“Evangelizing This Digital World”

“Evangelizing This Digital World”
*An entry of one of my students to the MISYON Magazine essay writing contest
By: Luis Sena Batch 2010
Today, we live in a truly digital world. Whether if it is at home, school or work, one cannot help but take advantage of this great gift God has given our generation. But do we really take advantage of these technologies or do we just abuse them by using them for the spreading of sin to ourselves and the community? In what way can we fully utilize these new systems so that we will be able to create a better society?

Sometimes, people abuse the technologies that pervade our lives. An example of abusing these technologies is cyber-bullying, which is now a major problem with the youth. Another reason is when people obtain information on other people to ultimately harm them in any possible way. But what God is telling us is to make “disciples of all nations.” This means that we must spread the Word of God through using the new technologies in our world today.

But how can we spread the Good News through the wonders of the digital world?

An example of how the youth can be evangelizers of our “new world” can be taken from my own experience: From time to time, I get e-mails and text messages from unknown senders about how God loves us and how we should be good to one another. One text I got said this: “God said ‘Build a better world.’ I said, ‘How? The world is such a complicated, cold dark place and there is nothing I can do.’ God said, “Just build a better you.’” After I received this text message, I realized that if we really want to start the change for a better world, we must start with ourselves first. There are other messages I have gotten via e-mail and text messaging wherein I have applied the moral aspect of the message through applying it in real life. And through applying these new-found morals, I am able to spread the Good News by being an example to others, by being a good friend, and by serving the community.

This is how we should use technology. We must always look to improve our world by using technology to benefit ourselves and society by loving God.

Through technology, the world has gone smaller in a sense that all the nations of the world have more opportunities to interact with one another. I believe that the goal of the youth of the world today is to promote the unity of all nations through God, and now that goal is much easier thanks to the new digital world we live in. Take the internet, for example. The internet has many applications wherein a man from the Philippines can actually have a conversation with a man from South Africa. Whenever we interact with our relatives, and/or friends in different countries through Facebook and Twitter, we must always keep in mind that goal by constantly reminding them to be examples of Jesus in their own communities.

Of course, with all the new gadgets and software and hardware these days, it is much easier to commit sins. I believe that this is the challenge that comes with this new world. With new technologies, we have found new ways of turning our backs on God. A good example is internet pornography, which is another big issue with the youth. Sin keeps us from fully utilizing these technologies.

So the advantage of living in a world like this would be more chances of interacting with the rest of the world for a better tomorrow. The disadvantage would be more chances of committing sins.

“With great power comes great responsibility.” Through the new systems we have now in society, our responsibility is to use these systems to spread the Good News and to unite the world, through the youth. Some may not realize it, but even simple acts such as spreading a text message with an inspiring quote, or motivating someone through Facebook make an impact on the new digital world we live in, for we through these simple acts teach others to take on the responsibility to be evangelizers themselves for this digital world.