The curse of technology
The curse of technology
During the past few weeks, most of the subjects seemed to have overlaps, with regard to the lectures and the assigned readings. IBI covers the different sources of criticism, PT covers the history of the early church and the Bible passages with regard to Pastoral Theology, PC&C covers the development of PC&C from the early church days to what it is today, and Theo covers also the historical aspects of theology, coupled with readings about the different sources of criticism, early church fathers/theologians, etc. I'm somewhat feeling confused about what is what that I've read ... *Giddy ***
In any case, during one of my classmate's presentation yesterday, she mentioned about Augustine (haha, I hope I remembered correctly) having such a pastoral heart that he would avail himself to all who needs his ministry, turning his back on none. At that, another classmate, SC raised a concern about how that could be possible since it's practically impossible to turn our backs to no one, even if we have such a pastoral heart, and SC said he wished he had such pastoral heart - to which Dr DK said that we will pray for his wish to come true =) Haha, that was SC's second "folly" within a month - the first time was when Dr MC said if we had appointed a subject rep. for his class and that maybe we should get the most handsome guy to take on that role, which SC replied immediately that "that's him!" Haha.
Anyway, looking back at the heart of pastoral ministry - it is indeed to minister to flocks that we are called. During the early church years, the only source of communication seems to be via snail mail, or perhaps traveling from one place to another - advance technology wasn't there to take the place of "ministry", so to say. I guess that's the beauty about the early church years and ministers of God who gave themselves wholeheartedly to the ministry of His people. And back then, churches were a lot smaller, congregation smaller in size, and the pastor's attention solely directed to ministry alone (of course besides the pastor's own private life) - the church and personal life of the minister are somewhat intertwine.
Today, we have very advance technology - mobile phones, emails, blue-berries, laptops, and whatever that I have not listed down (because I'm not an IT savvy person), but yet all these devices had replaced the much sought after care and concern, the much needed face-to-face talk, the much appreciated warm embrace and affirming touch. Technology has made people very COLD - so much so that communication is reduced to convenience, instead of something that should cost us something.
The other curse of technology is that we become too dependent on all these devices - M was commenting that we can't even leave our phones for 1 moment these days, even having to send sms messages during a church service, during classes, or during chapel, during meetings, etc. When the early and ancient do without all these, they didn't die for lack of it, did they? So what's the matter with us that we become such a slave to these equipment, helpful as they are? Have they become our master?
As I did my reading for my critical book review assignment, I find the following very enlightening and thought-provoking (from "Pastoral Theology" by Thomas Oden) ...
"As God Himself came to visit and redeem His people (Luke 1:68), so we go on behalf of God's Son to visit and share that redemption in our own arena of service. As God Himself becomes personally and bodily present in the incarnation, so are we called to be personally preent to those in our charge, especially those in urgent need. As God the Shepherd goes out to the lost sheep and leaves the ninety and nine, so at times we must leave the secured flock and pursue the lost one who is at risk (Matt 18:12). Pastoral visitation of persons is one way of reflecting the glory of God's own visitation of humanity in Christ, seeking the lost, redeeming sin, mending pain.
The pastoral office is by definition a shepherding task that involves not just a single meeting with the flock, but continuing oversight and feeding. The analogy suggests a deeply involved relationship ... this is why shepherding cannot be done at a sterile distance, with automated telephone answering services, computreized messages, and impersonal form letters. There cannot be an absentee shepherd. (Pg 171)
The telephone can be used as an instrument of pastoral calling once the relationship has been established. The telephone can make communication easier, eliminating travel time and worry about awkward timing. It may facilitate routine and immediate interaction, but it is not likely ever to become a permanent or an adequate substitute for personally persent one-on-one interaction, since the voice alone is not as complete as the whole sensory apparatus." (Pg 183)
The pastoral ministry is indeed a high calling and a tall order. I've always been encouraged by the apostle Paul whenenever he writes of his intention to visit the different churches he founded, or the people whom he longed to meet in response to their faith to the Gospel. He writes with so much of affection and that longing desire that it just breaks his heart not being able to be with them. Why have we become so COLD? Can we blame it on the curse of technology? Or is it time that we search our hearts to see the real root cause?
In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." That is our call too!!
During the past few weeks, most of the subjects seemed to have overlaps, with regard to the lectures and the assigned readings. IBI covers the different sources of criticism, PT covers the history of the early church and the Bible passages with regard to Pastoral Theology, PC&C covers the development of PC&C from the early church days to what it is today, and Theo covers also the historical aspects of theology, coupled with readings about the different sources of criticism, early church fathers/theologians, etc. I'm somewhat feeling confused about what is what that I've read ... *Giddy ***
In any case, during one of my classmate's presentation yesterday, she mentioned about Augustine (haha, I hope I remembered correctly) having such a pastoral heart that he would avail himself to all who needs his ministry, turning his back on none. At that, another classmate, SC raised a concern about how that could be possible since it's practically impossible to turn our backs to no one, even if we have such a pastoral heart, and SC said he wished he had such pastoral heart - to which Dr DK said that we will pray for his wish to come true =) Haha, that was SC's second "folly" within a month - the first time was when Dr MC said if we had appointed a subject rep. for his class and that maybe we should get the most handsome guy to take on that role, which SC replied immediately that "that's him!" Haha.
Anyway, looking back at the heart of pastoral ministry - it is indeed to minister to flocks that we are called. During the early church years, the only source of communication seems to be via snail mail, or perhaps traveling from one place to another - advance technology wasn't there to take the place of "ministry", so to say. I guess that's the beauty about the early church years and ministers of God who gave themselves wholeheartedly to the ministry of His people. And back then, churches were a lot smaller, congregation smaller in size, and the pastor's attention solely directed to ministry alone (of course besides the pastor's own private life) - the church and personal life of the minister are somewhat intertwine.
Today, we have very advance technology - mobile phones, emails, blue-berries, laptops, and whatever that I have not listed down (because I'm not an IT savvy person), but yet all these devices had replaced the much sought after care and concern, the much needed face-to-face talk, the much appreciated warm embrace and affirming touch. Technology has made people very COLD - so much so that communication is reduced to convenience, instead of something that should cost us something.
The other curse of technology is that we become too dependent on all these devices - M was commenting that we can't even leave our phones for 1 moment these days, even having to send sms messages during a church service, during classes, or during chapel, during meetings, etc. When the early and ancient do without all these, they didn't die for lack of it, did they? So what's the matter with us that we become such a slave to these equipment, helpful as they are? Have they become our master?
As I did my reading for my critical book review assignment, I find the following very enlightening and thought-provoking (from "Pastoral Theology" by Thomas Oden) ...
"As God Himself came to visit and redeem His people (Luke 1:68), so we go on behalf of God's Son to visit and share that redemption in our own arena of service. As God Himself becomes personally and bodily present in the incarnation, so are we called to be personally preent to those in our charge, especially those in urgent need. As God the Shepherd goes out to the lost sheep and leaves the ninety and nine, so at times we must leave the secured flock and pursue the lost one who is at risk (Matt 18:12). Pastoral visitation of persons is one way of reflecting the glory of God's own visitation of humanity in Christ, seeking the lost, redeeming sin, mending pain.
The pastoral office is by definition a shepherding task that involves not just a single meeting with the flock, but continuing oversight and feeding. The analogy suggests a deeply involved relationship ... this is why shepherding cannot be done at a sterile distance, with automated telephone answering services, computreized messages, and impersonal form letters. There cannot be an absentee shepherd. (Pg 171)
The telephone can be used as an instrument of pastoral calling once the relationship has been established. The telephone can make communication easier, eliminating travel time and worry about awkward timing. It may facilitate routine and immediate interaction, but it is not likely ever to become a permanent or an adequate substitute for personally persent one-on-one interaction, since the voice alone is not as complete as the whole sensory apparatus." (Pg 183)
The pastoral ministry is indeed a high calling and a tall order. I've always been encouraged by the apostle Paul whenenever he writes of his intention to visit the different churches he founded, or the people whom he longed to meet in response to their faith to the Gospel. He writes with so much of affection and that longing desire that it just breaks his heart not being able to be with them. Why have we become so COLD? Can we blame it on the curse of technology? Or is it time that we search our hearts to see the real root cause?
In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." That is our call too!!
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