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Following Jesus in a Digital Age
We were told technology would make our lives easier and more convenient, but technology just seems to have made it more complicated and confusing. As Christians, what does our faith have to do with these pressing issues of life in a digital age?
In Following Jesus in a Digital Age, you will not only be challenged on how technology is shaping your walk with Christ, but you will also be equipped with biblical wisdom to navigate the most difficult aspects of our digital culture—including the rise of misinformation, conspiracy theories, social media, digital privacy, and polarization.
God calls his people to step into the challenges of the digital age from a place of hope and discernment, grounded in His Word. How will you follow Him in the digital age?
In Following Jesus in a Digital Age, you will not only be challenged on how technology is shaping your walk with Christ, but you will also be equipped with biblical wisdom to navigate the most difficult aspects of our digital culture—including the rise of misinformation, conspiracy theories, social media, digital privacy, and polarization.
God calls his people to step into the challenges of the digital age from a place of hope and discernment, grounded in His Word. How will you follow Him in the digital age?
176 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2022
10 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Jason Thacker
5 books20 followersJason Thacker serves as an assistant professor of philosophy and ethics at Boyce College in Louisville, KY. He also is a research fellow in Christian ethics and director of the research institute at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is the author of several books including "Following Jesus in the Digital Age" and "The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity". He also serves as the editor of "The Digital Public Square: Christian Ethics in a Technological Society" and co-editor of the Essentials in Christian Ethics series with B&H Academic. He is the project leader and lead drafter of "Artificial Intelligence: An Evangelical Statement of Principles", and his work has been featured at Slate, Politico, The Week, USA Today, Christianity Today, World Magazine, The Gospel Coalition, and Desiring God.
He is a graduate of The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. He also holds a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he is currently a PhD candidate in ethics, public theology, and philosophy. He serves as an associate fellow with the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology in Cambridge, an advisor for AI and Faith, fellow in science and technology at the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Seminary, and a research fellow with the ERLC Research Institute. He is married to Dorie and they have two sons.
He is a graduate of The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. He also holds a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he is currently a PhD candidate in ethics, public theology, and philosophy. He serves as an associate fellow with the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology in Cambridge, an advisor for AI and Faith, fellow in science and technology at the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Seminary, and a research fellow with the ERLC Research Institute. He is married to Dorie and they have two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 27, 2022
Following Jesus in a Digital Age is about not just how we are using and should use technology, but how technology and the digital age is actually shaping us in both good ways and harmful ones. Above all, the goal of the book is to understand our relationship with technology and the digital world and how it is discipling us daily, whether we realize it or not.
The author says: “…this book is not really designed to help you craft better technology habits, or a book about tips and tricks to use technology better. Rather, it is (1) an attempt to open your eyes to all the ways technology is profoundly shaping you toward efficiency, falsehood, self-absorption, and division, and (2) a call to a moral, holistic, and deeply biblical way of navigating such a shaping force by walking (not just believing in) a more Christlike direction of wisdom, truth, responsibility, and our true identity in Christ.”
Throughout the book, I learned a lot about the issues facing us in our current time, such as society’s shift to a more individualistic culture that has thus bred loneliness and division, as well as the seriousness of technology used with malicious intent.
As I read, my eyes were opened to the ways technology affects us and even altered how we have developed throughout our lives. I was reminded of how the digital world has caused us to be always “on,” to feel like we must be reachable 24/7, or always checking our devices out of FOMO (the fear of missing out on something or of being left behind).
One of my favorite quotes from the book is one I think most everyone needs to consider:
“Professor Jacob Shatzer [says], ‘When you’ve got a smartphone with a camera, everything looks like a status update.’ The truth is that technology is shaping us in ways that we may not even notice and that should concern us all.”
As put forth in the book, the key question we need to ask ourselves is, “How do we identify the good [technology] can do for us, while also pinpointing the bad it’s doing to us?” How this book reflects on this question makes it an important read for our day.
I received a review copy of this book for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
The author says: “…this book is not really designed to help you craft better technology habits, or a book about tips and tricks to use technology better. Rather, it is (1) an attempt to open your eyes to all the ways technology is profoundly shaping you toward efficiency, falsehood, self-absorption, and division, and (2) a call to a moral, holistic, and deeply biblical way of navigating such a shaping force by walking (not just believing in) a more Christlike direction of wisdom, truth, responsibility, and our true identity in Christ.”
Throughout the book, I learned a lot about the issues facing us in our current time, such as society’s shift to a more individualistic culture that has thus bred loneliness and division, as well as the seriousness of technology used with malicious intent.
As I read, my eyes were opened to the ways technology affects us and even altered how we have developed throughout our lives. I was reminded of how the digital world has caused us to be always “on,” to feel like we must be reachable 24/7, or always checking our devices out of FOMO (the fear of missing out on something or of being left behind).
One of my favorite quotes from the book is one I think most everyone needs to consider:
“Professor Jacob Shatzer [says], ‘When you’ve got a smartphone with a camera, everything looks like a status update.’ The truth is that technology is shaping us in ways that we may not even notice and that should concern us all.”
As put forth in the book, the key question we need to ask ourselves is, “How do we identify the good [technology] can do for us, while also pinpointing the bad it’s doing to us?” How this book reflects on this question makes it an important read for our day.
I received a review copy of this book for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
May 26, 2022
Android, Apple TV, Facebook, Google, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc are all familiar names in our modern culture. The news that we get in the past via newspapers, TV, and radio, are now being disseminated faster and more efficiently throughout the world. No more waiting for the latest paper edition at our regular newsstands. All it takes now is an Internet connection all at the convenience of a modern smartphone. Unsurprisingly, this modern innovation has changed the way we interact with people and communicate with one another. Traditional barriers of entry have been lowered. The communications bigwigs now have to compete not just with their mega-peers, but also with individual social media enthusiasts. The Internet and social media are here to stay. This will affect our relationships in how we live and what we say. Due to the ease of getting into social media, fake news are also on the rise. How do we deal with this new reality? How could we discern each piece of news as they come along? Are all sensational news false? Are all routinely boring stuff true at all? Technology is shaping us in more ways than one. Like the proverbial face of beauty that launched a thousand ships, an insensitive Tweet or a scandalous post could launch thousands of reactions, protests, and even violence. Author Jason Thacker notices the impact of technology and offers us some powerful reflections on what technology is, what technology demands of us, and how we could co-exist ethically and meaningfully with people in a society drowning in technological waters. Thacker offers us four reflections to help us recognize the technology that is trying to shape us, and the need to be true to ourselves.
First, he reflects on the true nature of technology itself, that we should pursue wisdom. In a digital age, it is easy to let technology direct our ways. For many people, the smartphone is the first thing they instinctively pick up in the morning, and the last thing they reluctantly put down before they go to bed. In between waking and sleeping, they are constantly mindful of the phone's battery levels. He makes a powerful point about our use of technology is "assumed and assimilated" instead of "examined or questioned." The problem is thus not technology per se but the uncritical use of technology, and ultimately letting technology pull us by the nose. Even the use of the increasingly popular video doorbell is a case in point. While online shopping has become convenient without us having to leave our homes, it causes a different problem: Porch thieves. If technology helps us solve one problem but creates another, how helpful is it then?
Second, he focuses on the state of Truth and how we need to let the pursuit of Truth be the key motivation in our use of Technology. From conspiracy theories to mischievous trolls, the Internet has become a messy place for misguided politicking and misinformation that twists the truth. Even half-truths could branch off to become a new strain of deception. This is especially when the news presented before us, is exactly what we want to believe in the first place. Crouch laments about the state of online conversations that easily lead to blatant judgments and ugly words. Almost anything could become a hotpot of controversy. This is aggravated by "deepfake technology" that includes the widespread use of doctored images and fake videos in order to disseminate something. Learning to question what we see or hear is increasingly necessary. He gave five helpful ways to pursue truth and not to become distracted by the sensational or the incredible.
Third, he reflects on the trajectory of personalization technologies, and the need to maintain personal responsibility. We should not become distracted by what we want to look like in front of others. Instead, we need to be honest to God, to self, and to one another. Looking at curation, we become the audience that technology makes us out to be. When truth is mixed with personalization algorithms, we end up becoming the problem the Bible has warned us against; That we have eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. He gives us several questions to equip us in our discernment.
Finally, he looks at the critical step of pursuing our true identity in the midst of conflicting demands on us. The truth is, Technology is a principality that could be used against us. Today, it has polarized society in more ways than one. With rising tensions, anything could become contentious and controversial. It tempts even the most moderate individuals to take sides, letting the position engulf the authenticity of the person concerned. How do we become peacemakers in an increasingly polarized society? Help understand our own identities, and in the process, help others to understand their own. Pointing out five different kinds of identity, he helps us to recognize each of them, subtly reminding us not to be trapped by any of them.
My Thoughts
==============
As I read this book, one key New Testament verse stands out. That is Romans 12:2 which says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Applying this to technology, it is essentially resisting the temptations of technology that threaten to make us conform to its mold. Crouch highlights the four such temptations:
1) Temptation to trust Technology as some neutral innocent medium
2) Temptation to believe in the Tainted Truth
3) Temptation to believe in a false self, paraded by personalization technologies
4) Temptation to become something that we are not.
All of these temptations come subtly at us each day. Over time, like the familiar frog in a warming water metaphor, we get cooked in the end. One of the most important reminders is the way technology seduces us to surrender to any innate desires for egoistic thoughts and egotistic acts. As more people, especially the digital natives get more comfortable with the technology they live and breathe in, over time, they become so conditioned to the nature of technology that they no longer question what technology is and the impacts it will have on our relationships and self-identity. Against popular opinion that technology is simply a neutral medium, I remember one professor asserting that technology is not neutral. More often than not, it has become a medium that breaks down humanity. The examples pointed out in this book support that view. Against these temptations, Crouch equips us with four critical push-backs.
There is still time to manage technology before technology mangles us into some inauthentic persons. We are created in the image of God but sin messes us up. We are saved in Christ and though we are not of the world, we are still in the world. This calls for spiritual discernment through and through. Before we tweet, post, or share a message or video, perhaps we need to pause before sending that. This book shows us not only what to do during the pause, it guides us toward becoming not just the better versions of ourselves, it facilitates the recovery of our true identities.
Jason serves as chair of research in technology ethics at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. His work has been featured at Christianity Today, The Week, Slate, Politico, The Gospel Coalition, and Desiring God. He is also the author of "The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity" with Zondervan (March 2020). He is married to Dorie and they have two sons.
Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of B&H Publishing and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
First, he reflects on the true nature of technology itself, that we should pursue wisdom. In a digital age, it is easy to let technology direct our ways. For many people, the smartphone is the first thing they instinctively pick up in the morning, and the last thing they reluctantly put down before they go to bed. In between waking and sleeping, they are constantly mindful of the phone's battery levels. He makes a powerful point about our use of technology is "assumed and assimilated" instead of "examined or questioned." The problem is thus not technology per se but the uncritical use of technology, and ultimately letting technology pull us by the nose. Even the use of the increasingly popular video doorbell is a case in point. While online shopping has become convenient without us having to leave our homes, it causes a different problem: Porch thieves. If technology helps us solve one problem but creates another, how helpful is it then?
Second, he focuses on the state of Truth and how we need to let the pursuit of Truth be the key motivation in our use of Technology. From conspiracy theories to mischievous trolls, the Internet has become a messy place for misguided politicking and misinformation that twists the truth. Even half-truths could branch off to become a new strain of deception. This is especially when the news presented before us, is exactly what we want to believe in the first place. Crouch laments about the state of online conversations that easily lead to blatant judgments and ugly words. Almost anything could become a hotpot of controversy. This is aggravated by "deepfake technology" that includes the widespread use of doctored images and fake videos in order to disseminate something. Learning to question what we see or hear is increasingly necessary. He gave five helpful ways to pursue truth and not to become distracted by the sensational or the incredible.
Third, he reflects on the trajectory of personalization technologies, and the need to maintain personal responsibility. We should not become distracted by what we want to look like in front of others. Instead, we need to be honest to God, to self, and to one another. Looking at curation, we become the audience that technology makes us out to be. When truth is mixed with personalization algorithms, we end up becoming the problem the Bible has warned us against; That we have eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. He gives us several questions to equip us in our discernment.
Finally, he looks at the critical step of pursuing our true identity in the midst of conflicting demands on us. The truth is, Technology is a principality that could be used against us. Today, it has polarized society in more ways than one. With rising tensions, anything could become contentious and controversial. It tempts even the most moderate individuals to take sides, letting the position engulf the authenticity of the person concerned. How do we become peacemakers in an increasingly polarized society? Help understand our own identities, and in the process, help others to understand their own. Pointing out five different kinds of identity, he helps us to recognize each of them, subtly reminding us not to be trapped by any of them.
My Thoughts
==============
As I read this book, one key New Testament verse stands out. That is Romans 12:2 which says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Applying this to technology, it is essentially resisting the temptations of technology that threaten to make us conform to its mold. Crouch highlights the four such temptations:
1) Temptation to trust Technology as some neutral innocent medium
2) Temptation to believe in the Tainted Truth
3) Temptation to believe in a false self, paraded by personalization technologies
4) Temptation to become something that we are not.
All of these temptations come subtly at us each day. Over time, like the familiar frog in a warming water metaphor, we get cooked in the end. One of the most important reminders is the way technology seduces us to surrender to any innate desires for egoistic thoughts and egotistic acts. As more people, especially the digital natives get more comfortable with the technology they live and breathe in, over time, they become so conditioned to the nature of technology that they no longer question what technology is and the impacts it will have on our relationships and self-identity. Against popular opinion that technology is simply a neutral medium, I remember one professor asserting that technology is not neutral. More often than not, it has become a medium that breaks down humanity. The examples pointed out in this book support that view. Against these temptations, Crouch equips us with four critical push-backs.
There is still time to manage technology before technology mangles us into some inauthentic persons. We are created in the image of God but sin messes us up. We are saved in Christ and though we are not of the world, we are still in the world. This calls for spiritual discernment through and through. Before we tweet, post, or share a message or video, perhaps we need to pause before sending that. This book shows us not only what to do during the pause, it guides us toward becoming not just the better versions of ourselves, it facilitates the recovery of our true identities.
Jason serves as chair of research in technology ethics at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. His work has been featured at Christianity Today, The Week, Slate, Politico, The Gospel Coalition, and Desiring God. He is also the author of "The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity" with Zondervan (March 2020). He is married to Dorie and they have two sons.
Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of B&H Publishing and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
September 16, 2022
I have read a vast number of books about managing life in the digital world. Technology changes so quickly that there are always new things for authors to say, but all the same, I've gotten to the point where many of these books run together in my mind, covering similar things in much the same way. Despite that, Jason Thacker surprised me. This book stands out because of the author's focus on the deeper personal motivations behind people's destructive behaviors online. However, even though he aims for the human heart, he doesn't just focus on the personal effects of device misuse. He takes a broader view, addressing issues like deep fakes, conspiracy theories, propaganda, privacy, algorithmic echo chambers, and polarization.
Thoughtful and Realistic
Thacker raises awareness of new dangers that are coming as technology continues to advance, but he also reminds us that every generational group feels unprepared to face new and different challenges, and that we can't just give up and disengage from the world that God has called us to serve. I appreciated his realistic assessment of our challenges and his hope-filled encouragements, and he shares insights for how people can seek wisdom, truth, responsibility, and a healthy sense of identity in the midst of digital pressures that are shaping and discipling them in ways that are contrary to God's design and human flourishing. He also challenges us to consider our own self-righteousness and the ease of decrying other people's problematic ideas and behaviors while ignoring our own.
Thacker emphasizes the importance of Christian virtue online, challenging people to rise above hostile social norms. My favorite part of Following Jesus in a Digital Age is how he asks probing questions about different topics, getting people to consider their own motivations. For example, if someone always feels driven to be the expert on a given topic, he encourages them to evaluate why they care so much about seeming well-read, or if they ever take an opportunity to learn from others when it comes to things they are less knowledgeable about. The various questions are open-ended and broad enough that anyone can experience conviction and consider ways to change, even when they don't relate to some of the sections.
A Critique
Thacker provides historical and ethical context for each of the issues he brings up, and for the most part, he handles them in a well-balanced, fair way. However, I found a few of his implications frustrating. The biggest issue I have is how he handled the subject of distrusting the media. He focuses on how people reject news stories out of confirmation bias and tribal instincts, but never adequately acknowledges how much the media has failed people.
There are about two media outlets that I trust not to knowingly lie to me, and that's it. That's not because I'm seeking news that aligns with everything I think, but because I've put tremendous effort into evaluating news sources and following stories to see where other writers challenge someone's deceptive omissions. There are individual journalists out there doing excellent jobs and aiming for high standards, but I cannot trust the media overall, and that's not my fault.
Conclusion
Following Jesus in a Digital Age is a great resource for teenagers and adults who want to think deeply about societal issues and evaluate their own hearts and minds when it comes to technology. It would also make a good selection for a book club, provided that the members will be charitable and not devolve into petty debates. On that note, the book concludes with a short appendix for leaders, in which Thacker briefly addresses ways that pastors and other ministry leaders can set good examples for others and shape helpful discourse about technology within their contexts. This book is a helpful resource for people who are concerned about the social norms they see around them and what they recognize within their own hearts, and I definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Thoughtful and Realistic
Thacker raises awareness of new dangers that are coming as technology continues to advance, but he also reminds us that every generational group feels unprepared to face new and different challenges, and that we can't just give up and disengage from the world that God has called us to serve. I appreciated his realistic assessment of our challenges and his hope-filled encouragements, and he shares insights for how people can seek wisdom, truth, responsibility, and a healthy sense of identity in the midst of digital pressures that are shaping and discipling them in ways that are contrary to God's design and human flourishing. He also challenges us to consider our own self-righteousness and the ease of decrying other people's problematic ideas and behaviors while ignoring our own.
Thacker emphasizes the importance of Christian virtue online, challenging people to rise above hostile social norms. My favorite part of Following Jesus in a Digital Age is how he asks probing questions about different topics, getting people to consider their own motivations. For example, if someone always feels driven to be the expert on a given topic, he encourages them to evaluate why they care so much about seeming well-read, or if they ever take an opportunity to learn from others when it comes to things they are less knowledgeable about. The various questions are open-ended and broad enough that anyone can experience conviction and consider ways to change, even when they don't relate to some of the sections.
A Critique
Thacker provides historical and ethical context for each of the issues he brings up, and for the most part, he handles them in a well-balanced, fair way. However, I found a few of his implications frustrating. The biggest issue I have is how he handled the subject of distrusting the media. He focuses on how people reject news stories out of confirmation bias and tribal instincts, but never adequately acknowledges how much the media has failed people.
There are about two media outlets that I trust not to knowingly lie to me, and that's it. That's not because I'm seeking news that aligns with everything I think, but because I've put tremendous effort into evaluating news sources and following stories to see where other writers challenge someone's deceptive omissions. There are individual journalists out there doing excellent jobs and aiming for high standards, but I cannot trust the media overall, and that's not my fault.
Conclusion
Following Jesus in a Digital Age is a great resource for teenagers and adults who want to think deeply about societal issues and evaluate their own hearts and minds when it comes to technology. It would also make a good selection for a book club, provided that the members will be charitable and not devolve into petty debates. On that note, the book concludes with a short appendix for leaders, in which Thacker briefly addresses ways that pastors and other ministry leaders can set good examples for others and shape helpful discourse about technology within their contexts. This book is a helpful resource for people who are concerned about the social norms they see around them and what they recognize within their own hearts, and I definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2022
Great self reflection questions. As Thacker says, technology use is up to us and what’s in our hearts impacts its effects.
September 27, 2022
In the digital world, everything is pleasant until it’s not. The clicks and likes and follows are all good until my mom starts repeating conspiracies from Facebook, or I get drawn into a theobro debate, or I tense up as my eyes fixate on the latest viral video of police brutality.
The internet does things to me - emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Some of us are too online for our own good. We think we use social media but social media uses us.
That’s why Jason Thacker wrote the book, Following Jesus In a Digital Age (B&H Publishing, 2022). He says that the technology we’re using isn’t neutral (as if it can be used for either good or for bad); no, it is much more than that.
Jason Thacker argues, and I agree, that one of the biggest things discipling people in the church today is technology (page 1-12). As Jason Thacker notes, our devices have become like phantom limbs, acting as parts of our very selves.
We’re addicted, we’re digitally distracted, and we’re being inconspicuously commercialized by the very products we falsely think are “free.”
There are four chapters. I’ll discuss each and conclude with my critique and recommendation.
Chapter One - Pursuing Wisdom in a Digital Age
The first section works through the influence of digital technology, what technology is, and the importance of Biblical wisdom.
We need to know these foundations! There's an overlap between what Thacker writes and what Melvin Kranzberg wrote in The Laws of Technology written in the 1970s:
The first law teaches that technology can have hidden influences; tech cannot be evaluated in simplistic moral terms. We sometimes think of individual websites, whether YouTube, GodTube, BibleGateway.org, or a porn site, as being either good or bad. Well, yes, porn is always bad. But even a Bible webpage can display ads in such a way, or can be placed in a browser alongside other distractions, as to negatively impact your devotional reading. The design of the technology shapes our experience and therefore shapes us. This is why Thacker says technology disciples us.
Law two says that whenever we invent something there will be some new need (necessity) that must be solved. I loved my first iPhone but after dropping it a few times I realized it needed a case. Invention breeds necessity… which breeds more invention which will lead to more needs! But these needs are unforeseen when you first create the technology. Thacker describes how the smart doorbell was a result of the need to monitor the Amazon packages left at our door (which is why Amazon has put so much money into smart doorbell technology, see pages 19-20).
So we must learn this totalizing effect of technology. And Biblical wisdom is a key to responding to it (page 24):
Chapter Two - Pursuing Truth in a Post-truth Age
Because Thacker (rightly) views online platforms as being our modern public square, he is very concerned about misinformation (sharing false information accidentally) and disinformation (purposely sharing false information).
I was following his argument, considering my own urge to spread articles I haven’t fully read, and then his point on the underlying problem stuck me like a truck (page 38):
People are spreading false stories not because technology forced them to (though tech is obviously a willing accomplice) but because we live in a world that lacks an allegiance to objective moral truth. We live in a secular age where people presuppose that nothing can really be known and therefore the best we can do is not discuss with one another but complain about one another. The internet is no longer the place of peaceful dialogue that it was dreamed to become but rather it is a place of division and denouncement.
This is a problem on all sides of the political spectrum. Christians can be guilty, too. We must be better.
Thacker says (page 68),
Chapter Three - Pursuing Responsibility in a Curated Age
With so much attention paid to how influential technology can be, it is important that Thacker spends the time he does on our agency as individuals to live rightly.
When we sin, we ought to blame ourselves, not technology. Some of us have watched The Social Dilemma and learned how manipulative our social media is. Every click, every scroll, and every moment of hesitation as your eyes linger on a certain picture or video is being meticulously tracked and used to make companies more money.
But “we must not forget,” says Thacker, that “the real social dilemma isn’t happening in Washington or Silicon Valley but in our own hearts and homes,” (page 99). We must take responsibility for ourselves instead of blaming our sins on tech.
Thacker rarely gives any specific directions or actions to take (which I’m okay with, the solution to tech ethic complexity isn’t legalism) but he does encourage reflection on a number of questions, such as (pages 91 - 94):
> Are you drawn to social media for personal gain or for the good of others?
> If God prompted you to delete your social media accounts, what would your initial response be?
> Does your behavior on social media help you grow in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)?
> Are you sorting information on our apps like Twitter and Facebook in chronological order or by what is popular?
> Do you share personal information about your kids or family online? Do they know what you share, and are they okay with that?
> Are you addicted to your curated online world because it bends everything to your own preferences and enjoyment, whereas your real life doesn’t really revolve around you?
Chapter Four - Pursuing Identity in a Polarized Age
Thacker says this was the hardest chapter for him to write because he’s as guilty as anyone (page 101). He described the tendency people have to give into the political, social, or religious polarization or “us versus them” of the day (page 102).
Key concepts of this chapter included:
How we tend to falsely think we are “in the middle” and only other people have extreme and false views (pages 105-112).
Exposing people to their opponents’ views increases hostility instead of decreasing it (page 114).
How a human desire to belong is driving polarization (page 115).
For Twitter users like me, this was Thacker’s best chapter of the book. He concisely diagnoses some trends in our culture and how we need to keep an eye on getting caught up in digital identities (Thacker unpacks five common types of online identities) instead of Christ-formed ones.
With the whole book up to this point focusing on ethics, the difficulties of living rightly, and how we fail, the gospel message on page 135 was a delight to read and experience. It is so good. In it, Thacker says:
Powerful!
Critique & Recommendation
I have only three minor quibbles about the book, which all stem from the book being so concise (only 177 pages). First, it lacks some of the nuances that others offer in the world of Christian ethics and technology (if people are looking for that, I'd recommend Tony Reinke's God, Technology, and the Christian Life). Second, I wish Thacker could have gone into more detail concerning the principles that undergird biblical wisdom. And third, I think adding more illustrations or examples of the application of his ideas would have been helpful; there were engaging stories throughout but they tended to be examples of the negative impacts of tech rather than examples of how to overcome the power of tech with biblical wisdom.
But these are minor quibbles. Overall, this is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.
The main value of this book is how it can be used as a discipleship tool, whether individually or in a group. When this is read honestly and with integrity as a Christian, I have no doubt that Following Jesus in a Digital Age will make you live more like how Jesus wants you to live.
Disclaimer: I am the podcast host of What Would Jesus Tech and I received a free copy of this book prior to its public release. I was put under no obligation to give a positive review and frankly, it is against the very content of this book to give false testimony! So yes, I really do recommend this book.
The internet does things to me - emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Some of us are too online for our own good. We think we use social media but social media uses us.
That’s why Jason Thacker wrote the book, Following Jesus In a Digital Age (B&H Publishing, 2022). He says that the technology we’re using isn’t neutral (as if it can be used for either good or for bad); no, it is much more than that.
Jason Thacker argues, and I agree, that one of the biggest things discipling people in the church today is technology (page 1-12). As Jason Thacker notes, our devices have become like phantom limbs, acting as parts of our very selves.
We’re addicted, we’re digitally distracted, and we’re being inconspicuously commercialized by the very products we falsely think are “free.”
There are four chapters. I’ll discuss each and conclude with my critique and recommendation.
Chapter One - Pursuing Wisdom in a Digital Age
The first section works through the influence of digital technology, what technology is, and the importance of Biblical wisdom.
We need to know these foundations! There's an overlap between what Thacker writes and what Melvin Kranzberg wrote in The Laws of Technology written in the 1970s:
Law 1: Technology is neither good nor bad; nor is it neutral.
Law 2: Invention is the mother of necessity
The first law teaches that technology can have hidden influences; tech cannot be evaluated in simplistic moral terms. We sometimes think of individual websites, whether YouTube, GodTube, BibleGateway.org, or a porn site, as being either good or bad. Well, yes, porn is always bad. But even a Bible webpage can display ads in such a way, or can be placed in a browser alongside other distractions, as to negatively impact your devotional reading. The design of the technology shapes our experience and therefore shapes us. This is why Thacker says technology disciples us.
Law two says that whenever we invent something there will be some new need (necessity) that must be solved. I loved my first iPhone but after dropping it a few times I realized it needed a case. Invention breeds necessity… which breeds more invention which will lead to more needs! But these needs are unforeseen when you first create the technology. Thacker describes how the smart doorbell was a result of the need to monitor the Amazon packages left at our door (which is why Amazon has put so much money into smart doorbell technology, see pages 19-20).
So we must learn this totalizing effect of technology. And Biblical wisdom is a key to responding to it (page 24):
Chapter Two - Pursuing Truth in a Post-truth Age
Because Thacker (rightly) views online platforms as being our modern public square, he is very concerned about misinformation (sharing false information accidentally) and disinformation (purposely sharing false information).
I was following his argument, considering my own urge to spread articles I haven’t fully read, and then his point on the underlying problem stuck me like a truck (page 38):
"While the problems we face today in our post-truth society are exacerbated by technologies like the internet, social media, and even the rise of deepfakes—altered videos through artificial intelligence (more on these later in the chapter)—the root of the problem is not the technology itself. Many of these pressing issues find their root cause in the philosophical and scientific movements of the last few hundred years, where there was a near total rejection of a transcendent reality, especially when it comes to moral norms."
People are spreading false stories not because technology forced them to (though tech is obviously a willing accomplice) but because we live in a world that lacks an allegiance to objective moral truth. We live in a secular age where people presuppose that nothing can really be known and therefore the best we can do is not discuss with one another but complain about one another. The internet is no longer the place of peaceful dialogue that it was dreamed to become but rather it is a place of division and denouncement.
This is a problem on all sides of the political spectrum. Christians can be guilty, too. We must be better.
Thacker says (page 68),
"Truth is not a weapon to be wielded but a reality to be lived out in community, especially in the redeemed community of God, which has the unique ability to correct itself in restorative love and gentleness when someone is veering away from the truth."
Chapter Three - Pursuing Responsibility in a Curated Age
With so much attention paid to how influential technology can be, it is important that Thacker spends the time he does on our agency as individuals to live rightly.
When we sin, we ought to blame ourselves, not technology. Some of us have watched The Social Dilemma and learned how manipulative our social media is. Every click, every scroll, and every moment of hesitation as your eyes linger on a certain picture or video is being meticulously tracked and used to make companies more money.
But “we must not forget,” says Thacker, that “the real social dilemma isn’t happening in Washington or Silicon Valley but in our own hearts and homes,” (page 99). We must take responsibility for ourselves instead of blaming our sins on tech.
Thacker rarely gives any specific directions or actions to take (which I’m okay with, the solution to tech ethic complexity isn’t legalism) but he does encourage reflection on a number of questions, such as (pages 91 - 94):
> Are you drawn to social media for personal gain or for the good of others?
> If God prompted you to delete your social media accounts, what would your initial response be?
> Does your behavior on social media help you grow in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)?
> Are you sorting information on our apps like Twitter and Facebook in chronological order or by what is popular?
> Do you share personal information about your kids or family online? Do they know what you share, and are they okay with that?
> Are you addicted to your curated online world because it bends everything to your own preferences and enjoyment, whereas your real life doesn’t really revolve around you?
Chapter Four - Pursuing Identity in a Polarized Age
Thacker says this was the hardest chapter for him to write because he’s as guilty as anyone (page 101). He described the tendency people have to give into the political, social, or religious polarization or “us versus them” of the day (page 102).
Key concepts of this chapter included:
How we tend to falsely think we are “in the middle” and only other people have extreme and false views (pages 105-112).
Exposing people to their opponents’ views increases hostility instead of decreasing it (page 114).
How a human desire to belong is driving polarization (page 115).
For Twitter users like me, this was Thacker’s best chapter of the book. He concisely diagnoses some trends in our culture and how we need to keep an eye on getting caught up in digital identities (Thacker unpacks five common types of online identities) instead of Christ-formed ones.
With the whole book up to this point focusing on ethics, the difficulties of living rightly, and how we fail, the gospel message on page 135 was a delight to read and experience. It is so good. In it, Thacker says:
"… the reason you do not need a digitally crafted identity is because you already have a place to belong. You already have a shelter from the storm. You already have a place in the household of God. You already have a purpose in the good works that he has prepared in advance for you to do. You already have a defender when you feel misunderstood. You already have a secure future when societal change feels unstable. You already have an identity that cannot be shaken."
Powerful!
Critique & Recommendation
I have only three minor quibbles about the book, which all stem from the book being so concise (only 177 pages). First, it lacks some of the nuances that others offer in the world of Christian ethics and technology (if people are looking for that, I'd recommend Tony Reinke's God, Technology, and the Christian Life). Second, I wish Thacker could have gone into more detail concerning the principles that undergird biblical wisdom. And third, I think adding more illustrations or examples of the application of his ideas would have been helpful; there were engaging stories throughout but they tended to be examples of the negative impacts of tech rather than examples of how to overcome the power of tech with biblical wisdom.
But these are minor quibbles. Overall, this is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.
The main value of this book is how it can be used as a discipleship tool, whether individually or in a group. When this is read honestly and with integrity as a Christian, I have no doubt that Following Jesus in a Digital Age will make you live more like how Jesus wants you to live.
Disclaimer: I am the podcast host of What Would Jesus Tech and I received a free copy of this book prior to its public release. I was put under no obligation to give a positive review and frankly, it is against the very content of this book to give false testimony! So yes, I really do recommend this book.
March 12, 2025
It feels a little ironic using a social media to review a book like this. This is really more like two books. The opening was uninteresting and really focused more on the facts of technology. I didn’t find it to be engaging or helpful since I already have an understanding of technology, and the way data is collected. It felt like it was mansplaining tech.
That being said… the last half engages the reader in thought-provoking ideas about the reasons behind the technology we use. It was well crafted and encourages critical thinking about technology and social media’s purpose and prevalence in our lives.
That being said… the last half engages the reader in thought-provoking ideas about the reasons behind the technology we use. It was well crafted and encourages critical thinking about technology and social media’s purpose and prevalence in our lives.
September 8, 2024
It’s important that we think about how technology and social media shape us then to respond with Spirit-led actions which may vary from person to person but should always reflect Christ if coming from a Christian. This book brings up some very good points and questions to ask yourself. I might would have liked a more “seek the Lord in scripture and prayer” but still a good book.
January 2, 2023
Very good book explaining how as Christians we are to understand the digital age that we find ourselves in. The book covers a lot of topical content which is timely and relevant to our current circumstances but timeless truth that we as Christians have a higher calling and have to hold everything under our calling to Christ.
October 13, 2022
Short book on a healthy approach to being present in the digital age is the secular age.
August 17, 2023
Jason Thacker has gifted the church with a thoughtful reflection on the power of technology, social media, and our phones. He writes, "The overall goal of this book is for us to better understand that we are each being discipled every day by the technologies that we use, whether we realize it or not" (3). His premise, I believe, is correct; we are being discipled by the technological soup that is our world. The old adage says when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. More pointedly, when you've got a smartphone with a camera, everything looks like a status update. In light of this truth, we (the church) need(s) help. How do we thrive in this environment?
In this brief book, Thacker gives a chapter to showing how technology itself is forming us every day. He offers another chapter that helps us think through misinformation, deep fakes, conspiracy theories, and how we understand truth in a digital age. Another chapter deals adeptly with polarization. This chapter was my personal favorite. He helps the reader think through our lack of civil dialogue, our existence in digital echo chambers, and the false sense of self reality that forms us in this digital age. Finally, he challenges us to think through the issue of identity. Is it ok for us to have an on-line identity that is different than our "real" identity? Where should we get our sense of identity and community from anyway?
Thacker does a lot in a short book. He is thoughtful and well-researched. I highly recommend this to fellow travelers in this digital age.
In this brief book, Thacker gives a chapter to showing how technology itself is forming us every day. He offers another chapter that helps us think through misinformation, deep fakes, conspiracy theories, and how we understand truth in a digital age. Another chapter deals adeptly with polarization. This chapter was my personal favorite. He helps the reader think through our lack of civil dialogue, our existence in digital echo chambers, and the false sense of self reality that forms us in this digital age. Finally, he challenges us to think through the issue of identity. Is it ok for us to have an on-line identity that is different than our "real" identity? Where should we get our sense of identity and community from anyway?
Thacker does a lot in a short book. He is thoughtful and well-researched. I highly recommend this to fellow travelers in this digital age.
December 11, 2024
This was a quick yet helpful read on how technology can influence Christians and how Christians can fight back with the power of the Holy Spirit. I appreciate how Thacker emphasizes a biblical truth to replace each secular creed from our hyper-digital age. He gets to the heart of how our digital tools (namely social media) are discipling us more than our churches and not in a good way. The brevity of this book belies its worth and usefulness for personal or ministry purposes. I would highly recommend “Following Jesus in a Digital Age” to anyone looking to more intentionally engage with their digital tools or renovate how they engage online.
April 4, 2025
Firstly, the size of this book is adorable!! But don’t let that deceive you–it is profound and packs quite a punch. If you’ve watched The Social Dilemma, some of the content will be a review. But, Thacker adds in a Biblical worldview and important principles of Christian discipleship. Would be great for parents and teens to read and discuss. Dropped a star due to a lot of grammatical errors
June 30, 2024
3.5 stars,,,, short book that felt surface level at times but addressed central topics in the overlap between media and morality.
August 18, 2024
Een ster voor het feit dat het een christelijk boek is en de ander voor de inhoud lol
June 21, 2024
Not heavy hitting (what can be expected in a book this short) but it's a good primer on the discussion surrounding a Christian's use of the internet (especially social media). If someone has never taken the time to think through these topics, it's a worthwhile read.
July 25, 2023
Truly enjoyed. Convicting & thought-provoking without a big guilt trip. Also a useful book for sharing and dialoguing with others.
September 12, 2022
Technology is inherently amoral. It’s a tool that empowers people and intensifies their moral abilities. People who would lie to dozens can now lie to thousands. Evil can be spread quickly, easily, and anonymously. But it can also be a tool for great good. Technology can unify, it can spread awareness, it can pinpoint areas of need, it can spread truth. It’s all in how we use it. In Following Jesus in a Digital Age, Jason Thacker outlines some ways in which we should be aware of the influence that technology (the social internet, in particular) has on us.
Thacker is the chair of Research in Technology Ethics for the ERLC and teaches philosophy, ethics, and worldview at Boyce College, making him a perfect fit to talk about this subject. His introduction frames technology as a discipling tool, something that molds our beliefs and behaviors. That foundation sets the tone for everything that follows. Even if you end up not agreeing with Thacker on some elements of specifics, you have to agree with his foundation that the social internet has an indelible and often unconscious influence on us. Simply being aware of how we are being discipled and making ourselves aware of how technology shapes us enables us to take back the reins and shape our experience rather than letting our experience shape us.
Following Jesus in a Digital Age is a quick read, comprised of four 20-40 page chapters. Thacker frames the discussion around pursuits and writes about how we need to be pursue wisdom, truth, responsibility, and identity. The majority of the time is spent on pursuing truth in what Thacker calls “a post-truth age.”
Unfortunately, Thacker almost immediately weaponizes this to accuse “the progressive end of the spectrum” of following science regarding vaccination and mental health issues, but ignoring science when it comes to what he terms “biological realities” of gender. It’s a clever argument, but the truth (gasp!) is that science would differentiate between biological sex and sociological gender. When you look at accepted science, it’s clearly on the “progressive end of the spectrum.” It’s a bad argument that weakens the books’ message and contributes to the polarization, that Thacker decries later in the book.
In fairness, Following Jesus in a Digital Age also excoriates evangelical conservatives for their commitment to the Trump administration’s lies like *checks notes* the numbers at his inauguration. Okay. Hardly the most relevant or prominent example. He writes that the point isn’t to get hung up on political matters, but that’s precisely what he’s done in this attempt to show how “both sides” have defined truth as whatever fits their cultural narrative.
Elsewhere in the book Following Jesus in a Digital Age has good information about how social media algorithms reinforce echo chambers, how arguing from behind a screen to anonymous others has caused a breakdown in civility, how social media providers collect and use our data, and more. In terms of content, it’s all a bit jumbled and could have been presented more clearly. Other than his obvious political and social biases, Thacker offers a pretty generic and standard book on how the social internet shapes us with a few basic thoughts on acting Christlike online. It's fine, but it’s not quite as rigorous, practical, or deep as I had hoped.
Thacker is the chair of Research in Technology Ethics for the ERLC and teaches philosophy, ethics, and worldview at Boyce College, making him a perfect fit to talk about this subject. His introduction frames technology as a discipling tool, something that molds our beliefs and behaviors. That foundation sets the tone for everything that follows. Even if you end up not agreeing with Thacker on some elements of specifics, you have to agree with his foundation that the social internet has an indelible and often unconscious influence on us. Simply being aware of how we are being discipled and making ourselves aware of how technology shapes us enables us to take back the reins and shape our experience rather than letting our experience shape us.
Following Jesus in a Digital Age is a quick read, comprised of four 20-40 page chapters. Thacker frames the discussion around pursuits and writes about how we need to be pursue wisdom, truth, responsibility, and identity. The majority of the time is spent on pursuing truth in what Thacker calls “a post-truth age.”
Unfortunately, Thacker almost immediately weaponizes this to accuse “the progressive end of the spectrum” of following science regarding vaccination and mental health issues, but ignoring science when it comes to what he terms “biological realities” of gender. It’s a clever argument, but the truth (gasp!) is that science would differentiate between biological sex and sociological gender. When you look at accepted science, it’s clearly on the “progressive end of the spectrum.” It’s a bad argument that weakens the books’ message and contributes to the polarization, that Thacker decries later in the book.
In fairness, Following Jesus in a Digital Age also excoriates evangelical conservatives for their commitment to the Trump administration’s lies like *checks notes* the numbers at his inauguration. Okay. Hardly the most relevant or prominent example. He writes that the point isn’t to get hung up on political matters, but that’s precisely what he’s done in this attempt to show how “both sides” have defined truth as whatever fits their cultural narrative.
Elsewhere in the book Following Jesus in a Digital Age has good information about how social media algorithms reinforce echo chambers, how arguing from behind a screen to anonymous others has caused a breakdown in civility, how social media providers collect and use our data, and more. In terms of content, it’s all a bit jumbled and could have been presented more clearly. Other than his obvious political and social biases, Thacker offers a pretty generic and standard book on how the social internet shapes us with a few basic thoughts on acting Christlike online. It's fine, but it’s not quite as rigorous, practical, or deep as I had hoped.
January 14, 2023
There is both opposition to and support of technology, specifically social media, in the Christian life. At the most basic level, the internet and the sites it includes are tools, neither good or bad. Their purposes and intent are formed by those who use them. Social media is no different, but it can be much more pervasive in our lives.
In Following Jesus in a Digital Age, Jason Thacker writes about how technology will influence how we walk with God if we are not careful. Not that it has the innate power to control us, but that we let go of our control just because it easier that way. We should not let what we see online sway us, but we should instead remain grounded in God's word.
This may not be the first time this warning has been brought up and it won't be the last. However, we need to keep it in mind. To help with that, Thacker presents practical ways to help keep technology in its place as a tool and not as an influence.
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In Following Jesus in a Digital Age, Jason Thacker writes about how technology will influence how we walk with God if we are not careful. Not that it has the innate power to control us, but that we let go of our control just because it easier that way. We should not let what we see online sway us, but we should instead remain grounded in God's word.
This may not be the first time this warning has been brought up and it won't be the last. However, we need to keep it in mind. To help with that, Thacker presents practical ways to help keep technology in its place as a tool and not as an influence.
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2022
This is a timely, insightful, and frankly convicting look at technology, ethics, and faith in our current age. I particularly appreciated the thought-provoking questions for reflection, peppered throughout the book (although they also annoyed me at times, as they might have hit a tad too close to home--ha!).
Thacker does a fantastic job at setting the stage and placing each topic in both context and historical setting. I was particularly intrigued at the ethics components and the examination of technology advancements (both the good and the bad), along with Thacker's reminder to the reader that there is such a thing as absolute truth. The read makes a nice Venn-diagram pairing with some other books I've read lately critiquing "self care" and "your truth," and provides a helpful framework for dialogue with others--no matter where we fall on the political, social, or religious spectrums.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Thacker does a fantastic job at setting the stage and placing each topic in both context and historical setting. I was particularly intrigued at the ethics components and the examination of technology advancements (both the good and the bad), along with Thacker's reminder to the reader that there is such a thing as absolute truth. The read makes a nice Venn-diagram pairing with some other books I've read lately critiquing "self care" and "your truth," and provides a helpful framework for dialogue with others--no matter where we fall on the political, social, or religious spectrums.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 28, 2022
Such an amazing book and really eye opening to social media and the problems surrounding it. Would suggest this book to anyone as it is not only informational, but life changing in how we are to view technology.
May 17, 2023
Not a bad book just not my style
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