world with the gospel and uphold a high moral position as the bearer of objective truth. Since the development of printing technology with mechanical systems, the church through the effort of men and women of vision have used technology to further the cause of the kingdom of God among men.5
1.2 Statement of Problem
With the advances in technological development and applications, there is need to understand the impact of this on the Church taking Christ Apostolic Church as a focal point. More important is the comprehension of the pros and cons of using modern ICT tools in the church.6
The issue of the use of technology in the growth of the church at large has always posed some challenges to the Church. Some people are of the view that social media has negative influences on the church considering the challenges therein. For instance, faith-based organizations (FBOs) are confronted with challenges and pressure relating to the adoption of social media technologies. More so, the Church has generally shown lack lustre interest in the use of technology, an attitude which dates back to the advent of cinema, which the Church saw as having the capability of corrupting the faithful (Ihejirika, 2008).7
On the other hand, there are some people who think that technology has the right potentials to move the church forward. They noted that technology holds great hope for the Church in connecting with many Christians across the world; and that it would serve as veritable opportunity for the Church to connect with the youths who are totally on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Skype and the host of other ICT (Gray & Gautier, 2012; Nigli, 2012).8
This variation in views has in one way or another affected the way ICT has been used in the church. While some might tilt to the use of social media in church development due to their perception of the benefits therein, others might want to stay away from the growing influence of social media or take their time to review the direction the new technology is tilting before accepting it as a means for church development and growth. This difference in view is strongly related to the tenets of technological determinism theory which holds that the invention of a new technology influence social cum cultural order in the society, thereby subjecting this technology to different social cum cultural interpretations.9
Considering these differences in opinion, there is need, therefore, to find out the extent to which technology (ICT) affects church development.
1.3 Purpose of Study
This research topic is set to:
Identify to what extent technology has contributed to the development of the Church
Identify the damages technology has caused the church.
Determine to what extent technology has been vital and has made the church relevant in the earth
Consider ways in which technology will be properly harnessed in fulfilling the claim of the God who has called the church to be the salt in the earth.
1.4 Significance of Study
This study seeks to understand the prospects and problems of adoption of ICT tools in the work of ministry in Christ Apostolic Church taking cues from reports and outcomes from others that have used such. Understanding this will help ministers make better decisions in the use of technology in the work of communicating the gospel and discipline people.
1.5 Research Methodology
This thesis will utilize both social scientific literature, news sources and other relevant documents to compare the role of technology in both the secular world and in the church.
1.6 Scope of the Study
This work considers the effects of technology on church development as given by different researchers in the field and the implication for Christ Apostolic Church. This work will allow ministers to consider and plan the use of technological tools in the work of ministry.
1.7 Limitation of Study
Due to the huge nature of project and number of Christ Apostolic Churches all over the country, this project will only be focusing on a few Churches in Christ Apostolic Church that have and have not adopted the use of technology in the work of ministry and also evaluating the impact of technology use on the church development.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Evaluation: The free online dictionary defines evaluation as the making of a judgment about the amount number, or value of something; assessment or is a systematic determination of a subject’s merit, worth and significance, using criteria governed by a set of standards.10
Problem: The free online dictionary defines problem as a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome.11
Prospect: The free online dictionary defines prospect it is the possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring.12
Technology: The free online dictionary defines technology as the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.13
Church: The free online dictionary defines a church as a building used for public Christian worship.14
Development: The free online dictionary defines development as the process of developing or being developed.15
Endnotes
1Bolu Christian, “Role of Information, Communication and Telecommunication (ICT) in Church Growth”. (Paper presented at Assemblies of God Nigeria, Apapa District Conference on Church Growth in Contemporary Nigeria, 2004).
2Gunton Lean, “Religious Information Literacy: Using Information to Learn in Church Community”. (Aust. Libr. Journal, 2011), 155-164
3Barna Christian, “Role of Technology in Church Growth”. (Paper presented at Assemblies of God Nigeria, Abia District Conference on Church Growth in Contemporary Nigeria, 2004).
4Ihejirika William, “In-line religion: Innovative pastoral applications of the new information and communication technologies (NICTS) by the Catholic Church in Nigeria”. (Politics and Religion. No. 2, vol. II, 2008), 95.
5Gray Marion, Nigli & Gautier, Catholic new media use in the United States (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate Georgetown University Washington, D.C New media essential for evangelization 2011-12), 10.
6Gray Marion, Nigli & Gautier, Catholic new media use in the United States (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate Georgetown University Washington, D.C New media essential for evangelization 2011-12), 10.
7Ihejirika William, In-line religion: Innovative pastoral applications of the new information and communication technologies (NICTS) by the Catholic Church in Nigeria. (Politics and Religion. No. 2, vol. II, 2008), 79-97
8Gunton Lean, Religious Information Literacy: Using Information to Learn in Church Community. (Aust. Libr. Journal, 2011), 155-164
9Ihejirika William, “In-line religion: Innovative pastoral applications of the new information and communication technologies (NICTS) by the Catholic Church in Nigeria”. (Politics and Religion. No. 2, vol. II, 2008), 80.
10The free online dictionary, thefreeonlinedictionary.com “Meaning Evaluation”. Accessed on 23rd January, 2019.
11The free online dictionary, thefreeonlinedictionary.com “Meaning Problem”. Accessed on 23rd January, 2019.
12The free online dictionary, thefreeonlinedictionary.com “Meaning Prospect”. Accessed on 23rd January, 2019.
13The free online dictionary, thefreeonlinedictionary.com “Meaning Technology”. Accessed on 23rd January, 2019.
14The free online dictionary, thefreeonlinedictionary.com “Meaning Church”. Accessed on 23rd January, 2019.
15The free online dictionary, thefreeonlinedictionary.com “Meaning Development”. Accessed on 23rd January, 2019.