I have thought about this date, October 5, for a little while— our second set of twins are ready to be born any day now. There are two reasons I would be happy if it were today: my favorite theologian Jonathan Edwards was born, and though more somber than a birthday, Steve Jobs passed away. In my calling, I use both of their works nearly every day in my field.
When I got the book put out by the SJ Archive earlier this year, this line pictured below hit me the most: “All glory is fleeting.” Isaiah 40 and 1 Peter echoed in my mind, though I know he was referring to another source. Started Apple. Changed technology forever. Everything money could buy, etc… but the greatest of accolades and admiration… it’s here one day and one day it’s gone.
I’ll never forget where I was when he passed in 2011. I was at Wednesday evening church, standing outside our youth room, and via a push notification on an iPhone I learned that he had passed away. As a Christian, I am forever thankful for what he and Woz and others started. The products are a true gift to technology and by extension humanity (and because humans are more than physical but also spiritual, that blessing extends to the spiritual realm as well). Failures aside (which we all have, myself being filled with many failures), I am truly thankful for the innovation that has enriched my life, and due to my calling, used in the process of hopefully one day impacting the lives of others.
Christians tend to only be thankful for things that are “spiritual” or things that come from other Christians. When is the last time you heard a Christian thank Jesus for their computer, their truck, their internet, their shoes, their ink pen, their printed books? Many of those things are not “spiritual” nor are they developed, prototyped, produced, shipped, and delivered by Christians most of the time.
Yet, today I am thankful that I can use my Apple computer and open Logos Bible Software and it is made using code developed by people of all or no faiths and I can read a book on Good and Evil and the tools lookup references as I read and highlight sections and store notes and sync to my tablet to read at night and on and on and on and on… it amazes me. After 20 years of being a Christian who uses technology for Christianish purposes, it still amazes me.
You often hear Christians say, “Don’t be guilty of idolatry by being more thankful for the gifts than you are the Giver.” That is a fair warning. But, I’d also add this:
Don’t be guilty of unthankfulness by never telling the Giver that you’re thankful for his gifts.
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