Book Review: God, Technology, and the Christian Life by Tony Reinke
Technology is deeply embedded in our lives, but how should Christians engage with it? God, Technology, and the Christian Life by Tony Reinke explores a biblical perspective on technology, its benefits, and ethical challenges. This book urges us to use technology wisely under Christ’s Lordship.
It’s fair to say that technology has become so intertwined with our lives that it’s hard to escape from it. Smartphones, smart speakers, IoT devices, tablets—the list goes on. It feels as though almost every inch of our lives has been impacted by technology. Yet, we must not forget that technology is a blessing from God, and we are to use it in ways that glorify Him.
"God, Technology, and the Christian Life" is the first book in a while that I feel truly focuses on the responsible use of technology from a Christian perspective. Reinke sets out to reorient our understanding of technology, offering a balanced review of both Christian and non-Christian perspectives. He draws on ideas from experts such as Elon Musk and Yuval Noah Harari, as well as theologians like John Calvin and Charles Spurgeon.
Reinke is also the author of 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You, which I have reviewed in a separate post. That book discusses the various ways in which our heavy reliance on smartphones impacts our spiritual lives and witness. It also explores how, through the overuse of social media, we can ironically become more disconnected from one another.
This book traces the history of technology and how it has evolved, drawing parallels with its origins in Genesis and the Old Testament, as well as the philosophies that drive technological innovation. Reinke argues that technology has its roots in God’s creation of humanity from the very beginning.
Furthermore, God, Technology, and the Christian Life explores both the benefits and limitations of technology, pointing out that technological innovation often advances faster than ethical considerations, highlighting the need for a Christian perspective on technology.
Reinke also provides Scripture-driven insights into technology and its role in our daily lives, reminding us that technology must be treated as a tool—a blessing given to us by God—which we are to use under the Lordship of Christ.
As a result, this book serves as a timely reminder that we must take technology seriously and not abuse it. Given the firm grip technology has on our lives, it is crucial for Christians to learn how to navigate these modern times wisely.
I conclude this post with a quote from the book that I found particularly thought-provoking in light of the role of the Church and technology:
"... A thousand years ago you'd turn to the church. Today we expect algorithms to provide us with the answer—who to date, where to live, or how to deal with an economic problem." Will we trust autonomous intelligence to save us? Will supercomputers become our ultimate authority? Will Google become our god?
